Emergency Relief Support
Financial support for temporary visa holders, people seeking asylum and people with an uncertain visa status to help meet their basic needs.
What is emergency relief?
Emergency relief is to help people meet their basic needs, like food, medicine or shelter.
This support is for people who do not have access to Commonwealth income support (including SRSS, Special Benefits and Job Seeker).
How much is the payment?
Your application will be assessed for all available emergency relief available in your state or territory at that time.
If eligible, payment amounts will vary according to your situation and family size.
We know you may be in a difficult situation, however this is not income support and we know the payment may not meet all your needs.
Who is this service for?
Applicants must meet all of the following:
Live in Australia
Be unable to access Commonwealth Government income support
Be seeking asylum, hold a temporary visa or have an uncertain visa status
Have no or very limited income, savings or community support
How do I apply?
Before you start you will need:
1. Visa details
- Passport number, visa grant number or Immi card number.
- If you are seeking asylum, further evidence such as letter confirming protection claim or letter from a support agency.
- If you are unsure or do not have a current visa, leave the visa fields blank or select ‘uncertain’ and we will call you for a confidential discussion. Red Cross does not share personal or visa information with the government.
2. Bank statements
- For all adult members of the family, including joint and linked accounts
- Including name, BSB, account name and address
- Dated not older than 2 weeks from date of application
- Including transaction history of at least one month
For your own security, do not upload a credit card statement or a bank statement that contains a credit card number.
Submitting the above information will help us process your application as quickly as possible. If we need to ask you for missing information, this will delay the process.
To start, we'll check you are eligible for Red Cross Emergency Relief.
If you are eligible, you will be able to apply.
I need help now
If your health or safety is under threat now, please call 000.
13 11 14 - Lifeline Crisis Support
1800 737 732 (1800 RESPECT) – Family & Domestic Violence
1800 55 1800 - Kids Helpline
AskIzzy – search for support by suburb
If you can access your savings, or support from home, please do so.
Extra support for each State & Territory