Australian Government Drought Assistance

On this page

• Centrelink support if you are affected by drought
• Assistance for farmers
• Assistance for small business
• Assistance for farm hands
• Assistance for irrigators
• Claiming
• Find out more

Centrelink support if you are affected by drought

Centrelink delivers a mix of payments and services for drought-affected communities, farmers, small businesses, farm hands and irrigators.

Assistance we provide includes income support payments for farmers and small businesses, advice and training grants and assistance to exit farming, and direct assistance for farm hands and irrigators. These measures also help with social pressures facing families across rural and regional Australia.

Centrelink's social workers, rural services and Financial Information Service officers are trained to ensure that if you live in a drought affected region you get the entitlements, services and support you need.

The Australian Government Mobile Offices visit rural communities to let you know about services available from the Australian Government.

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Assistance for farmers

If you are a farmer affected by prolonged drought, you may be eligible for assistance, including:

• Australian Government Mobile Offices
• Climate Change Adjustment Program and Transitional Income Support
• Drought Force
• Exceptional Circumstances Exit Package
• Exceptional Circumstances Professional Advice and Planning Grant
• Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment for Farmers
• Interim Income Support for Farmers
• Personal Counselling Service

Assistance for small business

If you have a small business affected by prolonged drought, you may be eligible for assistance, including:

• Australian Government Mobile Offices
• Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment for Small Business
• Interim Income Support for Small Business
• Personal Counselling Service

Assistance for farm hands

If you are a farm hand who has been laid off, facing redundancy or looking for work, you may be eligible for assistance, including:

• Drought Force
• Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance

Assistance for irrigators

If you are an irrigator in the Murray-Darling Basin, you may be eligible for the following assistance:

• Australian Government Mobile Offices
• Drought Force
• Murray-Darling Basin Irrigation Management Grant
• Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance
• Personal Counselling Service
• Small Block Irrigators Exit Grant Package (closed 30 June 2009)

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Claiming

You should submit your claim for Drought Assistance as soon as possible so that we can pay you from the earliest possible date.

You should request an Exceptional Circumstances Certificate as soon as possible as the date we can pay you from may depend on the date of the certificate.

For claim forms, you can:

• refer to Drought Assistance claim forms
• phone us on 13 2316
• visit your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre or Agent.

Documentation

Once you submit your claim you will need to provide proof of identity.

We will tell you if there are other documents and forms you need to provide. You will need to submit these within 14 days. The sooner we receive your documents, the sooner we can process your claim.

Claim outcome

We will send you a letter advising if your claim is successful. If you are eligible for Drought Assistance, the letter will also tell you when your payment starts or your grant will be paid, and how much you will get.

If you disagree with a decision we make

You always have the right to appeal any decision made by Centrelink.

More information

• Reviews and appeals
• Your rights

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Find out more

On this website

• Self-employed or farmer section
• Drought Assistance - useful Centrelink information
• Drought Force

Other websites

• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
• Drought Assistance - other Government websites

Publications

• Are you a farmer, self-employed or rural Australian? booklet
• Drought Assistance factsheets
• Needing help in a crisis? booklet
• Other publications if you are self-employed or responsible for a farm

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
• phone the Murray-Darling Basin line on Freecall™1800 050 015
• if you have a hearing or speech impairment phone the free TTY service on Freecall™1800 810 586
• find your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre or Agent

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