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Farm Help
In line with the government’s election commitment to focus on preparing primary industries to manage the impact of climate change, $130 million will be invested in the new Australia’s Farming Future initiative.
To help fund the new policy initiative, the government indicated that savings would be found through wind-up of the Farm Help program. Accordingly, the Farm Household Support Regulations 1993 have been amended to prescribe new dates, concluding the availability of farm help income support. The closing date for applications for farm help income support was 30 June 2008, with payments to cease after 30 June 2009.
The Farm Help Advice and Training Scheme and the Farm Help Re-establishment Grant Scheme are also concluding, with the deadline to use advice and training vouchers and for claiming a re-establishment grant being 30 April 2009.
Farmers who entered the program prior to the closing date will not be disadvantaged and will still receive agreed assistance.
Further information is available through Centrelink's Farmer Assistance Line on FreeCALL™ 1800 050 585.
About Farm Help
What help is currently available to me through farm help?
Further information and eligibility criteria contact
Farm Help Mid-Term Review
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About Farm Help
Farm Help provides short-term financial assistance to farm families who are experiencing severe financial difficulties meeting living expenses and are unlikely to obtain a loan from a financial institution.
The assistance aims to help farmers while they take action to improve their long-term financial prospects, either by improving the financial performance of their farm enterprise, finding alternative sources of off-farm income or re-establishing outside farming, should they choose to do so.
On joining Farm Help, and before receiving income support or the re-establishment grant, you will need to have an initial advice session, which will include a professional assessment of your farm’s financial situation with a prescribed adviser. The session will also help you to develop a Pathways Plan with your Centrelink Rural Services Officer, based on your professional assessment. Through your Pathways Plan you can identify the steps you need to take, including advice and training, to help you improve your farm’s financial prospects, or learn new skills to obtain off-farm income or re-establish off the farm.
The program is funded under the Agriculture Advancing Australia (AAA) package. Farmers on the program are encouraged to use strategic information, undertake analysis and make decisions that will enable them to improve their financial security.
What help is currently available to me through farm help?
The program offers assistance up to $80 500 per farm family, which includes:
- Income support at the same rate as Newstart Allowance for up to 12 months, to allow farmers time to make decisions about their future. Income support is subject to income and non-farm assets tests. The income support benefit is affected once income exceeds $62 per fortnight, reducing on a formula basis above this amount. Farm Help has an asset test limit similar to Newstart. However, farmers do not have to satisfy an 'activity test' or put their farm on the market to qualify.
- Advice and Training Grant to be used to obtain advice, undertake training and purchase appropriate computer software, to meet the goals set out in the farmer’s Pathways Plan. Farmers and their families joining Farm Help for the first time will receive an Advice and Training Grant of up to $5500 (including GST). Farmers and their families who are re-entering the Farm Help program can access a Grant of up to $2500 (including GST). The initial advice session is compulsory and provides an assessment of the farm’s financial situation. Recipients will need to undertake a financial assessment and develop a Pathways Plan before income support and/or a Re-establishment Grant is payable.
- Re-establishment grant up to the value of $75 000 is available, on the sale of the farm, for farmers who have made the decision to leave farming. The Grant is subject to an assets test and the amount of the Grant will be reduced by $2 for every $3 where net assets, after selling the farm enterprise, exceed $150 000. The grant tapers out when the net assets reach $262 500. Any income support received while on Farm Help is deducted from the amount of the grant. Farmers must apply for the grant before selling the farm.
- Pathways Plan is based on the compulsory financial assessment developed at the initial advice session, along with the longer-term goals identified by the farm family, whether that be on or off the farm. The farmer develops the Plan, with the assistance of a Centrelink Rural Services Officer. All farmers on the program must develop a Plan and act in accordance with it, while they are participating in the Farm Help program. The Pathways Plan is customised to suit each farm family’s particular situation and to best position the family for a financially secure future.
Further information and eligibility criteria contact:
Centrelink Farm Help Phone: Freecall Line 1800 050 585
Foreign Language Service Phone: 131 202
Visit Centrelink Farm Help website