Financial Aid and Subsidies

Financial Aid and Subsidies

Thermoregulatory Dysfunction Energy Subsidy Scheme

What is it?

The Thermoregulatory Dysfunction Energy Subsidy Scheme assists financially disadvantaged persons with a thermoregulatory dysfunction to offset the energy costs associated with operating equipment to control the temperature of their home. For the purpose of this subsidy, thermoregulatory dysfunction is defined as significant loss of a person’s capacity to control body temperature when exposed to extremes of environmental temperatures.

Are you eligible?

You are eligible if:

  • You are the holder of one of the following means tested concession cards: Pensioner Concession Card; Health Care Card; or Health Care Interim Voucher, and
  • You are assessed as meeting one of the four Primary Qualifying Conditions (muscular dystrophy qualifies as a neurodegenerative disorder) as certified by a treating doctor who has been treating the patient for at least three months; and
  • You are assessed as meeting one of the three Secondary Qualifying Conditions: these include (1) severe immobility, (2) demonstrated significant loss of autonomic regulation of sweating, heart rate or blood pressure and (3) demonstrated loss of physiological function or significant aggravation of clinic condition at extremes of environmental temperature.

How do you apply?

Apply or view more information at: finance.wa.gov.au/cms/State_Revenue/ECES/Energy_Subsidy_Schemes.aspx#TDES

Life Support Equipment Electricity Subsidy Scheme

What is it?

The Life Support Equipment Energy Subsidy (LSEES) assists financially disadvantaged persons or their dependants to meet the electricity costs associated with operating life support equipment at home.

Are you eligible?

You are eligible if:

  • You are the holder of one of the following means tested concession cards: Pensioner Concession Card; Health Care Card; or Health Care Interim Voucher, and
  • The specified home-based life support equipment must be prescribed by an appropriate specialist medical practitioner or a medical practitioner working in a specialist department of a hospital, and
  • The prescribed life support equipment operates at the specified home address.

How do you apply?

Apply or view more information at: finance.wa.gov.au/cms/State_Revenue/ECES/Energy_Subsidy_Schemes.aspx

Energy Concession Extension Scheme

What is it?

The Energy Concession Extension Scheme (ECES) provides annual payments to assist eligible people who are not directly billed by Synergy or Horizon Power (e.g. are billed by retailers such as Perth Energy or Alinta Sales) to meet their energy consumption costs in certain circumstances.

In addition to an Energy Assistance Payment, this scheme offers a further Dependent Child Rebate and Air-Conditioning Rebate.

Are you eligible?

Energy Assistance Payment
To be eligible you must reside in the home during the claim year, are not directly billed by Synergy or Horizon Power, and must hold one of the following concession cards: Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card.

Dependent Child Rebate
To be eligible you must have dependent children listed on one of the following eligible concession cards: Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card.

Air-conditioning Rebate
To be eligible:

  • You must live in an eligible household, defined as: living in areas of high heat discomfort, defined as locations north of the 26th parallel of south latitude and/or north of the 50-day Relative Strain Index line, and
  • You must be eligible for the Dependent Child Rebate.

How do you apply?

Apply or view more information at: finance.wa.gov.au/cms/State_Revenue/ECES/Energy_Subsidy_Schemes.aspx#TDES

Land Tax Exemption (if you own your property)

What is it?

Private residential property is exempt from land tax if on the 30th of June in the financial year before the assessment year it is used by a person with disability as their primary residence. At least one property owner must be a parent, grandparent, brother or sister of the person with the disability.

Are you eligible?

The property owner is eligible if:

How do you apply?

Apply or view more information at: finance.wa.gov.au/cms/uploadedFiles/State_Revenue/Land_Tax/Forms_and_Publications_pages/s26A-Application_for_Residential_Exemption-Individuals_Property_used_by_a_Related_Disabled_Person.pdf

Carer Payment

What is it?

Fortnightly income support for people giving constant care, in a private home, to someone with a severe disability, illness, or to an adult who is frail aged. The carer and person receiving care must be under the income and assets test limits.

Are you eligible?

You are eligible if:

  • you give constant, daily care to someone who has a severe disability or severe illness or is frail aged or
    • 2-4 children under 16 whose needs add up to the same as 1 child with severe needs or
    • 1-2 child under 16 and 1 adult whose needs add up to the same as 1 child with severe needs or
    • 2 or more children aged under 16 in shared care
  • and, you will care or have cared for them in a private home for at least 6 months, and
  • you spend no more than 25 hours a week away from caring for work, study or training, and
  • you are not receiving another income support payment; and
  • the carer and person receiving care are under the income and assets test limit. When assessing income and assets, a partner’s income and assets, as well as potentially the income and assets of other family members, is taken into account. The assets test excludes your principle home.

How do you apply?

Applications must be made through your Centrelink account: Carer Payment – How to claim – Services Australia

Carer Allowance

What is it?

An extra fortnightly payment for carers who provide additional daily care and attention for someone with a disability or medical condition, or who is frail aged. Carer Allowance is adjusted on the 1st of January each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

Carer Allowance when providing care for a dependent child under 16 years is either:

  • a fortnightly payment of $124.70 (as at January 1 2017) and a Health Care Card for the child, or
  • a Health Care Card only

Which of these you receive depends on the child’s care needs. Most muscular dystrophies experienced in persons under 16 years automatically qualifies for a fortnightly payment.

Carer Allowance when providing care for a person 16 years or over is paid at $124.70 per fortnight (as at January 1, 2017).

The amount of Carer Allowance you get depends on whether you are providing care for more than 1 person and whether you are in a shared care arrangement. You can claim Carer Allowance for each dependent child with a disability.

Are you eligible?

You are eligible if:

  • You provide additional daily care for one (or more) dependent children who live with you aged under 16 years, with a permanent disability or medical condition; or
  • You provide additional daily care for two dependent children with disabilities or medical conditions who live with you, who do not individually qualify for Carer Allowance, but together have a substantial caring responsibility; or
  • You provide additional daily care for a person aged 16 years or over who has a permanent disability, medical condition, or who is frail aged; and
  • Care is provided in either your home or the home of the person you are caring for, or in hospital.

How do you apply?

Applications must be made through your Centrelink account: humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/claiming-carer-allowance

Carer Supplement

What is it?

An annual lump-sum payment to assist carers with the costs of caring for a person with a disability or medical condition.

All Carer Allowance recipients will receive a supplement of up to $600 for each eligible person in their care. Some carers will receive 2 or more supplements, and those receiving a part-rate of Carer Allowance under shared care arrangements will receive a proportion of the supplement.

Are you eligible?

You are eligible if, during a year containing July 1, you were a recipient of one of the following payments:

How do you apply?

You do not need to apply for Carer Supplement. A payment will be automatically made into the nominated bank account of eligible persons.

Child Disability Assistance Payment

What is it?

An annual payment to assist parents with the costs of caring for a child with a disability.

This payment is an ongoing, non-indexed annual lump sum payment.

Carer Allowance recipients will receive a payment of up to $1,000 for each child in their care.

Some carers may receive 2 or more payments. Carers who receive a part rate of Carer Allowance under shared-care arrangements will also receive a part rate of this payment.

Are you eligible?

You are eligible if you have been paid a Carer Allowance for a child under 16 years for a period that includes 1 July. This also includes Carer Allowance backdated to include 1 July.

If you have a Carer Allowance, Health Care Card only (i.e. you are not eligible for fortnightly Carer Allowance), you are not eligible for this payment.

How do you apply?

If you are eligible for this payment for a period that includes July 1, you do not need to apply for a Child Disability Assistance Payment. A payment will be automatically made into your nominated bank account.

Disability Support Pension

What is it?

Financial support offered to persons aged between 16 years and those with an age pension who have a permanent physical, intellectual or psychiatric condition that prevents them from working.

Are you eligible?

You are eligible if:

  • You are 21 years or older and the income of you and your partner (if applicable) combined is less than the income and assets test limit; or
  • You are under 21 (and thus considered a dependent child) and your parent/guardian’s income and assets are less than the test limit; and
  • You have a permanent and diagnosed disability or medical condition that means that you can’t work or retrain to work at least 15 hours a week in the next 2 years.

Depending on your circumstances, it may be necessary to show you have attended a Job Capacity Assessment for the Disability Support Pension claim.

Depending on your circumstances, it may be necessary for you to have taken part in a Program of Support for at least 18 months in the 3 years before you claim the Disability Support Pension.

Program of Support Providers include Disability Employment Services, JobActive and Australian Disability Enterprises.

How do you apply?

Claiming the Disability Support Pension is complex. Before starting a claim, contact the Department of Human Services Disability Support Pension Department on 132 717 to discuss your potential claim.

You can also find out more information about the Disability Support Pension here: humanservices.gov.au/sites/default/files/2016/12/ci022-1701en.pdf

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance pending the outcome of the Disability Support Pension assessment. This should be discussed with the Department of Human Services when you start your claim.

Water Rebate (if you own your property)

What is it?

The concession available is for pensioners and seniors and is rebate of up to 50% on water use charges up to prescribed levels, provided, that the bill is paid by the due date, or deferred payment of your water bill.

Are you eligible?

You are eligible if on 1 July of the current financial year:

  • You own and occupy the property as your ordinary place of residence, and
  • You hold a Pensioner Concession, State Concession, WA Senior or both a WA Senior and Commonwealth Senior Health Card.

How do you apply?

Water Corporation accepts applications over the phone, telephone 1300 659 951, and also provide an online application facility via watercorporation.com.au/my-account/i-want-to/apply-for-a-concession

Emergency Services Levy Rebate (if you own your property)

What is it?

The concession available is for pensioners and seniors as either a rebate on, or the deferment of, this charge. Emergency Service Levy is paid by all property owners in WA, and is included in your Local Government Rates.

Are you eligible?

You are eligible if on 1 July of the current financial year:

  • You own and occupy the property as your ordinary place of residence, and
  • You are a senior or pensioner holding an appropriate concession cards:
    • Pensioner Concession Card or State Concession Card (up to 50% rebate, may be entitled to deferment), or
    • WA Seniors Card and a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (up to 50% rebate, may be entitled to deferment), or
    • WA Seniors Card (up to 25% rebate, no deferment available)

Partial concessions are available to pensioners and seniors who own and occupy their property at 1 July and become eligible during that financial year.

How do you apply?

To view more information, see: dfes.wa.gov.au/emergencyserviceslevy/ESL%20Docs/ESL_Pensioner_Senior_Concessions.pdf

Underground Electricity Connection Charge Rebate (if you own your property)

What is it?

The concession is available to pensioners and seniors as either a rebate on, or the deferment of, this charge.

Are you eligible?

You are eligible if on 1 July of the current financial year:

  • You own and occupy the property as your ordinary place of residence, and
  • You hold a Pensioner Concession, State Concession, WA Senior or both a WA Senior and Commonwealth Senior Health Card.

Partial concessions are available to pensioners and seniors who own and occupy their property at 1 July and become eligible during that financial year.

How do you apply?

www.watercorporation.com.au/my-account/i-want-to/apply-for-a-concession

Youngcare

What is it?

Youngcare have recently opened up their grants to Western Australians applicants!

They provide two grants at present for equipment, home modifications and emergency respite care.

Who is eligible and how to apply?

Youngcare’s At Home Care Grants 

This grant is for individuals aged between 18-65 with high care needs who are living at home who require funding for equipment, home modifications and essential support/ respite that is unable to be funded through other means such as NDIS.

Grants are one-off funding up to the value of $10 000.

Youngcare’s Home Support Grant 

This grant is for individuals aged between 18-65 who have a permanent disability and need urgent funding to either remain living at home, move back home or make their current house more accessible.

Grants can be up to $20 000 and funding must be unobtainable through other means such as NDIS.

For more information and to apply please visit their website or call 1800 844 727

https://www.youngcare.com.au/what-we-do/grants/home-support-grant/

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