People may experience significant loss or financial difficulties due to the damage or loss of property caused by an emergency such as fire or flood.
In such financial crises, welfare organisations and support services may provide emergency relief in the form of food, clothing and household goods such as second-hand furniture, to help people manage finances in the aftermath of an emergency.
People who have experienced significant loss will need to consider a broad range of financial issues in the days and weeks that follow.
House fires and natural disasters
The Personal Hardship Assistance Program provides assistance to people experiencing financial hardship because of a single house fire or a natural disaster-related emergency such as bushfire, flood, severe storm or earthquake. For more information on this program, see the Personal Hardship Assistance Program
MoneySmart
MoneySmart is an initiative of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission to help people with their financial matters. Their guide to managing insurance issues after an emergency covers:
- Tips for handling your insurance claim after an emergency
- Tips for buying the right insurance
- The risk of under-insuring.
For more information see the MoneySmart website.
VicEmergency
The Relief & Recovery section of the VicEmergency website provides details of current support available to people affected by natural disasters and other emergencies.