Disaster Payment Gold Coast: What Financial Aid Is Available & How to Claim
If you’ve ever faced wild weather on the Gold Coast, you know how quickly life can turn upside down. From flash floods to storms and cyclones, natural disasters can hit hard—and when they do, it helps to know what financial support is available to get you back on your feet.
Right now, residents affected by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which swept through parts of Queensland in March 2025, can access disaster payment Gold Coast from both the Australian Government and Queensland Government. Whether you’ve lost income, suffered property damage, or had to evacuate, there’s help available.
In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about what disaster payments you may be eligible for, how to apply, and what steps to take next.
Australian Government Disaster Payment Gold Coast
The federal government has activated two main types of financial disaster assistance for Gold Coast residents who have been directly affected by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred: the AGDRP and DRA.
1. Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP)
The AGDRP is a lump sum payment to help with immediate costs if you’ve been seriously affected by Cyclone Alfred. You only need to apply once — but you must lodge your claim by 18 September 2025.
Who can get it?
You may be eligible if you:
Live or work in a declared disaster area (Gold Coast is included)
Are an Australian resident or meet residence rules
Are 16 or older, or under 16 and receiving a Centrelink payment
Have been directly impacted, including:
Major damage to your home or major assets at home
Serious injury from the disaster
Death or disappearance of an immediate family member
This payment is not for minor inconvenience or property damage — it’s for people who’ve experienced serious hardship as a result of the disaster.
How much can you get?
$1,000 per eligible adult
$400 per eligible child (under 16)
This Gold Coast storm relief payment is not taxable and does not need to be reported in your tax return.
How to claim
To claim, you’ll need to:
Have a myGov account linked to Centrelink.
Log in and select ‘Apply for Disaster Recovery Payment’.
Answer the questions and submit your claim.
If you don’t have myGov set up yet, you’ll need to create an account and link it to Centrelink first.
2. Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA)
The DRA is a short-term income support payment for people who’ve lost work or income due to Cyclone Alfred. You can receive this payment for up to 13 weeks — with payments backdated to when your income was first impacted.
Who can get it?
You may be eligible if:
You’re 16 or older
You live or work in a declared disaster area (Gold Coast is included)
You lost some or all of your income directly due to the cyclone
You expect to earn less than $1,924.60/week before tax in the 13 weeks after your loss
You don’t need to have lost all your income to qualify — even a partial loss may make you eligible.
How much can you get?
If eligible, you’ll receive a payment similar to JobSeeker or Youth Allowance, depending on your personal circumstances.
Keep in mind: the DRA is taxable, so you’ll need to include it in your tax return.
How to claim
The claiming process is similar to AGDRP:
Log in to myGov and select ‘Apply for Disaster Recovery Allowance’
Provide details about your income loss — and be ready to supply documents like payslips or a letter from your employer
Applications for both payments are due 18 September 2025, so make sure to get your claims in before the deadline. For more information, visit the dedicated Services Australia page or call the Emergency Information Line on 180 22 66.
Queensland Government Support
The Queensland Government also offers a range of financial disaster assistance Gold Coast. These grants are part of the Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme and the Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme, designed to help residents recover from the cyclone’s impact — especially if you’re uninsured or on a low income.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s available:
1. Emergency Hardship Assistance
This grant provides immediate support if you’re struggling to meet basic needs like food, clothing, medical supplies or temporary accommodation.
You may be eligible if:
You live in or were stranded in the affected area
You’ve experienced personal hardship and can’t meet your essential needs
Grant amount:
$180 per individual
Up to $900 for a family of five or more
2. Essential Services Hardship Assistance
If you’ve gone without essential services — like electricity, water, gas, or sewerage — for more than five days, this grant can help cover related hardship.
You may be eligible if:
You live in the affected area
Your utility provider confirms you lost access to services for 5+ days
You’re experiencing personal hardship as a result
Grant amount:
$150 per individual
Up to $750 for a family of five or more
3. Essential Household Contents Grant
This grant helps replace essential household items lost or destroyed during the cyclone — like white goods, furniture, and bedding.
You may be eligible if:
You live in the affected area
You own the lost items and the affected residence (or are renting)
You’re uninsured or unable to claim insurance
You meet income limits
An assessor may visit your property, and you’ll need to provide photos of damaged items, especially if they had to be thrown out.
Grant amount:
Up to $1,765 for individuals
Up to $5,300 for couples or families
4. Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme (ESSRS)
This scheme covers the cost of reconnecting damaged services like gas, water, electricity, and sewerage — including inspection and repair costs.
You may be eligible if:
Your services were disconnected due to the disaster
You own and live in the damaged property
You’re uninsured or unable to claim insurance
You meet income limits
An inspection will be required before the grant is approved.
Grant amount:
Up to $200 for safety inspections
Up to $4,200 for repairs or reconnection work
5. Structural Assistance Grant
This grant provides support for repairing or replacing your home if it’s been deemed structurally unsafe to live in.
You may be eligible if:
You live in the affected area
You own and occupy the damaged home
Your home is unsafe, you are uninsured, and meet income eligibility
An on-site assessment is required before approval.
Grant amount:
Up to $80,000 for uninsured, low-income owner-occupiers
How to Apply
You can apply for any of these Queensland Government grants through one of the following ways:
Online via the Community Recovery Portal
Phone by calling the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349
In person at a Community Recovery Hub
What You’ll Need
To apply, you’ll need proof of:
Your identity (e.g. driver licence, Medicare card)
Your residence in the affected area
Any other required evidence
How It’s Paid
Approved grants are paid by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) directly to your nominated bank account. Allow up to five working days for the payment to reach your account, depending on your bank’s processing time.
For more detailed information, visit the Queensland Government Disaster Support and Recovery page or call the 24/7 Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.
How Can You Prepare for a Natural Disaster in Gold Coast?
While financial support is available after a disaster, being prepared can make all the difference when severe weather hits. Here are some practical steps you can take to protect yourself, your family, and your property:
Know Your Risk
Understanding the types of disasters most likely to affect your area is the first step. On the Gold Coast, this could include tropical cyclones and storms, flash flooding, bushfires (inland and hinterland regions), storm surges and coastal erosion.
You can check your flood or storm risk through the City of Gold Coast’s Disaster Dashboard.
Prepare an Emergency Kit
A good emergency kit should include essentials that keep you safe, fed, and connected if you lose power or need to evacuate. Pack:
Battery-powered radio and torch
Spare batteries
Phone chargers and power banks
First-aid kit
Non-perishable food and water (enough for 3 days)
Important documents (ID, insurance papers, passports)
Prescription medications
Pet supplies if needed
Tip: Keep your kit somewhere easy to grab in a hurry.
Stay Connected
Sign up for emergency alerts and warnings:
Follow @QldPolice and @QldFire on social media
Use the QLD State Emergency Service (SES) and Gold Coast Disaster Dashboard
Tune into local radio stations during a weather event
Create a Household Emergency Plan
Have a clear plan for what to do if disaster hits:
Decide how your household will stay in contact
Know where you’ll go if you need to evacuate
Identify a safe meeting point
Save key phone numbers (family, SES, local council)
Practice your plan with everyone in your household — especially kids or elderly relatives.
Make Your Home Safer
Home safety preparation for electrical storms, floods, and fires can reduce the risk of damage:
Clear gutters and drains regularly
Trim overhanging branches
Secure loose items around the yard
Know how to turn off gas, electricity, and water if needed
Protect solar panels from hail storm damage if you have any
If you’re a homeowner, check your insurance policy covers all major disasters common to the Gold Coast.
Invest in Home Backup Power
Power outages are common during storms and cyclones, and depending on the damage, they can last for days. That’s why it’s smart to have a home backup generator on hand.
There are a few options:
Traditional petrol or diesel generators
Battery portable power stations
Solar generators (portable power stations + solar panels)
While petrol generators are widely known, they can be noisy, fuel-dependent, and not safe to use indoors. Battery-powered stations and solar generator systems are quieter, cleaner, and safer — perfect for homes and families looking for peace of mind during a blackout.
A strong option for Gold Coast households is the EcoFlow DELTA 2 Solar Generator, which combines:
EcoFlow Portable Solar Panels to capture solar energy
EcoFlow DELTA 2 Portable Power Station to store it and power your home
With 1024Wh of storage, the DELTA 2 base unit can run your essentials like fridge, router, lights, phones, and microwave for a few hours. Need more juice? Add extra batteries to boost capacity up to 2048Wh or 3040Wh. Plus, its 1800W AC output (2400W with X-Boost) means it can handle most household appliances.
You can plug in up to 13 devices at once and charge it from 0–100% in just 80 minutes via an wall outlet. Pair it with EcoFlow’s high-efficiency solar panels—available in 110W, 160W, 220W, and 400W—and you can fully recharge in as little as 2.3 hours.
And because it uses LiFePO4 battery tech, you’ll get 3,000+ charge cycles before hitting 80% capacity — that’s years of reliable use.
Look Out for Each Other
In times of crisis, communities pull together. Make sure to:
Check in with neighbours, especially the elderly or those living alone
Share important updates with friends and family
Offer help where you can, and ask for it when needed
Conclusion
Recovering from a natural disaster like Cyclone Alfred can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. With various financial assistance programs available, support is within reach. Make sure to check the official criteria, get your documents ready, and apply as soon as possible. The quicker you take action; the sooner you can access the support you need.
And while the immediate focus is on recovery, it’s also a good reminder to stay prepared for the future. Create a plan, put together your emergency kit, and consider investing in home battery backup solutions. You’ll feel more confident and capable when the worst happens.
FAQs
What grants are available in QLD for individuals?
If you’ve been affected by a natural disaster like Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, several grants may be available to you in Queensland. These include:
Emergency Hardship Assistance
Essential Services Hardship Assistance
Essential Household Contents Grant
Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme
Structural Assistance Grant
You can check your eligibility and apply through the Community Recovery Portal.
Are disaster payments taxable income?
It depends on the type of payment. The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) is not taxable and doesn’t need to be included in your tax return. The Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) is taxable and must be included when you do your tax return.
How soon can you receive disaster relief funds?
For most Queensland Government grants, once your application is approved, funds are usually transferred by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) within 5 working days, depending on your bank. For federal payments (AGDRP or DRA), processing times may vary, but you’ll be notified by SMS, myGov inbox, or letter once your claim is submitted and assessed.