Climate Change Adjustment Program and Transitional Income Support
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Assistance available
The Climate Change Adjustment Program (CCAP) was announced in the 2008 Federal Budget. It provides assistance for primary producers to manage, adapt and adjust to the impacts of climate change. The following assistance is provided by the program:
- Climate Change Adjustment Program Advice and Training Grant
- Climate Change Adjustment Program Re-establishment Grant
- Transitional Income Support (from 16 June 2008 for up to 12 months until 30 June 2011)
Climate Change Adjustment Program Advice and Training Grant
The Climate Change Adjustment Program Advice and Training Grant is available to eligible primary producers if you are adversely, or likely to be, impacted by climate change, including if you are experiencing hardship caused by drought.
Individually tailored professional advice and training is delivered under this program to help your farm business adjust to climate change and to set goals and develop action plans to improve your financial circumstances, either within or outside of agriculture. Rural Financial Counsellors can assist you to plan for your future.
You can use the Advice and Training Grant for:
- advice and training from recognised professional advisers and registered training organisations, TAFEs and universities
- activities such as financial assessment and planning, and advice and training related to climate change impacts
- legal and personal advice linked to managing the effects of climate change.
This assistance payment has been available since 1 July 2008 and will be available until 30 December 2011.
If you choose to join the Climate Change Adjustment Program, you will be required to complete a Farm Business Analysis and undertake a financial assessment with a prescribed adviser. Your farm financial assessment will help you develop a Climate Change Action Plan, outlining the aims and steps required for you to manage the impacts of climate change and identify possible areas to improve your farm’s long-term prospects.
Climate Change Adjustment Program Re-establishment Grant
The Climate Change Adjustment Program Re-establishment Grant is available if you are an eligible farmer and you decide to leave farming from 1 July 2008.
Transitional Income Support
Transitional Income Support (TIS) is available to complement this program from 16 June 2008 for up to 12 months until 30 June 2011.
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Eligibility
You may be eligible for the Climate Change Adjustment Program and Transitional Income Support if you are in financial difficulty and are, or are likely to be, adversely impacted by climate change.
In addition, in the 2 years immediately prior to the payment period you must have been a farmer, and you must have:
- contributed a significant part of your labour to the farm enterprise, and
- derived a significant amount of your gross income from the farm enterprise, and
- contributed a significant part of your capital to the farm enterprise.
You must also be an Australian resident living in Australia, and meet the required income and assets tests.
The Professional Advice and Training Grant is available to eligible primary producers if you are adversely, or likely to be, impacted by climate change, including if you are experiencing hardship caused by drought. If you (and your partner) have already received a Professional Advice and Planning Grant or Farm Help Advice and Training in the last 2 years, you can only receive the Advice and Training Grant if you also qualify for Transitional Income Support.
The Climate Change Adjustment Program Re-establishment Grant is available for eligible farmers who decide to leave farming from 1 July 2008.
More information
Payment rates
The Professional Advice and Training Grant provides assistance of up to $5,500 to help you improve your financial circumstances, either within or outside of agriculture.
The Re-establishment Grant provides assistance of up to $150,000 to eligible farmers if you decide to leave the land.
Eligible farmers with net assets of $350,000 or less after the sale of your farm and farm assets can receive the full $150,000 of the Re-establishment Grant. The sum of the grant reduces once your net assets reach $350,000. No grant is payable when your net assets reach $575,000.
Transitional Income Support is paid at the same rate as Newstart Allowance and Partner Allowance if applicable. It is available to complement the Climate Change Adjustment Program from 16 June 2008 for up to 12 months until 30 June 2011.
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Claiming
You will need to submit an application to claim the Climate Change Adjustment Program and/or Transitional Income Support.
For claim forms, you can:
- print out the claim for Transitional Income Support and/or Climate Change Adjustment Program form
- phone the Farmer Assistance line on Freecall™1800 050 585
- visit your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre or Agent
You can submit your claim and any additional documents:
- by mail to: Rural Processing Team, PO Box 1440, Griffith NSW 2680
- at your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre or Agent.
Find out more
On this website
- Self-employed or farmer section
Other websites
Publications
- Are you a farmer, self-employed or rural Australian? booklet
- Climate Change Adjustment Program and Transitional Income Support factsheet
Contact us
- send us a secure online message
- phone the Drought Assistance line on 13 2316
- phone the Farmer Assistance line on Freecall™1800 050 585
- find your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre or Agent
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