For businesses

• Small Business Immediate Flood Relief Grant Victoria
• Business Relief Service
• Victoria Primary Producer Flood Recovery Concessional Loans
• Victorian Primary Producer Recovery Grant

For individuals

• Disaster Recovery Allowance
• Disaster Recovery Payment

Flood assistance for businesses

Small Business Immediate Flood Relief Grant Victoria

There is now a one-off $5,000 grant available for flood damaged businesses in flood affected areas of Victoria.

The Victorian Government has opened application for Immediate Flood Relief Grant which is designed to help small businesses with costs of, but not limited to:

• clean-up services, materials, equipment and disposal
• tradespeople for assessment and repairs
• materials, stock and equipment that are required to resume immediate operations.

To be eligible, businesses must be:

• located in an affected local government area (LGA)
• have an active ABN and be registered for GST on and from 14 October 2022
• have suffered significant damage to the place of business, business assets, stock or equipment as a direct result from the October 2022 floods.

Applicants will need to attest that their business has incurred significant damage as a direct result of the flooding in October 2022 and that grant funds will be used in relation to said damage.

If you are a community sports organisation, there is a specific quick $5,000 grant available.

Small Business Immediate flood relief grant LGAs

Applying for the Small Business Immediate Flood Relief Grant

1. Ensure your details are up to date on the Australian Business Register website
2. Have your proof of identity ready (unless you have lost your ID in the flooding)
3. Apply for the Immediate Flood Relief Grant before Friday 13 January 2023.

If successful in applying for this grant, you may be able to extend your application to the Business and Community Sport Recovery Grant where you may apply for up to an additional $45,000. Proof of recovery costs must be supplied.

If you require assistance applying for the Immediate Flood Relief Grant, please call us on 03 5443 0344.

Business Relief Service

The Victorian Government is also providing a local business support mentor service where applicants can utilise free one-on-one support, where a mentor can guide them through available local, state and Commonwealth supports. In addition, they can help flood affected businesses navigate any landlord or insurance issues. Those interested in accessing this service should phone Business Victoria on 13 22 15.

Victoria Primary Producer Flood Recovery Concessional Loans

For primary producers whose properties have been directly impacted by the Victorian Floods commencing October 2022, there are concessional loans of up to $250,000 to restore or replace damaged assets, and meet general expenses incurred while the clean-up is underway.

A concessional loan means the Government have made possible a discounted interest rate.

Estimated damage costs and the ability to repay the loan will form the scope where Rural Bank will determine the loan amount. The applicants must satisfy the bank’s lending policies, responsible lending standards and the Banking Code of Practice.

Applicants must provide supporting documents, such as:

• a copy of latest Council Rates, lease, or share farming contract to provide proof of property address
• quotes, invoices, lost earnings, BAS statements and photos of direct flood damage etc. to provide proof of damage
• previous financial statements and personal tax returns for yourselves and your primary production business for three years, and a copy of your ATO Portal
• monthly cash flow budget (including assumptions) for the present financial year and next financial year
• statement of assets and liabilities
• 100 points of proof of identify documents.

To learn more, view the full guidelines or lodge an Expression of Interest Form.

Victorian Primary Producer Recovery Grant

The Primary Producer Recovery Grant is a payment of up to $75,000 to primary producers directly affected by the floods to help their recovery efforts and get their businesses functioning again.

Examples of grant use:

• removal and disposal of debris and injured or dead livestock
• replacing or repairing essential equipment
• repairing and replacing fencing
• buying fodder, water and water storage
• salvaging damaged crops, grain or feed
• hiring or purchasing materials to clean up a property or equipment.

Primary Producer Recovery Grant Eligibility

• Be a Primary Producer,
• Devote part of their labour to the Primary Production Enterprise;
• Derive at least 50 per cent of their gross income from Primary Production in an average year
• An applicant may also be eligible for a grant if the applicant derives at least 50 per cent of their total gross income from primary production and value-added products (e.g. wine) made directly from raw produce grown by the applicant
• Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at the time of the disaster;
• Have a Primary Production Enterprise that is located in the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster and have suffered direct damage as a result of the eligible disaster;
• Have been engaged in carrying on the Primary Production Enterprise when affected by the eligible disaster;
• Intend to re-establish the Primary Production Enterprise in the same community, region or sector as the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster;
• Be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the applications.

The grant has two tiers:

Tier 1: An initial up-front amount of up to $25,000 is available to applicants on the provision of evidence of direct damage. Tax invoices and/or receipts are not required to be supplied as part of the application. However, applicants must keep evidence of payment to verify expenditure of funding.

Tier 2: A subsequent amount of up to $50,000 can be accessed on the provision of evidence of payment (tax invoices and official receipts). This evidence of payment must also include any amounts claimed under the initial (Tier 1) claim if not already provided.

View full guidelines or apply at ruralfinance.com.au.

Flood assistance for individuals

There are currently two disaster payments supports for individuals directly affected by the flooding events in Victoria.
Individuals who have lost income as a direct result of the flooding in Victoria from October 2022 can apply for the Disaster Recovery Allowance through myGov.

Those who have suffered serious injury or major damage to their principal place of residence or a major asset may be eligible for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment.

Disaster Recovery Allowance and eligibility

You can apply for this allowance until 14 April 2023.

To be eligible, you must:

• be aged 16+
• an Australian resident or eligible visa holder
• have lost income as a direct result of the flooding
• live or work in an affected Local Government Area
• earn lower than an average Australians weekly income ($1,737.10 per week) in the weeks after you’ve had the income loss.

For those aged 16 – 21 years of age, you may apply but will be assessed and the government must consider you an independent to be eligible for the allowance.

Approved applicants will receive the maximum equivalent rate of JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance and the allowance can be given for a maximum of 13 weeks from the date you started losing income from October 6, 2022.

Keep in mind you may have to pay income tax on the allowance and must report these payments on your income tax return.
Affected Local Government Areas include:

How to apply for the Disaster Recovery Allowance

Apply for your disaster recovery allowance by logging into your myGov.

MyGov and Centrelink

You will need your myGov account linked to Centrelink, if your myGov isn’t already linked to Centrelink, you will have to link it by going to “View and link services” and choose “Centrelink” when logged into MyGov.

You can use your Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN) to link them and answer some personal questions. If you don’t know your CRN, you will need to follow the steps to verify your identity before linking the services.

Making your claim

1. Sign into MyGov
2. Go to the “Centrelink” section
3. Click ”Payments and claims” from the menu, then “Claims”, then “Make a claim”
4. Click “Help in an emergency”
5. Click “Apply for Disaster Recovery Payment” and answer the eligibility and claim questions
6. Submit your claim.

If you are having any difficulties making your claim, please view the help guide.

Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and eligibility

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment is a once off payment for Australian Residents who have been seriously affected by the October 2022 floods in Victoria.

You can apply for this payment until 15 April 2023.

To be eligible for the Disaster Recovery Payment, you must:

• be aged 16+
• an Australian resident or eligible visa holder
• have not claimed for the payment before
• related asset damage or injury within the Affected Local Government Areas
• you or your dependent child must have been seriously affected by the October 2022 floods, for example:
  • serious injury caused
  • immediate family members who has died or missing
  • major damaged to primary place of residency
  • major asset damage.

Payments are $1000 per adult and $400 for each child younger than 16, and couples can both make individual claims.

Affected Local Government Areas include:

• Campaspe
• Greater Shepparton
• Maribyrnong
• Mitchell Shire
• Strathbogie.

What is considered major damage?

Major damage to your home may mean:

• it’s been destroyed or must be demolished
• it’s been declared structurally unsound
• this disaster has caused major damage to the interior
• this disaster has exposed the interior to the elements
• sewage has gotten inside your home.

How to apply for the Disaster Recovery Payment

Apply for your disaster recovery payment by logging into your myGov.

MyGov and Centrelink

You will need your myGov account linked to Centrelink, if your myGov isn’t already linked to Centrelink, you will have to link it by going to “View and link services” and choose “Centrelink” when logged into MyGov.

You can use your Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN) to link them and answer some personal questions. If you don’t know your CRN, you will need to follow the steps to verify your identity before linking the services.

Making your claim

1. Sign into MyGov
2. Go to the “Centrelink” section
3. Click ”Payments and claims” from the menu, then “Claims”, then “Make a claim”
4. Click “Help in an emergency”
5. Click “Apply for Disaster Recovery Payment” and answer the eligibility and claim questions
6. Submit your claim.

If you are having any difficulties making your claim, please view the help guide.

Keep in mind you may have to pay income tax on these payments and must report these payments on your income tax return.