Bushfire victims have reacted angrily after being told they must present identification to get Federal Government assistance, despite most having lost everything.

An open letter published in a News Limited newspaper this morning questioned the ability of Centrelink to quickly distribute the payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child.

News Ltd journalist Gary Hughes, who escaped the fires at St Andrews, said when he and others fronted Centrelink on Monday they were told there would be no financial help unless they could produce a driver's licence or bank statement.

"What's that meant to be, Kevin [Rudd], some cruel joke?" Mr Hughes wrote.

"Losing everything means just that - everything. There are many like us who didn't have time to calmly pause to collect wallets and purses as we fled our homes with wet towels over our faces to avoid choking to death on toxic smoke and flaming embers.

"Maybe bureaucrats think more clearly in a crisis."

Human Services Minister Joe Ludwig has apologised for the bureaucratic bungle and says all efforts are being made to ensure people get the help they need.

"I don't know the precise details but we are sorry if it did happen," Senator Ludwig said.

"What we have instructed Centrelink to do is to take the lightest possible approach to the issue of confirming identity."

He says while identification was helpful, a signature would suffice, adding that about 800 claims for assistance had already been paid out.

Meanwhile, VicRoads says it will issue replacement driver's licences for free for bushfire victims.