Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja Residential Relief Payments - Guidelines
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja Residential Relief Payments Guidelines STC Seroja Residential Relief Payment 21 May 2021 1
Contents
1. Scheme overview ............................................................................................................................................ 4
2. Objectives of the Scheme ............................................................................................................................ 4
3. How will the Scheme operate? .................................................................................................................. 5
4. Who is eligible to apply? ............................................................................................................................... 5
5. How to apply ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
6. Corrections.......................................................................................................................................................... 5
7. False and misleading information ............................................................................................................ 6
8. Conflict of Interest............................................................................................................................................ 6
9. How are applications assessed? .............................................................................................................. 6
10. Notification of funding decisions ............................................................................................................... 6
11. Personal information and disclosure of information in application ........................................... 7
12. Program evaluation ......................................................................................................................................... 7
13. Complaints handling process ..................................................................................................................... 7
14. Additional Information .................................................................................................................................... 7
2Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja Residential Relief Payments at a
glance
Key features of the Scheme are:
• A one-off payment of $4,000 per household is available to eligible residents who
have had their home (primary place of residence at the time of Severe Tropical
Cyclone Seroja) damaged or destroyed by STC Seroja.
• The payment is to assist with expenses such as securing shelter and/or temporary
accommodation, purchasing food, securing emergency transport etc.
Should you read on?
To help decide whether you are eligible to apply for funds under this scheme, you should
answer yes to these questions:
• My primary place of residence was damaged or destroyed during STC Seroja.
• The damaged property was my primary place of residence up to 11 April 2021.
To receive a grant under this Scheme you must:
1. Demonstrate that you:
• meet the eligibility criteria (see Clause 4)
• meet the assessment criteria (see Clause 9)
2. Complete and submit an application form online through SmartyGrants, ensuring all
required supporting information and documents are clear and legible when uploaded.
Contact us
Email: premiers.grants@dfes.wa.gov.au
Website: https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/emergencywa/recovery.html
3Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja Residential Relief Payments
These guidelines relate solely to the WA Government’s emergency funding of $4,000 per
household for residents who have had their home destroyed/damaged by STC Seroja.
1. Scheme overview
STC Seroja absorbed STC Odette into its circulation on 10 April 2021. Due to Odette,
Seroja was steered to the southeast towards the WA coast, before strengthening even
further. At around 8 pm (Western Standard Time) on 11 April, STC Seroja made landfall
slightly south of Kalbarri as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, bringing heavy rain
and hurricane-force wind gusts (about 170 km/h). Later that day, STC Seroja began
accelerating to the southeast towards Esperance while weakening. On 12 April, Seroja
emerged off the southern coast of WA.
This program seeks to provide assistance to permanent residents whose home was
destroyed or damaged by STC Seroja. The assistance is based on the event being
proclaimed a natural disaster event extending across 13 Local Government Areas.
2. Objectives of the Scheme
The objective of the Scheme is to provide financial assistance to residents in the
proclaimed Local Government Areas to:
• assist with costs associated with accessing alternative accommodation and/or food
and/or transport
• maintain family cohesion
• provide a bridge to longer term public or private accommodation
• enable economic and social participation in the community
43. How will the Scheme operate?
• Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja Residential Relief Payments Scheme
The
Scheme
• The Scheme guidelines will be published on 24 May 2021
Scheme • Damage to the residence must have occurred between 11-12 April 2021 as a direct result of the impact of STC Seroja.
opens
• Applications may be submitted online from 24 May 2021 and will be assessed as they are submitted
Submit • Applicants must meet all of the eligibility and assessment criteria
application
• The application will be assessed against the eligibility and assessment criteria and DFES will confirm the level of damage to the residence
• Where additional information may be required, applicants will have 10 business days to respond
Assess • A recommendation to approve or decline will be made by the assessor
application
• The Program Manager will review the assessment and make the decision on the application
• The applicant will be advised by email of the decision
Decision
• Approved applicants should receive funds in their nominated account within 2 weeks of a decision being made
Payment
• DFES and DPIRD will evaluate the Scheme using information in the application
• Applicants may be asked to participate in surveys in the future
Evaluation
4. Who is eligible to apply?
To be eligible to apply for the grant an applicant will need to show:
• Their primary residence was destroyed/damaged by STC Seroja
• Their primary residence is situated in the proclaimed disaster area
• They have an account with an Australian Authorised Deposit Taking Institution (a
commercial bank/credit union)
• They can provide evidence the damaged home was their permanent address
where they lived as an owner or tenant up to 11 April 2021
5. How to apply
An application will need to be submitted online through SmartyGrants.
6. Corrections
It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure their application is complete and
correct. The department will not accept responsibility for any misunderstanding arising
from the failure by an applicant to comply with the guidelines, or arising from any
discrepancies, ambiguities, inconsistencies or errors in an application.
The department may request clarification information from an applicant and will allow
them 10 business days to respond with information and/or documentary evidence to
verify their claim. The department’s decision will be final and will be made at its
absolute discretion.
57. False and misleading information
Applicants should be aware that the giving of false or misleading information is a
serious offence under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
8. Conflict of Interest
A conflict of interest arises where a person makes a decision or exercises a power in a
way that may be, or may be perceived to be, influenced by either material personal
interest (financial or non-financial) or material personal associations.
All persons involved in the assessment of applications will be required to make a
conflict of interest declaration which will ensure the appropriate identification and
management of any conflicts of interest and comply with the Western Australian Public
Service Code of Conduct.
9. How are applications assessed?
Assessment criteria will be used to determine an application’s suitability for funding.
Applications that meet the assessment criteria are likely to be funded.
Assessment process:
• Review evidence the applicant lived at the damaged property at the time of the
event; being their principal address they live/lived at as an owner or tenant.
Evidence may include:
o current WA Driver’s Licence or WA Photo Card;
o recent Bank Statement showing name and address;
o rental agreement;
o Local Government rates notice;
o Passport/Citizenship Certificate
o 2 separate household bills (e.g. Synergy, Water Corporation, Alinta etc.)
• Review the applicant details. This includes verifying the address is in a
proclaimed Local Government Area and a residence existed at that address up
to 11 April 2021.
• Where the application is from a person who was renting/leasing the residence,
the assessor will review the fully executed (signed) lease agreement for the
property applicable at the time of the event and the contact details of the
property owner.
10. Notification of funding decisions
All applicants will be notified in writing via email of decisions as soon as practicable by
the Program Manager. Unsuccessful applicants will be able to request the decision be
reviewed by appropriate persons not involved in the original assessment and decision
process by contacting the Program Manager at premiers.grants@dfes.wa.gov.au
611. Personal information and disclosure of information in application
The department may collect personal information from applicants for the purposes of
administration, evaluation and assessment of an application. If the relevant personal
information is not provided by applicants, the department will be unable to assess the
application and it will be declined.
Personal information may be disclosed to other Western Australian Government
agencies and may be published on the department’s website, provided disclosure is
consistent with relevant laws, including the Privacy Act 1988. Personal information will
be used and stored in accordance with the Privacy Principles.
The department’s Privacy Policy is available on the department’s website. Applicants
may contact the department about their personal information or to make a complaint.
12. Program evaluation
Successful applicants may be required to provide information to assist in the program
evaluation.
13. Complaints handling process
If an applicant is dissatisfied with the way an application has been handled by the
department, they can contact the Program Manager and lodge a complaint. The
department will not reconsider applications as part of the complaints process. Instead,
the complaint will be considered internally within the department by a departmental
officer independent from the original process, and the applicant will receive a response
from the department.
14. Additional Information
Applicants are advised that funding received may have taxation implications and that
they should seek independent taxation and financial advice from a suitably qualified
professional before submitting their application if they have any concerns.
7WEBSITE COPY – 27 MAY 2021
Premier’s Grant – Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja Residential Relief Payment
The State Government is providing a one-off payment of $4,000 per household to
residents (owners or tenants) who had their primary place of residence damaged or
destroyed. The payment is to assist with expenses such as securing temporary
accommodation, purchasing food and securing emergency transport.
To find out if you are eligible and submit an application for residential payment visit
https://agric.smartygrants.com.au/Residential_relief
Premier’s Grant - Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja Small Business Grant
The State Government is providing a one-off payment of $4,000 to small business
owners. The payment is to provide support to small businesses who can
demonstrate a loss incurred as a direct result of Cyclone Seroja.
To find out if you are eligible and submit an application for a small business grant
visit https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/seroja
FACEBOOK POSTS – 27 MAY 2021
Premier’s Grant – Cyclone Seroja Residential Relief Payment
The State Government is providing a one-off payment of $4,000 per household to
residents (owners or tenants) who had their primary place of residence damaged or
destroyed.
Residents can you answer yes to all four of these statements?
1. My primary residence was destroyed or damaged to a minimum value of
$4,000 by Cyclone Seroja.
2. My damaged or destroyed primary residence is situated in one of the
proclaimed Local Government Areas of Carnamah, Chapman Valley, Coorow,
Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Greater Geraldton, Mingenew, Morawa, Mount
Marshall, Northampton, Perenjori, Shark Bay and Three Springs.
3. I have an account with an Australian Authorised Deposit Taking Institution (a
commercial bank/credit union).4. Ican provide evidence the destroyed or damaged home was my primary
residence where I lived as an owner or tenant up to 11 April 2021.
If you answered yes to all four, visit this link for further information on how to apply
https://agric.smartygrants.com.au/Residential_relief
Premier’s Grant – Cyclone Seroja Small Business Relief Grants
The State Government is providing a one-off payment of $4,000 to small business
owners who can demonstrate a loss incurred as a direct result of Cyclone Seroja.
Are you a small business in the following sectors?
• Small retail such as speciality shops, hairdressers and bakeries.
• Tourism including tour operators and fishing boat charters.
• Hospitality including accommodation providers, cafes, restaurants and pubs.
Can you answer yes to the following four questions?
1. Is your small business located within proclaimed Local Government Areas of
Carnamah, Chapman Valley, Coorow, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Greater
Geraldton, Mingenew, Morawa, Mount Marshall, Northampton, Perenjori,
Shark Bay and Three Springs?
2. Does your small business have a valid and active ABN?
3. Do you have a payroll of less than $4 million and registered for GST (unless
exempted by ATO)?
4. Can you demonstrate your business loss incurred as a direct consequence of
Cyclone Seroja?
If you answered yes to all four questions, visit this link for further information on how
to apply https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/serojaYou can also read
