Finances

You may be eligible for financial assistance if you’ve been affected by domestic and family violence. There are services available to help with your living expenses or if you are in debt.

Help with living expenses

Search our service finder or other organisations that can help with living expenses, such as:

• rent or accommodation
• water, gas, or electricity bills
• food
• transport
• clothing
• other essential goods and services.

Get help with managing your money.

Emergency payment arrangements

The Escaping Violence Payment (EVP) Program offers financial assistance to help you move forward and set up a home free of violence.

The EVP program provides up to $5,000 financial assistance including:

• up to $1,500 in cash (or cash equivalent)
• up to $3,500 in goods and services such as removalists, bonds or household items.

The mix of this financial assistance will be based on your needs and preferences.

You can apply online via the website. If you need help to complete your application, call 1800 387 387.

Emergency Relief Program

The Emergency Relief Program provides financial and/or material support to Queenslanders in financial crisis

The program provides support to vulnerable Queenslanders experiencing immediate financial hardship and provides access to items such as vouchers for food, transport and essential items, contributions to payment of third-party accounts such as utility bills, and through the provision of food parcels. Emergency Relief aims to prevent future financial crisis by referring people to appropriate financial and social support services. Contact your nearest funded service.

Financial assistance for victims of violence

Victim Assist Queensland provides financial assistance to victims of violence that happened in Queensland. Learn more about how to make a claim and how to claim urgent expenses .

People with disability who are actively receiving support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) may be able to access crisis payments if impacted by DFV.

These payments are managed on a case-by-case basis and should be discussed with a client’s support worker from the National Disability Insurance Agency, or through contact with the relevant NDIS provider.

Centrelink crisis payment

Centrelink provides an avenue for people who have experienced DFV to receive crisis payments. Support to complete the application is available to people with disability or other impairments. This may include completing the application verbally rather than through the formal process. Crisis payments for any reason are available to a person a maximum of 4 times per 12 months.

Find more information about crisis payments, including how to apply.

Help with debt

The National Debt Hotline (call 1800 007 007) has independent financial counsellors offering free, confidential advice on:

• utility bills (electricity, gas, phone, internet etc.)
• mortgage payments or rent
• credit cards and personal loans
• Centrelink issues
• joint debts
• general financial advice

Visit the MoneySmart website for information about managing debt and other useful information.

Find out how to get legal help if you have problems with money or debt.

Get help with managing your money.

Request to withdraw fines

If you have been affected by domestic and family violence and received a SPER enforcement order for a camera-detected infringement or tolling offence that you weren’t responsible for, you can apply to have the fine withdrawn.

Visit Queensland Revenue Office to request the withdrawal of fines.

No Interest Loan Scheme

The No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS) is a community-based program giving access to fair and safe loans for people who have experienced DFV in the last 10 years.

Visit the Good Shepherd website for more information.

If someone owes you money

Legal Aid Queensland has information about how to recover money from someone who is refusing to pay.