The Disaster Recovery Allowance is a short term payment to help you if Queensland Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December 2023 directly affects your income.

If you’re eligible, you’ll get the maximum equivalent rate of JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance, depending on your personal circumstances.

Your payment will be reduced to zero if your income is more than the average Australian weekly income. The average Australian weekly income before tax is:

• $1,769.80 before 1 January 2024
• $1,838.60 from 1 January 2024.

Disaster Recovery Allowance is a taxable payment and needs to be included in your tax return.

To get DRA you must meet all of the following. You:

• were 16 or older at the time of the disaster
• are an Australian resident or meet other residence rules
• work or live in a declared Local Government Area
• lost some or all of your income as a direct result of the disaster
• earn less than the average Australian weekly income in the 13 weeks after this income loss.

You don’t need to have lost all your income to be eligible for this payment.

They use Australian Bureau of Statistics figures to tell us what the average weekly income is. The average weekly income before tax is:

• $1,769.80 before 1 January 2024
• $1,838.60 from 1 January 2024.

You can’t get DRA if you get any of the following income support payments during your claim period:

• Age Pension
• Austudy
• Carer Payment
• Disability Support Pension
• JobSeeker Payment
• Parenting Payment
• Special Benefit
• Youth Allowance
• a Service Pension, Income Support Supplement or veteran payment from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

You can read more about Service Pensions on the Department of Veterans’ Affairs website.

You also can’t get DRA if you get any of the following payments or allowances during your claim period:

• ABSTUDY Living Allowance
• Dad and Partner Pay
• Parental Leave Pay
• Self-Employment Allowance.

If you're getting Self-Employment Allowance, you can speak to your provider about pausing your payment. This is so you can claim DRA.

If you’re a New Zealand citizen living in Australia, check if you’re eligible for:

• New Zealand Disaster Recovery Allowance.

• Phone: 180 22 66