Seniors Energy Rebate
Are you a senior citizen and wondering if there is any assistance available with your high energy bills? Find out about seniors energy rebates here with Savvy.
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Seniors energy rebates are financial assistance offered to senior Australian citizens to assist with the high cost of electricity and gas bills. New assistance measures were announced by the Australian Government to assist older people with their energy bills in the 2023 Federal Budget. Find out all about what assistance you may be eligible for as an aged pensioner here with Savvy.
What assistance is available with power bills for seniors?
Energy Bill Relief Fund
In the 2023 Federal Budget, the Australian Government announced a partnership with state and territory governments to provide up to $3 billion in electricity bill relief for eligible pensioners through the Energy Bill Relief Fund. The states and territories will administer the rebates.
Some of this assistance money will go to all eligible households, whereas other rebates are specifically for seniors. Here’s what you may be eligible for as a senior under the Energy Bill Relief Fund in different states and territories:
- In NSW, South Australia, and Tasmania, eligible pensioners will receive a total bill relief of $500.
- In Victoria, the bill relief is $250 per household, and there is an additional one-off $250 direct payment through Victoria's 2023 Power Saving Bonus Payment.
- In the Northern Territory, eligible households will receive a total bill relief of $350.
- In Queensland, current recipients of the electricity rebate will receive $700, and all households in Queensland will get $550 through the new Cost of Living Rebate.
- In Western Australia, current rebate recipients will receive $500 (in addition to the existing rebate), while all other households will receive $400.
- In the ACT, eligible households will receive a bill relief of $175, and they will also benefit from lower bills due to the ACT's large-scale feed-in tariff scheme, reducing the average electricity bill by $152.
Seniors Energy Rebate in NSW
In addition to the above relief, in NSW the Seniors Energy Rebate is specifically designed to assist eligible independent retirees who hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) with their electricity expenses.
For each financial year, the rebate amount is set at $200 per household. It's important to note that only one Seniors Energy Rebate can be received per household, even if multiple eligible retirees reside at the same address.
If your application is approved, the rebate will be directly deposited into your nominated bank or Credit Union account, providing much-needed financial support.
To qualify for the rebate, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a resident of NSW.
- Hold a valid CSHC issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Be the primary account holder named on the electricity bill.
- Apply for the rebate for your primary place of residence.
By fulfilling these eligibility requirements, eligible NSW retirees can receive the $200 annual assistance through the Seniors Energy Rebate.
Who is eligible for the Energy Relief Bill rebate?
Energy bill relief is available for the primary account holder, or any other named account holder on the electricity account. To qualify, you must also hold an eligible pensioners concession card, or receive a qualifying government payment in your state or territory of residence. Eligible concession cards include:
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
- State Pensioner Concession Card
- DVA Gold Cards marked with either ‘War Widow’ or ‘War Widower Pension’ or ‘Totally and Permanently Incapacitated’ (TPI) or ‘Disability Pension’ (EDA).
Keep in mind that only one bill relief credit is provided per household, regardless of the number of eligible individuals residing there. The relief is applicable only to your main place of residence.
If you meet the eligibility criteria but are not listed on the electricity bill, and you pay for the electricity, contact your electricity provider to update the account details and receive the bill relief.
What do I need to do to get the rebate?
You may not need to do anything. Typically, your electricity provider will automatically apply the bill relief to your electricity account, resulting in a reduced amount on your next energy bill.
The process and timing may vary depending on where you live, as each state and territory have their own procedures. Rest assured that your bill relief will be applied automatically, and you'll see the benefits on your upcoming electricity bill without any extra steps needed on your part.
If you feel that you are paying too much for your electricity, you can compare electricity plans right here with Savvy. Our free comparison service will allow you to look at different plans side-by-side, so you can see if there is a cheaper energy plan available for your gas and electricity.
If I have a Department of Veterans’ Affairs Card, will I get the rebate?
If you have an eligible card from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA), but do not qualify for existing state or territory electricity rebate schemes, there's no immediate action required at the moment.
Between September and November 2023, the DVA will reach out to you directly and provide instructions on what steps you need to take. So, you can relax for now, and the DVA will get in touch with all the necessary details at the appropriate time.
What other rebates are available for seniors struggling with high energy bill costs?
In addition to the Energy Relief Bill rebate, additional assistance may be available to aged pensioners struggling with electricity bill shock. However, the help available will depend on what state or territory you live in, and your personal financial circumstances.
Typically, assistance is available for seniors who have high energy bills for any of the following reasons:
- Medical cooling requirements – if you suffer from a condition that limits your ability to regulate your own body temperature (such as Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinsons' Disease) you may be eligible for medical cooling concessions.
- Essential medical equipment – you may be eligible for extra payments if you need to run medical equipment such as a dialysis machine or oxygen generator for a medical condition.
- Life support energy concessions – if you need to run a life support machine such as a ventilator you may also be eligible for assistance with your energy bills.
To find out if you qualify for any additional assistance with power bills as a senior Australian, contact Centrelink or your state or territory government to find out what additional assistance you may be eligible for.
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