Social Security Legislation Amendment (Disaster Recovery Allowance) Bill 2013 introduced to Federal Parliament

The Social Security Legislation Amendment (Disaster Recovery Allowance) Bill 2013 ws introduced to Federal Parliament yesterday 20 March 2013, in an effort to aid victims affected by a major disaster.

The bill will create a new payment, the Disaster Recovery Allowance, a fortnightly income support payment for individuals whose income has been affected by a major disaster. The Allowance will provide short-term income support to individuals with a demonstrated loss of income following an onshore disaster, whether natural or otherwise. The payment is modelled on ex-gratia payments which were made available on a number of occasions including in 2009 following the Victorian Bushfires, in 2010-11 following the flooding across a number of states and in 2013.

To activate the Allowance for an event the Minister will have to be satisfied that:

• the event is of national significance; and

• that the event has had such an impact that a government response in the form of income support is required.

Further, the Minister will be required to consider the extent to which the nature or extent of the disaster is unusual and the number of workplaces that are disrupted.

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