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Financial help

People impacted by the January 2026 Victorian bushfires can apply for immediate payments and longer-term financial help.

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If you need to replace your Victorian birth certificate or other identification Births Deaths and Marriages can help.

If you can’t remember your insurer or your insurance papers are lost, the Insurance Council of Australia can help. Complete their online form.

Personal Hardship Assistance Program

Emergency relief payments

Applications for emergency relief payments have now closed.

Emergency Relief Payments are a Victorian Government payment, jointly funded by the Australian Government.

These payments gave immediate help to people who experienced extreme financial hardship due to the January 2026 bushfires.

If you have been impacted by these bushfires there is Emergency Recovery Support available. Call the Emergency Recovery hotline on 1800 560 760.

Re-establishment assistance

Emergency re-establishment assistance is also available for eligible people impacted by the January 2026 fires.

It is designed to assist people and families to re-establish a principal place of residence. A principal place of residence is the primary home that you live in.

Re-establishment assistance is for people who:

How to apply

Call the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760 and press 4 to apply for a re-establishment assistance payment.

For translating and interpreting support press 9 or call TIS on 131 450.

Or

Visit a Recovery Hub.

If you can, have some ID ready, like:

For re-establishment assistance, you will also need to show proof of:

Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation payments

A $1,000 payment is available to people whose home was significantly damaged or destroyed in the January 2026 bushfires.

Both home owners and renters can apply.

Apply through VERRF.

Australian Government disaster payments

Disaster Recovery Payment

There are lump sum payments and short term allowances to help you from the Australian Government.

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment is a one off, non-means tested lump sum payment.

It’s available if you’ve had major damage to your home or major assets that you own at your home. It can also help if you were seriously injured or your immediate family member has died or is missing.

The payment is $1,000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children.

The Disaster Recovery Allowance

The Disaster Recovery Allowance is an allowance for up to 13 weeks to help if you have lost income as a direct result of the January 2026 Victorian bushfires.

Equivalent financial assistance is also available to eligible New Zealand citizens.

Find information about eligibility including declared areas and how to claim on Services Australia website.

Prolonged Power Outage Payments – residential

If your residence has been without power for at least 7 days in a 2-week period, you are eligible to receive payments of up to $2,380.

Electricity distributors are responsible for administering the scheme, and have arrangements in place to distribute funds to residential customers. Residential customers can find their electricity distributor on the Energy Vic website.

This payment is only applicable to principal places of residence.

Ausnet customers

Find information on the Ausnet website or by calling on 1300 561 171 (Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm).

Powercor customers

Eligible customers will be contacted by Powercor via SMS, email or phone and provided with a link to a dedicated page on the Powercor website.

If you believe you are eligible for a Prolonged Power Outage Payment but have not received an SMS and link, please contact Powercor on 13 22 06.

Lost identification (ID)

If you have lost your ID, you can apply for replacement certificates through the Births, Deaths and Marriages website.

Financial counselling

Individuals and small businesses impacted by the fires are eligible for financial counselling.

Without early intervention and longer-term support, the financial impacts of disasters can compound trauma for communities affected by bushfires.

Specialist counsellors will help individuals and families access recovery grants, manage insurance claims, replace essential items and deal with debts through payment plans and fee waivers. They will also provide advocacy with insurers and creditors and connect people to legal support.

To access financial counselling, please visit a Recovery Hub.

January 2026 Victorian bushfires

Relief and recovery support for people and communities affected by the Victorian fires that started on 7 January 2026.

Safety & emergencies

Updated 26 March 2026

Recovery support is available

If you have been impacted by the January 2026 Victorian bushfires, help is available.

Call the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760(opens in a new window), Monday to Friday.

Press 9 for an interpreter or call Translating and Interpretation Service (TIS) on 131 450.

If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

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