Emergency Disaster Assistance Program
What is the Emergency Disaster Assistance Program?
Thanks to the generosity of the public and private sector partners, The Salvation Army provides financial and material assistance following a single incident emergency.
The program is available throughout Australia and is specific support for people who have experienced an emergency that has impacted their primary place of residence, including their personal or household items, within the previous three months.
Is assistance means-tested?
The assistance is free of means tests, independent of insurance arrangements, not dependent on citizenship status and available for whatever need the person feels is their priority. Assistance will be provided through a debit card or direct bank deposit.
What is a Single Incident Emergency?
A ‘single incident emergency’ is any event outside the usual range of human experience that is distressing and evokes feelings of fear, helplessness and/or horror. It usually involves a perceived or actual threat to a person or person’s safety and wellbeing. There may be death, serious injury, displacement and/or destruction of valuable assets/home.
Emergencies can be the result of natural phenomenon, or human intervention including a deliberate act of sabotage or terrorism.
These events include but are not limited to:
- Single dwelling destruction by fire, explosion
- Bushfire
- Flood
- Storm
- Earthquake, landslide or collapse
- Gas or chemical leak, explosion
- Siege or act of terrorism
Who is eligible?
Individuals impacted by the emergency or subsequent responses of emergency services and statutory authorities are eligible if their immediate survival and/or financial well-being are affected.
You are eligible if you have experienced any of the following in the previous 3 months (allowances can be made in circumstances of incarceration or hospitalisation):
You are a resident where the emergency occurred, AND one of the following:
- You suffered loss of personal or household items
- You suffered damage to residence
- You lost services necessary for health or safety for more than 5 days (such as power and water)
- You are experiencing decreased capacity to pay expenses for short-term survival.
Note: Damage to outbuildings, sheds and fences that do not impact the safety of accommodation, as well as circumstances caused due to the neglect of regular maintenance by the landlord are not covered.