Short Term Emergency Financial Help in Australia: Do You Qualify?

 
Being in extreme financial crisis is the worst feeling in the world. When it’s nearly time to pay rent and you can’t afford it, what do you do? It might mean sacrificing your food budget – but how do you eat? How do you pay your energy bill? After some time, all of this adds up, and you hit your breaking point. That means it’s time for emergency financial assistance.

Australia’s National Debt Hotline
Australia’s National Debt Hotline is here to help. They understand what it’s like to be in crisis and they can work with you to stay in your home and keep the lights on.

What’s the Process Like?
When you call in to the debt hotline, a financial counsellor will help you determine whether you qualify for emergency relief. To contact a financial counselor, please call 1800 007 007.

Your financial counsellor will help you get everything in order and can connect you to a local debt relief organisation.

 
What Information Do You Need?
To determine whether you qualify and refer you to the correct program, your financial counsellor will need you to have some documents in order. These include:

• Your identification
• Proof of income
• Proof of expenses
• Proof of debt

If the numbers are overwhelming, your financial counsellor can help you with the math. If you have that under control, they can examine the documents and take it from there.

Who Qualifies for Emergency Assistance?
Temporary assistance is especially advisable if you’re facing an immediate hardship, such as an unexpected medical event, a death in the family, a major change to the structure of your family, or an unanticipated appliance repair.

Whether the cause is a major life event or an avalanche of symptoms from long-term employment, being in crisis is stressful, especially when you worry about losing your home. To make the most of your financial counsellor’s time, it may help to jot down the hard facts about your situation. Remember: your financial counsellor is there to advise you on your options. Take advantage of that!

Where Does the Relief Come From?
Emergency relief comes from the Australian government as well as charities that raise funds to help. Financial counsellors can direct you to reputable sources of help. That’s important, especially when you’re under duress and in survival mode.

 
What Are Your Other Options?
Emergency financial relief can help you in the short-term, but it’s best to also tackle long-term problems with further financial counselling if you need the help. You may also wish to consider:

Advances from Centrelink: Get early income support

Help from local charities (such as churches) – learn more

NILS (No Interest Loan Scheme): Affordable loans for low-income qualifiers

Mortgage Relief Scheme: For low-income earners and individuals facing potential repossession

Ready to Get Started?

Knowing you need help is difficult, even if you can lay out the logic of your reasons. Once you commit to the decision to get short-term financial assistance, follow through. Financial counsellors are here to support you.