Flood Appeal

Flood affected small retailers eligible for free ARA membership

The ARA is offering a complimentary three month membership for small retailers affected by the floods to help them deal with their employer obligations and other business decisions during this time. Current ARA members who have been affected by the floods may also be eligible for a three month extension on their existing membership.

ARA’s membership benefits include access to a wide range of products and services to help re-build businesses and increase profitability including: employment relations advice, tenancy advice, ARA publications and communications with up-to-date Government information and heavily discounted supplier deals, including shop re-fits, to help get businesses back on their feet sooner.

Any flood affected small retailers who are interested in a complimentary three month membership with the ARA or current members affected by the floods should call 1300 368 041 or email floodappeal@retail.org.au by mid February 2011.

Useful information for flood affected retailers

Tenancy Assistance
Insurance Claims
Australian Taxation Office: Assistance with tax affairs
Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority (QRAA): Flood Assistance
Banks: Provide them with an update of your situation
Department of Community Services: Financial Assistance Grants
Centrelink: Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment/Disaster Recovery Income Subsidy
Queenslanders need your help!

Tenancy Assistance

ARA Tenancy in conjunction with Lease Information Services and Tebbutts Lawyers - ARA members affected by the Queensland floods can contact the ARA Tenancy department for ‘flood recovery leasing assistance’on a case by case basis, including:

• getting a free copy of your registered lease (if it has been lost in the flood);
• legal advice on the continuing liability of rental payments or abatement of rent if applicable on a pro bono basis; and
• rental valuation guidance in matters of relocation/demolition/disturbance.

Call 1300 368 041 and ask to speak with ARA Tenancy.

Insurance Claims

The Insurance Council of Australia advises policy holders impacted by recent flood waters to make contact with their insurance companies, so claims can be assessed as soon as possible.

When residents are able to return to their properties and make their own initial assessment, if damage has been suffered they should immediately contact their insurer to lodge a claim and clear up any insurance queries they may have.

The Insurance Council encourages policyholders to:

• Make contact with your insurance company and seek advice about the claim process under your policy.
• Contact your insurer before authorising major repairs.
• Not be concerned if insurance documents have been lost or damaged due to the flood. Insurance companies keep records electronically and only require the policyholders' name and address in order to locate a policy.
• Consider removal of water and mud damaged possessions. Carpets and soft furnishings can be removed from the building as part of the clean up. But if possible take photos before removing your possessions so they can be inspected by your insurer.
• Make an inventory of the possessions that have been damaged as a result of the flood as this may assist in the claim process.

It is important to note that insurance policies vary. The Insurance Council advises policyholders to check with their insurer to see whether the following options are available:

• The cost of removing insured debris from your home and surrounding property. (Check before arranging collection). Local councils may assist with the removal.
• Temporary accommodation costs. (Conditions may apply - seek clarification prior to booking and paying for temporary accommodation).

For more insurance information and advice contact the Insurance Council of Australia on 1300 728 228. For dispute resolution you can also contact the Insurance Ombudsman Service.

Australian Taxation Office: Assistance with tax affairs

The Tax Office can help people in disaster affected areas by:

• fast tracking refunds giving people extra time to pay debts – without interest charges
• giving more time to meet BAS and other lodgement obligations – without penalties
• helping reconstruct tax records where documents have been destroyed, and make reasonable estimates where necessary
• offering visits from field officers to help reconcile lost records, and
• helping them claim tax hardship concessions.

FOR BUSINESSES WITHIN AFFECTED AREAS, THE LODGEMENT AND PAYMENT DATA FOR DECEMBER MONTHLY ACTIVITY STATEMENTS HAS BEEN DEFERRED TO 21 FEBRUARY 2011

The Tax Office has set-up a dedicated emergency support info line. To speak to an ATO officer about your situation, call 1800 806 218 or visit www.ato.gov.au

Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority (QRAA): Flood Assistance

• Low interest rate loans of up to $250,000 for eligible primary producers and small businesses located within a disaster-declared area can be obtained through QRAA (Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority). For more information, visit QRAA or freecall 1800 623 946.
• Grants up to $25,000 are available for primary producers and small businesses to pay for costs arising out of damage caused by flood crisis. Assistance is provided through an initial claim of up to $5,000 to assist with immediate early recovery and subsequent claim of up to $20,000 to repair direct flood damage. The maximum amount available under the scheme is $25,000.

For more information, visit QRAA or freecall 1800 623 946.

Banks: Provide them with an update of your situation

Many of the banks have indicated that they will support their customers through this hardship via extension of loan payment deadlines and waiving of fees and charges. Make sure your bank is aware of your current situation and any anticipated disruptions to payment schedules so they can help you through this period.

Department of Community Services: Financial Assistance Grants

Personal Hardship Assistance

Personal Hardship Assistance may be available to individuals and families who do not have the capacity to meet immediate, unexpected basic costs for food, clothing, medical supplies or accommodation caused by the disaster.

This grant is a non-means tested once-off payment of $170 per person, up to a maximum of $850 for a family of five or more.

Essential Household Contents Grant

An Essential Household Contents Grant may be available to people who own essential household contents that have been lost or damaged in the disaster and who do not have contents insurance.

This grant is a means tested once-off payment of up to $1,705 per adult, up to a maximum of $5,120 for a couple/family.

Eligible household contents may include cooking utensils, clothing, bedding and linen, floor coverings, essential furniture and white goods and food lost due to storm damage. The grant assists with the repair or replacement of essential items and maximum limits apply for individual items.

An income test will be applied to applications for this grant. If you are eligible, departmental officers will visit your home, to assess the damage and to complete an application form with you.

Structural Assistance Grant

A Structural Assistance Grant may be available to property owners whose home has been damaged by the disaster. The home must be uninsured for this disaster event, owned by the applicant and their sole place of residence at the time of the disaster. The grant provides a contribution towards repair of the residence to a habitable and secure condition.

This grant is a means tested once-off payment of up to $10,500 per individual, and up to $14,200 for a couple/family, less amounts paid as an Emergency Assistance Grant and/or Essential Household Contents Grant.

An income and assets test will be applied to applications for this grant. If you are eligible, departmental officers will visit your home to assess the damage and to complete an application form with you.

The income and asset tests for the Essential Household Contents and Structural Assistance grants are as follows:

UPPER INCOME LIMITS

• Individuals: $704/week + $51 for each dependent
• Couples: $903/week + $51 for each dependent

UPPER ASSET LIMITS

• Pensioners: $25,101
• Other: $6,135

Applications will be assessed on a case by case basis and you will need to discuss your eligibility for these grants with officers from the Department of Communities.

Individuals and families can find out more about applying for these grants by calling 1800 173 349 or visiting http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/

Centrelink: Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment/Disaster Recovery Income Subsidy

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) is a one-off payment for people who have been adversely affected by the Queensland flooding.

If you are eligible you will receive:

• $1000 per adult
• $400 for each child (under 16 years of age).

Centrelink also has a range of payments and services to support people in an emergency or crisis, whether or not you are already a Centrelink customer.

The Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy is a fortnightly payment of up to the maximum rate of existing Newstart Allowance for a period of 13 weeks. The subsidy will be available to those who have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of the flooding and are not currently receiving, or eligible for, any other income support payment.

For more information, visit http://www.centrelink.gov.au or call the Emergency Assistance Hotline on 180 22 66.

Queenslanders need your help!

The Queensland floods have now affected an area larger than Germany and France combined, and thousands of Queensland residents will be experiencing severe hardship.

The ARA would urge all retailers Australia-wide to lend a hand to their fellow Australians in any way they can.

If you would like to help, go to the Queensland Government’s website to donate to the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

Queensland Government flood information is also available at http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/

If you have any thing that you would like to share or contribute that may assist the retailers in distress due to the floods please email info@retail.org.au