The federal government has announced further disaster assistance payments for Queenslanders affected by Cyclone Marcia.
The Disaster Recovery Allowance is now available to eligible employees, primary producers and sole traders in the Fitzroy and Wide Bay-Burnett districts.
The allowance provides payments for up to 13 weeks, equivalent to the maximum rate of Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance.
By fortnightly rates, this amount ranges from $233 to $720.
The separate disaster recovery payment - a one-off of $1000 an adult or $400 a child - has also been extended to those in the Wide Bay-Burnett region.
This supplements assistance being doled out to those in the Fitzroy area.
To be eligible for this assistance, applicants must have suffered a serious injury, had their home destroyed or sustained major damage, or be directly related to an Australian citizen who has died in the event.
Principal carers of dependent children who have experienced any of these hardships are also eligible.
Some have criticised these tightened criteria, given those affected by Cyclone Oswald were immediately eligible for the same amounts without meeting the specific qualifications.
Queensland state MP Brittany Laugam says the stricter rules make it harder for those doing it tough to get much-needed financial help in the wake of the devastating storm.
The federal government statement, issued on Friday, says these payments are "over and above" the support being provided through the Commonwealth-State natural disaster relief and recovery arrangements.
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