Transitional Income Support

The Transitional Income Support program closed on 30 June 2012. It assisted farm families in financial difficulty to manage the impacts of climate change on their farm business, by providing short term income support paid for up to 12 months at a fortnightly rate equivalent to the Newstart Allowance.

Recipients of Transitional Income Support also had access to professional advice and training opportunities under the Climate Change Adjustment Program to meet their mutual obligation requirements for income support.

The Climate Change Adjustment Program, which closed on 30 June 2012, provided adjustment advice and training to eligible primary producers who were adversely impacted, or likely to be impacted, by climate change, including those experiencing hardship caused by drought. Professional advice and training delivered under the Climate Change Adjustment Program was individually tailored to help farm businesses adjust to climate change and to set goals and develop action plans to improve their financial circumstances. Rural Financial Counsellors were available to assist eligible farmers in their planning for the future.

The Australian Government has announced the continuation of household income support payments under a new initiative, the Transitional Farm Family Payment.

For more information

• Visit the Department of Human Services website or phone the Drought and Farmer Assistance Line on 13 23 16
• Contact the Rural Financial Counselling Service on 1800 686 175
• Foreign language service phone 131 202