Flourish Health & Wellbeing Magazine - Mar 24 - Flipbook - Page 67
Seek Advice Early
The sooner you obtain professional guidance from your insurance company
or broker the better. In times of natural disasters, workload is increased,
and time frames will lengthen to settle claims.
Most banks have special terms to
help you if you have money troubles.
Talk to your bank about your situa琀椀on
— it might be able to do something to
help you while you’re recovering. Visit
your bank’s website and click on the
‘Financial Hardship’ link or search for
‘Financial Hardship’ or ‘Natural Disaster’
for more informa琀椀on.
Contact all credit providers and advise
of the situa琀椀on and seek a moratorium
(freeze) on payments for at least 90
days and that such relief be granted
without adverse credit report lis琀椀ng.
Your telecommunica琀椀ons company
will have op琀椀ons for customers in
昀椀nancial di昀케culty, which includes
natural disasters. Advise your provider
about the loss of services and discuss
the account to be frozen at date of
disconnect.
Contact your water, gas or electricity
suppliers directly to ask how they can
help you which may include hardship
policies or payment plans.
If you are ren琀椀ng, check your rights
with the Rental Tenancies Authority.
You may need to seek other rental
accommoda琀椀on.
Micro昀椀nance organisa琀椀ons such as
Good Shepherd Micro昀椀nance provide
safe, fair and a昀昀ordable 昀椀nancial
services for people on low incomes.
For example, if you need to replace
essen琀椀al items — like a fridge or
washing machine— Good Shepherd
Micro昀椀nance o昀昀ers no interest and
low interest loans.
Maintain connec琀椀on with the
community to see if there are
any Recovery Grants on o昀昀er.
Chari琀椀es such as Red Cross, St Vincent
de Paul, the Salva琀椀on Army and GIVIT
can help with food, shelter
and household items.
Let your employer know what has
occurred and that you may require
some 昀氀exibility in working hours to
deal with 昀椀nancial ma琀琀ers.