Insurance and disasters, what do I need to know? (NSW)
Last Updated 14 March 2024
Last Updated 14 March 2024
This resource is designed to support people in New South Wales who have been impacted by a disaster find legal information online and connect with appropriate services. It will help you identify if you are dealing with a legal problem related to insurance and understand how to make an application for legal help.
It provides:
If you’ve been affected by a disaster, it might be hard to know how to start a claim on your insurance policy for damage to their home, car, or other costs.
When managing insurance claims for damage caused by a disaster, it’s important to remember that there are specialised services that are able to help. If you require help from a specialised service, see our section “How to make an application for free legal help” for more information.
Financial Rights Legal Service NSW has many resources on insurance and disasters, including sample letters to help you get in touch with your insurance company when there is a problem. Visit their website here for more information: Extreme Weather – Financial Rights Legal Centre.
The Disaster Response Legal Service has created resources that explain what to do straight away after a disaster and what you can expect from your insurance companies. You can read these resources for more information here:
Before a disaster, like a flood or a bushfire, there are steps that people can take to make sure that their insurance policies adequately cover their property.
Each year, some insurance claims are denied, or people get less than expected. Many more people discover too late that they are underinsured. Often people only find out they have a problem with a policy when their insurance claim is denied.
If you are preparing for a disaster, complete an insurance check-up to get started. You can find insurance check-ups here:
Financial Rights NSW and the Disaster Response Legal Service have created several resources that provide information on common issues that can arise when making insurance claims after a disaster, including:
If you don’t agree with a decision made by your insurer, you have options.
These resources provide information on disputing insurance decisions:
LawAccess is a free government service that provides legal information and referrals, including to Legal Aid NSW, for people with a legal problem in NSW.
See their website for more information on how they can help: https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/.
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority offers dispute resolution for the financial services industry, covering consumer complaints about credit, finance and loans, insurance, banking deposits and payments, investments and financial advice, and superannuation.
Call 1800 931 678 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or visit their website: https://www.afca.org.au/.
Financial Rights Legal Centre are a specialist legal centre that provides advice and advocacy for people in financial stress. They help people with debt problems and disputes around credit, banking and insurance. They also fight for change to policy, laws, and industry practice across a range of consumer financial issues, informed by their experience assisting and representing people across Australia.
Call 1800 663 464, Monday to Friday, 10am to 1pm or visit their website for more information: Insurance Law – Financial Rights Legal Centre
Justice Connect assists eligible individuals, small businesses, community organisations and farms and other primary producers who have been impacted by natural disasters.
You can apply online for free legal help: Apply for help – Justice Connect. This is the quickest and most efficient way to check if you’re eligible and start the process of being matched with a lawyer. Once we receive your application, a member of our team will be in touch to guide you through the next steps.
This resource was last updated on 14 March 2024. This is legal information only and does not constitute legal advice. You should always contact a lawyer for advice specific to your situation. You can read our disclaimer in full here: Disclaimer and copyright for our Disaster Legal Support Resource Hub – Justice Connect.