Emergency relief support

Support for temporary visa holders, people applying for protection and people with an uncertain visa status to help meet their basic needs.

What is emergency relief?

Emergency relief is a one-off payment 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) and who have been assessed as being in financial hardship and unable to meet their basic needs.

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 applying for a protection visa, hold a temporary visa or have an uncertain visa status

Have no or very limited income, savings or community support and unable to meet their basic needs

How do I apply?

Information and documents you need before you start

Visa details

Passport number or other travel document number.
If you are applying for a protection visa, further evidence such as an acknowledgement letter from Immigration or letter from a legal service/support agency.
If you are unsure or do not have a current visa select ‘uncertain’ and we will call you for a confidential discussion. Red Cross does not share personal or visa information with the government.

Bank statements

For all accounts belonging to adult members of the family included in the application
Including name, BSB, account name and address
Dated not older than 2 weeks from date of application
Containing a list of transaction history over at least 30 days

If you need help with downloading a statement with a list of transactions download this document.

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.

You must confirm that all information provided to Red Cross is true and correct. If your application contains information or documentation believed to be false or misleading, including concealing any relevant circumstances, it will be declined.

If you have applied for emergency relief with Red Cross before, please use the same username and password to login.

Get started

I need help now

If your health or safety is in danger now, call 000.
13 11 14 - Lifeline Crisis Support
1800 737 732 (1800 RESPECT) – Family & Domestic Violence
If you are currently experiencing Family and Domestic Violence, please visit our Family and domestic violence financial assistance page »
1800 55 1800 - Kids Helpline
DSS Service Directory – search for DSS Emergency Relief providers in your area (theres a link behind DSS Service Directory)
AskIzzy – search for support by suburb
If you can access your savings, or support from home, please do so.
If you think you or someone you know is being exploited at work in Australia, help is available. Visit our Work Right Hub »

Information for service providers

Service providers can help a person to apply via the online portal.

If you are supporting someone to apply, do not use your work email address; applications must be made using the applicant’s personal email. If the client does not currently have an email address, please support them to open a new one.