Are you getting all the rebates you’re entitled to?
Recent inflation on energy costs has put tremendous financial strain on many households right across the country.
It’s little wonder FiftyUp Club members are racking their brains (and bills) looking into every angle possible to cut down on expenditure and save.
One cost saving measure everyone can look into accessing is government rebates.
That’s if you qualify, of course.
Government rebates are available on both a national and state level and differ from state to state. Your respective state government body will be able to help you determine if you are indeed eligible, however, rebates are most commonly designed to cater for pensioners, those on a low income, or hold a valid DVA gold card.
To save you the time, we’ve summarised the main rebate items you might be able to claim in your state:
NSW
The Low Income Household Rebate helps NSW households pay their electricity bills and provides $235 a year to eligible customers who hold an electricity account, or $258.50 a year to eligible long-term residents of residential communities and retirement villages.
Meanwhile the Gas Rebate now provides $90 per financial year to eligible customers who hold a natural gas account with a gas retailer of their choice, or $99 per financial year to eligible customers with on-supplied LPG or natural gas and living in residential communities, retirement villages and strata schemes.
Link: http://www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/energy-consumers/financial-assistance/rebates
ACT
The Energy and Utility Concession and the Water and Sewerage Rebate are now combined into a single Utilities Concession at a maximum rebate of $604.00 per household. What’s more, all eligible households will now receive the same level of concession regardless of whether they rent or own a home.
QLD
Queensland pensioners and seniors may now be eligible for the Electricity Rebate, which is currently $340.85 per year whilst the Reticulated Natural Gas Rebate is $71.30 per year.
Link: https://www.qld.gov.au/community/cost-of-living-support/concessions/
SA
The Cost of Living Concession now amounts to (per eligible household) $202.70 for homeowner-occupiers, $101.40 for homeowner-occupiers, who are self-funded retirees with a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and $101.40 for tenants.
Link: https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/energy-and-environment/energy-bills
VIC
The Annual Electricity Concession is available to help ease the cost of living pressures by providing concession cardholders with a discount of 17.5 per cent off household electricity bills. This compensation represents a subsidy of $171.60 for electricity across the year.
Link: http://www.vic.gov.au/government-economy/budgets-funding-rebates/rebates.html
WA
The Energy Assistance Payment (EAP) offers those eligible $233.95 per year whilst the Hardship Utilities Grant Scheme (HUGS) provides about $538 per year to those who qualify.
Link: https://www.wa.gov.au/information-about/wa-government/awards-grants-rebates
PLUS - don't forget to see if you can save hundreds of dollars by switching your electricity and/or gas providers.
CLICK HERE to see the Club's current special offers for members
