Helping Australians in times of need
Whether it’s a bushfire, flood, cyclone, earthquake or drought, natural disasters can have a significant impact on your life.
Being physically safe is only the beginning. Trauma caused by natural disasters can have a lasting impact on your emotional health, so it’s important to get help. If you, or any of your loved ones are struggling emotionally, please get help from your local GP or a national support network.
Natural disasters can also impact you financially. For example, you may:
- Have lost your home or property
- Be unable to earn a living (e.g. if you or your partner’s workplace or capacity to earn money is affected)
- Lack access to cash to pay bills and living expenses
- Be unable to meet loan repayments
- Be unable to meet insurance payments
Steps to take
If you’ve been affected by natural disaster, the most important thing to do is find safety. Register your safety with the Red Cross (and/or find loved ones). Then, depending on your circumstances, let the following people (outside of family and friends) know what’s going on:
- Your insurers
- Your banks and lenders
- Your employer
- Utility companies such as phone, gas and electricity
- Your children’s schools
- Post office (to hold your mail if required)
- Services Australia (Centrelink) on 180 22 66 (if you’re currently receiving government benefits or want to apply for support)
- Your financial adviser, if you have one. They should have a plan for times like these and may be able to help you.
How we can help
If you're an AMP customer who has been impacted by a natural disaster and is finding it hard to cope financially, we’re here to help. We'll take the time to listen, understand your situation and find ways to support you. Our help isn’t a one size fits all approach - it’s tailored to suit your circumstances.
Help may include:
- Reviewing your home loan and agreeing to interest only, or a postponement of loan repayments for a while
- Allowing faster access to pension payments
- Releasing your super early to help with medical and other expenses, if the ATO has assessed that you’re eligible on various compassionate grounds
- Providing you with access to financial advice
Further resources, services and support
| Name | Details | Website | Phone | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triple Zero (000) Emergency services | If you need urgent help from police, fire or ambulance services, call triple zero (000). | triplezero.gov.au | 000 | |||
| State Emergency Services (SES) | SES volunteers are trained to assist in a wide range of emergency situations, and can provide invaluable support during times of crisis. | ses.org.au | 132 500 For emergency help in flood and storm |
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| Australian Bureau of Meteorology | Weather warnings including flood, fire, heatwave, tropical cyclone and tsunami. | bom.gov.au | ||||
| National Emergency Management Agency | Helping communities in times of emergency while preparing Australia for future disasters. | |||||
| Natural disaster support | Support for people directly affected by a declared natural disaster. You may be able to get both Australian Government and state or territory natural disaster support. | servicesaustralia.gov.au/natural-disaster-support | ||||
| Disaster Assist (Australian Government) | The Disaster Assist website provides information on support for disaster-impacted areas. If a disaster has been declared in your Local Government Area you can apply for disaster recovery payments. | disasterassist.gov.au | ||||
| healthdirect | Preparing for a natural disaster, coping and recovering. | healthdirect.gov.au/natural-disasters | ||||
| Australian Red Cross | Practical help and resources to use before, during and after emergencies. Download an emergency REDiPlan or their Get Prepared app. | redcross.org.au/emergencies | 1800 733 276 (1800 RED CROSS) |
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| Lifeline | A confidential service providing support to anyone in Australia who is feeling overwhelmed, having difficulty coping or thinking about suicide. Call or online chat available 24/7. | lifeline.org.au | 13 11 14 | |||
| GriefLine | A national helpline that offers free, compassionate and confidential support for grief and loss. | griefline.org.au | 1300 845 745 8am - 8pm, 7 days a week |
FAQs
Financial hardship from a natural disaster isn’t restricted to losing property. It also includes a capacity to earn an income and/or pay bills. Or, perhaps you’re supporting a loved one who is affected by the disaster, which has caused further financial burden on you.
Whatever your situation, help is available. If you’re affected, call us – we will spend time understanding your circumstances and discuss options for how we can help.
Call us on 13 30 30. We’ll spend time understanding your circumstances and discuss how best we can help you access your funds.
Financial support directory
Our financial support directory includes product help, calculators and a list of community and government organisations that can provide relevant support for your situation.
We're here to help
Get in touch with us if you're experiencing financial difficulty. We'll take the time to listen, understand your situation and do our best to help.
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Important information
Products in the AMP Super Fund and the Wealth Personal Superannuation and Pension Fund are issued by N.M. Superannuation Proprietary Limited (N.M. Super) ABN 31 008 428 322 (trustee), which is part of the AMP group (AMP).
All banking products are issued by AMP Bank Limited ABN 15 081 596 009, AFSL and Australian credit licence 234517.
Any advice and information provided is general in nature, hasn’t taken your circumstances into account, and is provided by AWM Services Pty Ltd ABN 15 139 353 496 (AWM Services), which is part of AMP.
Before deciding what’s right for you, it’s important to consider your particular circumstances and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement, Target Market Determination or Terms and Conditions available from AMP at amp.com.au.
Read our Financial Services Guide available at amp.com.au/fsg for information about our services, including the fees and other benefits that AMP companies and their representatives may receive in relation to products and services provided to you.
All information on this website is subject to change without notice.
AMP Bank is a member of the Australian Banking Association (ABA) and is committed to the standards in the Banking Code of Practice.
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