Allowance For Farmers Doing It Tough

Are you a farmer experiencing financial difficulty from recent flooding events, labour shortages or rising input costs?

You may be eligible for the Farm Household Allowance (FHA).

FHA is an Australian Government support package for farming families doing it tough.

Applying for the FHA can provide you with financial breathing space while you work through flooding events on crops, animals and pasture, and labour shortages – especially during harvest time.

Every eligible person gets paid the full allowance.

The program provides eligible farmers and their partners with a package of assistance that includes:

• up to four years of fortnightly income support (in every 10 year period)

• ancillary allowances such as Pharmaceutical Allowance, Telephone Allowance, Rent Assistance and Remote Area Allowance

• a professional financial assessment of the farm business (worth up to $1,500)

• funding to help develop skills, access training and pay for professional advice (up to $10,000 and can include reasonable travel and accommodation to undertake training).

• regular support of a case manager.

You can get Farm Household Allowance for up to 4 years (1,460 days) at any time between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2024. You can apply for your second tranche of four years from 1 July 2024.

FHA gives you time to improve your circumstances. You do not have to receive all payments in one go. You can stop and start your payment as many times as you like. Stopping and deferring your payments can save them up for future hardship.

You will also get ongoing support from your own:

Farm Household Case Officer (FHCO)

Rural Financial Counsellor (RFC) (if you choose).

To find out if you’re eligible for FHA, call the Farmer Assistance Hotline on 132 316 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday – or visit: https://fal.cn/3uTWa.

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