Introduction

The Recoverable Assistance Programme provides non-taxable, interest free, recoverable financial assistance to non-beneficiaries to meet essential immediate needs for specific items or services.

Clients who meet the income and cash asset tests may have access to Recoverable Assistance Payments up to a maximum amount of six weeks of the rate of Supported Living Payment.

The client must be able to identify a particular immediate need for an essential item or service.

Consideration must be given to whether a Recoverable Assistance Payment would best meet the immediate need, including investigating other sources of assistance.

You must negotiate a repayment arrangement with the client before you grant an application for Recoverable Assistance Payment. If you are unable to do so the application may be considered to have lapsed.