Extending Farm Household Allowance relief payments

Media Release: 26 June 2020

  • A Farm Household Allowance (FHA) relief payment will be available to FHA recipients (farmers and their partners) who exhaust their FHA entitlements between 1 July and 30 September 2020.
  • The Australian Government will provide approximately $2.1 million in relief payments to farmers and their partners.

The Australian Government is extending the availability of the Farm Household Allowance (FHA) relief payment for three months, providing $2.1 million to eligible farmers and their families.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the payments would support farmers who require some more breathing space to begin to recover or make difficult decisions about their future.

“Farmers and their partners will automatically receive $13,000 a couple or $7500 a single person, roughly equivalent to six months of the standard FHA payment, if they exhaust their FHA payments between 1 July 2020 and 30 September 2020.

“Our changes to the FHA over the last year are making it easier for farmers and their partners to access support in times of hardship.

“This includes better access to financial and case management support, as well as the opportunity to earn a greater amount of off-farm income.

“Australia’s farmers are among the best in the world and we are committed to backing them on their path to recovery.”

For more information, visit the Farm Household Allowance website.

Fast Facts:

  • Since the FHA’s introduction in 2014, over $459 million in payments has been made to more than 14,900 individuals.
  • The Australian Government is investing over $2 million each week into rural communities through the program.