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Centrelink payments set to increase for millions of Australians

Centrelink payments set to increase for millions of Australians 2

Centrelink payments set to increase for millions of Australians 3

Western Australia 

In Western Australia, millions of residents are expected to receive $400 credit towards their power bill.

Synergy and Horizon Power customers in WA will have the one-off credit added to their electricity accounts from July. 

New South Wales  

In New South Wales, households with dependent children are eligible to an $180 credit on an energy bill.

Those receiving the payment in New South Wales must have been the recipient of the Family Tax Benefit (FTB) for the previous financial year and have had your entitlement to the FTB payments finalised by Centrelink.

Check your eligibility and apply at the Service NSW website. 

South Australia  

Eligible South Australians on low or fixed incomes can apply for help with the cost of energy bills for their principal place of residence.

They can receive  up to $233.60 a year to cover energy payments, including fuels used to generate energy (eg LPG bottled gas and petrol). The concession is calculated as a flat rate per day and is indexed each financial year.

To apply for the payment visit the South Australia government website.

 Queensland

Queensland pensioners and seniors may be eligible for the Electricity Rebate – $340.85 per year and the Reticulated Natural Gas Rebate – $76.19 per year.

To  apply for the rebate, contact your power and gas provider. You can apply over the phone or ask your retailer to send you an application form. You will need to provide certain details and have copies of your bills and concession card handy so you can verify your eligibility. Rebates are automatically deducted from your bill.

Meanwhile,  Queensland households experiencing problems paying their electricity or reticulated natural gas bills as a result of an unforeseen emergency or a short-term financial crisis can receive $720 once every two years.

For more details on the emergency payment in Queensland, click here.  

Victoria 

Every household in Victoria is set to receive a $250 cash handout to help with the rising cost of living, as Dan Andrews launches a $250million cash splash.

Payments will start from July 1, with Victorians simply having to sign up to the Energy Compare website to become eligible for the huge cash splash.

The scheme was initially rolled out to ease the financial burden of struggling families during Covid-19 but has since been extended.

Residents will need to head to Energy Compare and register their details through the website before they can receive the one-off payment. For more details, click here.

The scheme will open on July 1 and run until June 30 2023.

Northern Territory

Members of the Northern Territory (NT) Concession Scheme can claim a concession on household electricity costs for their main place of residence. This excludes any household used for business or commercial purposes.

 You can get up to $1,200 per annum for electricity (8000kW).

For more details on the payment, click here.

Australian Capital Territory

The ACT Government offers an annual combined rebate of up to $700 through the Utilities Concession Scheme for low income households. 

From 1 July 2021 the annual concession amount will permanently increase to $750. 

In the 2021-22 financial year an additional $50 rebate will also be provided to eligible households, resulting in a total concession of $800.

The concession covers electricity, natural gas, water, and sewage.

For more details, click here.

 

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