Support for farmers experiencing financial hardship

The farm household allowance program provides farming families experiencing financial hardship with assistance through planning and training for long-term financial improvements as well as income support for up to 4 years.

Overview

Farm household allowance (FHA) provides assistance to farming families experiencing financial hardship. This program focuses on helping farmers make important decisions to improve their long-term financial situation.

The support available includes:

• a fortnightly payment for up to 4 years in each specific 10-year period
• supplementary allowances such as rent assistance, telephone and pharmaceutical allowances and a Health Care Card
• individual case support with a farm household case officer
• a financial assessment of the farm enterprise worth up to $1500
• up to $10,000 in activity supplements that gives farmers an opportunity to develop skills, access training and pay for professional advice to better manage their business into the future.

Additionally, there are one-off relief payments if the 4-year period ends before 1 July 2020. This payment is $7500 for a single farmer or $6500 for each member of a couple.

The amount of FHA payable depends on your individual circumstances.

Check if you can apply

To be eligible, you must:

• be a farmer or the partner of a farmer
• be 16 years of age or older
• meet the income and assets test
• contribute labour and capital to an Australian farm, or are the partner of a farmer who does
• meet residency rules
• have had less than 4 years of FHA in the specific 10-year period.

Additionally, your farm must have significant commercial purpose. This is assessed based on:

• the purpose of your farm
• the potential profitability
• consistency of activity
• whether your farm is operated as a business
• the size, scale and permanency of your farm activity.