New Zealand ex-gratia Disaster Recovery Allowance and ex-gratia Disaster Recovery Payment Programme

Overview

Where the Australian Government has made disaster recovery payments available, the Prime Minister or Cabinet may also decide to provide a similar payment to eligible New Zealand special category visa (subclass 444) holders residing in Australia who have been directly affected by a major disaster. This includes the ex-gratia Disaster Recovery Allowance (ex-gratia DRA) and the ex-gratia Disaster Recovery Payment (ex-gratia DRP). Ex-gratia DRA provides short-term income support where the Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) has been made available. Ex-gratia DRP provides a one-off, non means tested payment where the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (DRP) has been made available. These payments are delivered consistently with the conditions and eligibility of DRA and DRP under the Social Security Act 1991.