Blue Mountains residents who had to flee their houses and then returned home to be faced with no gas, electricity or hot water for days have slammed the Federal Government's changes to disaster relief payments.

The day after bushfires tore through the area, the federal government tightened the rules for disaster payments leaving hundreds of residents who were forced to evacuate without any financial help.

"This payment would really improve their quality of life." Credit:Getty Images

Eligibility for payments, available in disasters such as the January Tasmanian fires, were changed on October 18, so residents who did not lose their homes but had to relocate for days at a time would not receive assistance.

Yellow Rock resident Andrew Mazenauer, who has been without gas or hot water for nine days, said he was disappointed that the government had changed the eligibility criteria without any consultation.