Deadline extended for personal hardship grants in Far North Queensland

• Residents impacted by Tropical Cyclone (TC) Jasper have another four weeks to apply for emergency financial assistance.
• Residents from all nine local government areas impacted by TC Jasper may be eligible for assistance.
• New closing date for Far North Queensland is 7 February 2024.

Residents in Far North Queensland impacted by TC Jasper will have another four weeks to apply for personal hardship assistance grants.

The Queensland Government today (Thursday 11 January 2024) announced that the deadline for personal hardship assistance grants for residents in all nine local government areas impacted by TC Jasper has been extended to Wednesday 7 February 2024.

The original cut off for applications was set for this week.

Financial support is jointly funded by the Queensland and Australian Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Quotes attributable to Premier Steven Miles:

"Many people in the impacted areas, especially those living in more remote communities, have been unable to access financial assistance up to now due to the scale of the disaster," he said.

"We stand shoulder to shoulder with these communities and we are determined that no one will be left out or left behind when it comes to accessing personal hardship assistance.

"For this reason, we have decided to extend the deadline in all nine local government areas so that everybody who needs help has an opportunity to get it.”

"This is good news for isolated communities like Wujal Wujal who have faced mass evacuations and ongoing supply challenges in the wake of TC Jasper,"

“We are determined to put everything we’ve got into helping disaster impacted Queenslanders to get back on their feet and recover as quickly as possible.”

Quotes attributable to State Member for Cook Cynthia Lui:

"We want to make sure nobody is left behind, so it was important to extend the deadline for personal hardship assistance grants.

“The remoteness of some of our communities in the Cook electorate, and the very significant damage and challenges with connectivity and infrastructure, mean that more time is needed to set in place all the support that is needed."

Quotes attributable to State Member for Barron River Craig Crawford:

“For some residents they haven’t turned their minds to hardship grants yet as they’ve been busy removing furniture and chasing away mould.

“I encourage everyone to take the time to apply or enquire as this money can help.”

Explainer/fast facts and/or further information:

The extension applies to residents in the following LGAs:

• Cairns Regional
• Cassowary Coast
• Cook Shire
• Douglas Shire
• Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire
• Mareeba Shire
• Tablelands Regional
• Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire
• Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire

Available grants with 7 February 2024 closing date include:

• Emergency Hardship Assistance– $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of five or more to support immediate essential needs such as food, clothing or medical supplies.
• Essential Services Hardship Assistance – $150 per person, up to $750 for a family of five or more to assist with immediate needs following the loss of essential services at home for more than five consecutive days.

Other grants are available, with applications open until December 2025:

• Essential Household Contents– Income-tested grants up to $1,765 for individuals and up to $5,300 for couples or families to replace destroyed essential household contents such as bed linen and white goods.
• Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme grants – with increased income-testing limits to help uninsured residents reconnect damaged services like electricity, gas and water. Up to $5,000 per household.
• Structural Assistance Grants – up to $50,000 for uninsured, income-tested owner-occupiers towards the repair or replacement of a disaster damaged dwelling damaged to return it to a safe and habitable condition.

Personal hardship assistance grants are also available in the Gold Coast LGA and specified localities in Scenic Rim and Logan LGAs. Applications for personal hardship assistance grants in these areas close at midnight 31 January 2024.

People can apply for personal hardship assistance grants at www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp.

Up to date information about disaster support and recovery, including Community Recovery Hub locations and operating hours, is available at  www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp.

Information about disaster support and recovery for culturally and linguistically diverse people is available in a range of languages at www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies/disasters/resources-translations/disaster-information-language.

The Community Recovery Hotline 1800 173 349 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week for people to obtain information, support or assistance with grant applications.

Free counselling and support available through a dedicated 24/7 Lifeline support line to assist the community and help people recover practically and emotionally following the recent weather disasters. Anyone who requires emotional support or someone to talk to is urged to contact Lifeline on 1800 116 671 or by visiting https://www.lifelineqld.org.au/get-help/disaster-relief-and-community-recovery .

ENDS