A solatium is a compensation paid to someone whose home has been acquired by a government authority, in addition to payment for the market value of the property.
You may be eligible for a backdated solatium payment if the property you owned or lived in was acquired by a NSW government authority between 26 February 2014 and 17 October 2016.
Eligible customers have until 31 October 2019 to apply for a solatium payment.
To be eligible for payment:
Provide details including your name and contact details and the address of the property that was acquired.
Register for solatium registration.
We will check your eligibility and advise you of the outcome. In straightforward cases, we will assess your eligibility within 21 working days.
If you are eligible, we will calculate the amount owing and prepare a Deed of Release.
We will send a Deed of Release for you to complete, sign and return.
Once we have checked your completed Deed of Release, we will make payment into your nominated bank account, typically within 7 working days.
We will contact you if we need more information, and let you know when your payment has been made.
The NSW Government has increased the maximum solatium payable to $75,000.
Up until 31 October 2019, eligible land owners and others, such as residential tenants, who were paid solatium, will receive the difference between $75,000 and the amount of solatium they received from the acquiring authority (or a pro rata amount if less than the maximum solatium amount was paid).
The amount of the increased solatium will be the difference between the solatium already paid to you and the new maximum of $75,000 (or the pro rata amount).
The amount of the increased solatium will be the difference between the solatium already paid to you and the new maximum of $75,000 (or the pro rata amount).
Eligibility is determined by factors such as the length of time you resided in the property or whether all or only part of your land was acquired. For example, if you received 40 per cent of the maximum amount, you will receive 40 per cent of the increased maximum of $75,000 (less what you have already received).
| Date of acquisition | Maximum solatium | Maximum additional solatium |
|---|---|---|
| 26 February to 31 March 2014 | $25,595 | $49,405 |
| 1 April 2014 to 31 May 2015 | $26,260 | $48,740 |
| 1 June 2015 to 31 May 2016 | $26,710 | $48,290 |
| 1 June to 17 October 2016 | $27,235 | $47,765 |
If you and your partner received solatium and now your status has changed due to separation or divorce, you will need to complete the Deed of Release and include both your bank details so the payment can be split as agreed by you. Please note that both partners will need to sign the Deed of Release.
If the former land owner has died, the payment may be made to their estate or to the beneficiaries. If the payment is made to beneficiaries, it will be made according to the will.
The Deed of Release should be completed by either the executor/s of the estate or the beneficiaries.
All executors or beneficiaries must sign the Deed of Release and provide a copy of the probate/will or a copy of the Letter of Administration as evidence.
Find out more about how land acquisitions are managed in NSW.
If you have a question about solatium and can’t find the answer on this website, contact us.