Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan has criticised authorities for withholding 75 per cent of flood relief payments to remote community residents during flooding in the Northern Territory's Big Rivers region, near Katherine.

Last week, the NLC wrote to Territory and federal ministers, calling on them to meet with community leaders to hear concerns from the people directly impacted, Mr Ryan told the National Indigenous Times.

"We need an effective disaster management approach that takes cultural and community considerations into account, to protect our vulnerable community members and make sure they are not left without essential services," he said.

The criticism follows reporting from the ABC on Jilkminggan — a small community 120 kilometres south-east of Katherine — where residents were forced to leave their homes due to rising floodwaters and travel to Mataranka for shelter.

While staying at the evacuation centre, many expected to receive full emergency relief payments.

Instead, some were given only 25 per cent upfront and told the remaining 75 per cent would be paid once they returned home.

However, returning home to access the full payment is complicated by the threat of further rain and flooding, with Tropical Cyclone Narelle expected to impact the region in the coming days.

Chief executive of the Territory's Department of Children and Family - which is responsible for disaster funding payments - Brent Warren responded to the claims saying "Immediate Relief Payments, once confirmed through joint Northern Territory and federal government Disaster Relief Funding Agreements, are rolled out in stages to allow flood-affected residents to replenish their essential needs".

"For remote communities evacuated to other parts of the Territory, payments are staggered so support is available both during evacuation and when people return home," Mr Warren said.

"This allows families to replenish fridge and pantry items that would have spoiled while they were away from home."

However, Mr Ryan said the situation spotlights concerns about how governments respond to disasters in remote Aboriginal communities, particularly when people are forced to leave Country and rely on timely financial support.

"Throughout this natural disaster event, we have seen inconsistent levels of support for different communities. In some cases, communication has been poor and community members have not known what support they are entitled to," Mr Ryan said.

"This is especially important with, yet another cyclone expected to hit East and Southeast Arnhem this weekend."