Drought Assistance

If you are affected by drought and are in need of help, including household assistance, the following fact sheets may be of some assistance:

Household assistance is available through the Federal Government’s Farm Household Allowance, which is a payment for farming families experiencing financial hardship.  See below for basic information about the allowance. For more comprehesive  information, click on the Federal Government Drought Assistance Pack above.

Included in the Farm Household Allowance is:

  • A fortnightly payment
  • Allowances to help farmers with expenses such as rent, phone and medicine.
  • A financial assessment of the business (worth up to $1,500).
  • A health care card to help reduce health care costs.
  • Funding to develop skills, access training and pay for professional advice (worth up to $4000).
  • Fortnightly payments will vary depending on individual situations, and are based on social security allowances.

To be eligible for Farm Household Allowance you must:

  • Be a farmer who spends a major part of their time and capital working on the farm.
  • Be the partner of a farmer who spends a major part of their time and capital working on the farm.
  • Meet the income and assets test limits
  • Meet mutual obligation requirements.

Low interest loans are also available to drought-affected farmers (see State and Federal Government fact sheets above).