Thousands of Queenslander’s are eligible for financial relief with the Queensland Cyclone Centrelink Payment.
On March 8 2025, Cyclone Alfred made landfall as a category 2 cyclone. Despite not wreaking as much havoc as anticipated, the severe weather conditions left hundreds of thousands of homes out of power, and destroyed several homes.
The federal and state governments have made one-time relief payments available under the Disaster Recovery Payment Scheme. On Saturday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that he had approved these payments for those facing the aftermath of the storm, which although downgraded to a tropical low, continues to pose a significant flooding threat.
The Disaster Recovery Payment Scheme see’s eligible adults to receive $1000, and $400 for children. You don’t need to be on Centrelink benefits to apply for the Queensland Cyclone Centrelink Payment. To qualify you must be an Australian resident, have been directly affected by the cyclone, live in a declared disaster area, and be 16 years or older.
For those whose income has been affected due to workplace closures or business disruptions, income support is accessible for up to 13 weeks. The amount provided is determined on an individual basis.
The weather system, which remained off the eastern coast of Queensland for several days, has now been reduced to a tropical low. Nonetheless, strong wind gusts and heavy rainfall causing rising waters continue to threaten southeastern regions and northern coastal areas.
Earlier in the week, funding was made available to twelve local government areas for emergencies, providing monetary aid for crisis management, community relocations, and repairs to public structures. The affected localities include the capital city, coastal tourist regions, and surrounding suburban districts.
The Premier encouraged Queenslanders to remain vigilant as flood levels continue to increase. “With the ground already saturated and rain still continuing to pour, sudden water surges remain a significant concern,” he explained.
Approximately 250,000 residential and commercial properties have experienced power outages, with electrical companies working to restore services as soon as possible. School’s and public transport in affected areas remain closed until further announcements.
Officials strongly recommend residents remain indoors and monitor emergency communications. Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties as a result of the cyclone at this stage, despite the SES receiving over 5000 calls on Saturday.
Those who meet requirements for the Cyclone Centrelink Payment can submit their request through the government services website.
