Storm Chandra: How to apply for emergency payments

Ottoline Spearman

Eligible households and businesses directly affected by Storm Chandra will be entitled to an emergency payment, the Government has announced.

The Department of Social Protection will provide compensation for damage and emergency needs, and households and businesses are encouraged to complete the forms below or contact the council on 01-4149000 ahead of the deadlines.

What support is available to households?

An emergency response payment will be available to cover essential needs and repairs for households. It does not cover “damage or losses that are insured under home insurance policies or would be reasonably expected to be insured”.

The Department also said that the rate of payment depends on the extent of the damage and a person’s ability to meet the cost of repairs.

The payment may cover the following:

• Food, clothing and bedding, where loss is experienced through flooding or structural damage to your home due to a severe weather event
• Damage to your home and its essential contents, such as carpets, flooring, furniture, household appliances and bedding
• Structural damage

It does not cover:

• Losses covered by an insurance policy, or which could reasonably be expected to have been covered by an insurance policy
• Loss of items considered not essential, or luxury items
• Commercial, agricultural or business losses
• Structural loss or damage to rented accommodation
• Any additional properties that are not occupied and lived in as the primary residence
• Repair or replacement of motor vehicles

The Department will assess applications in three stages.

The deadline for the first stage, which is not means-tested, will close on Wednesday, February 4th. After this date, applicants may still be eligible to apply within three months and six months, but you will be means-tested.

The second stage, which will close three months after the event, will cover white goods (washing machines and fridges etc) as well as furniture and other essential household items.

When applying, you must outline “a valid reason” why these items were not covered by insurance and “demonstrate that it is essential that the items are replaced and that they do not have the financial resources to cover these costs themselves”.

The third stage, which will close six months after the event, will cover essential structural repairs to a person’s primary residence where the person does not have the resources to cover such costs. This includes plastering, dry lining, relaying of floors, electrical rewiring and painting.

“These costs are only covered if they are essential, result directly from damage caused by a severe weather event and there are valid reasons as to why household insurance was not in place,” the Department said.

“All costs are subject to expert assessment by a loss adjuster.”

To apply, residents must fill out the form here.

More information is available on the Government website here.

What is the income limit?

As outlined by the Irish Times, the income limits are the following:

• €50,000 for a single person
• €90,000 for a couple
• €15,000 per dependent child

All household income is considered in the income test. Further, you do not need to be getting a social welfare payment to qualify.

The application form requires that you provide personal and financial details for each person who lives in your home. You will also need to explain their relationship to you.

More information here.

What support is available to businesses?

Small businesses (of up to 20 employees), sports organisations and community and voluntary groups affected by flooding who cannot obtain flood insurance can apply for the Business and Community Flooding Support Scheme.

Applicants can apply for a maximum of €20,000.

This funding can be used to replace damaged infrastructure, including flooring, fixtures, and fittings.

The scheme has two payment stages, with the first stage providing up to €5,000.

The Irish Red Cross will administer the scheme, and more information can be found here, or by contacting the Irish Red Cross at 01-6424600 or emergencyflooding@redcross.ie.

To apply, businesses should fill out the form here.