Seniors Energy Rebate & Concessions 2024
Every state in Australia offers some sort of energy rebate to seniors and pensioners with valid senior health cards or pensioner concession cards. While the details and eligibility of the pensioners and seniors energy rebate vary, if you hold a concession card, you’re probably eligible for some help on your energy bills. Find out more about how you can apply to the Senior Energy Rebate in your state or territory by reading more below.
Senior Energy Discounts
In Australia, seniors and pensioners can access various discounts and concessions on their energy plans to help manage costs. These discounts often come in the form of rebates or specific plans tailored to the needs of older Australians.
State-Specific Rebates & Concessions: Each state in Australia offers its own energy rebates and concessions for eligible seniors. For example, in New South Wales, the Low Income Household Rebate provides financial assistance with electricity costs. Similarly, Victoria offers the Annual Electricity Concession, which provides a percentage discount on electricity bills.
| State | Seniors Concession |
|---|---|
| NSW | $250 |
| VIC | 17.5% of total annual bill (excluding first $171.60) |
| QLD | $372.20 (electricity) |
| SA | $263.15 |
| Source: State government websites, August 2024. | |
Energy Providers' Offers: Some energy providers also have specific plans or discounts for seniors and pensioners. These plans may offer lower rates or additional discounts on usage or supply charges.
Eligibility: Eligibility for these rebates and discounts usually requires holding a Pensioner Concession Card, a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, or other qualifying documentation.
Comparing Plans: Seniors can benefit from comparing different energy plans available to them. Websites like Canstar Blue provide tools to compare electricity and gas plans, allowing seniors to find the most cost-effective options for their needs. It's important to check the specific offers and eligibility requirements in your state and with your energy provider. For more details, you can visit Canstar Blue's website or your state's government website.
Seniors Energy Plans
Seniors shouldn't stress over rising energy costs. If you haven't reviewed your energy provider recently, now is a good time to shop around and potentially save more. Since seniors often use less power, focus on finding plans with low usage charges to maximize savings.
Although there are no exclusive plans for seniors, using energy comparison tools can help you find some of the most affordable deals in cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide. These tools provide a broad view of available options, not just senior-specific plans.
Check directly with energy providers to see if there are any special plans or discounts for seniors. Major Australian energy companies, like AGL, offers tailored products or discounts for seniors and pensioners. Switching could lead to significant savings and added benefits.
EnergyAustralia also offers deals that are compatible with senior concessions and state rebates. If you hold a Pensioner Concession Card or Seniors Card, apply your rebate through the EnergyAustralia website by creating a "My Account" and updating your details. The discount will be applied immediately to your account.
Below, you will find the AGL energy plans for seniors and their yearly prices.
| State | Discount | Estimated Price/Year |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | 18% less than reference price | $1,484 |
| VIC | 12% less than VDO | $1,282 $125 sign up credit |
| QLD | 5% less than reference price | $1,961 |
| SA | 7% less than reference price | $2,074 |
These costs are based on typical energy usage for a residential customer on a single rate tariff and may vary depending on individual circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage as outlined for each network. For more specific comparisons, please use our comparison tool or contact the retailer directly. Prices and availability are subject to change. Refer to the retailer's Energy Fact Sheet for full details. | ||
†Products are from a referral partner. The provided details are for illustrative purposes and may not cover all deals in your area. Check all details directly with the retailer before making a decision. Valid November 2024.
Important Information Show Less
Seniors Energy Rebates
The seniors energy rebate is a rebate for a discount off your energy bills and is available to eligible seniors and pensioners who hold certain Health and Concession cards in Australia.
The exact details of the energy rebates depend on the individual state. Some energy rebates for seniors cover gas and electricity while others only cover one.
Choose your state from the list below to see the details of the seniors energy rebates in your area.
Remember:Although you qualify for senior rebates, you may still be eligible for other rebates that aren't specifically tailored to seniors such as a solar rebate.
Seniors Energy Rebate NSW
There are many energy rebates in NSW, but the pensioners rebate is one of the most famous.
The Seniors Energy Rebate in NSW is available to self-funded retirees with a primary residence in New South Wales and offers up to $200 per household per year to put toward you electricity bills. To qualify you must have a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card issued by Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Who is eligible for the Seniors Energy Rebate in NSW?
To be eligible for the $200 Senior Energy Rebate in New South Wales, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a resident of New South Wales
- Hold a valid Commonwealth Seniors Health Card from Centrelink or the DVA
- Be registered as the primary account holder on your electricity bill
- Be applying for your primary residence in New South Wales only
How to Apply for the Pensioners Electricity Rebate NSW
If you have checked and you are eligible and meet the criteria to apply for the seniors energy rebate, then you can apply online at the Services NSW website.
Before you apply make sure you have the following documents handy:
- Your Centrelink or DVA Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
- Your most recent electricity bill
- Your Contact information
- Your banking/credit union details
Steps to apply for the NSW seniors energy rebate online:
- Visit the Services NSW application link
- Log in to your MyServiceNSW Account or create a new one
- Follow the on-screen prompts to enter your details
- Submit the application
You can also apply in person at any Service NSW Centre or request over the phone at 13 77 88.
Once your application is approved, Services NSW will send a payment directly to your bank account within 5 business days.
On the other hand, if your application is denied, Services NSW will notify you.
You may also want to check out:
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Seniors Energy Rebate QLD
There are 2 different seniors discounts in QLD if you hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Senior Health card, or DVA card:
- The Electricity Rebate offers $340.85 per year
- The Reticulated Natural Gas Rebate offers $76.19 per year
If you qualify for both energy rebates you can receive a total of $415.77 including GST.
Who is Eligible for the Seniors Energy Discount in QLD?
To apply for the Electricity Rebate or the Reticulated Gas Rebate for pensioners and seniors you will need to have one of the following cards to qualify:
- Pensioner Concession Card
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card
- Queensland Seniors Card
- Commonwealth Senior Health Care Card (Electricity Rebate only)
- Asylum seeker status—residents will need to provide their ImmiCard details (Electricity Rebate only)
In addition, you must be:
- A resident of Queensland,
- The primary account holder
- Live alone or share your place of residence with a spouse, dependant, other Pensioner Concession Card, other Queensland Senior Card holders, care and assistance providers who do not pay rent, or others who receive income support payment who do not pay rent.
How to Apply for the Seniors Electricity Rebate:
To apply for the Seniors Electricity Rebate in Queensland, simply contact your electricity provider. You can apply with a written form or by simply calling your energy provider. However, you will need to give them information regarding your concessions card and your most recent bill. If your application is successful the rebate money will be automatically applied and deducted from your electricity bills.
How to Apply for the Reticulated Natural Gas Rebate:
To apply for the Reticulated Natural Gas Rebate, simply contact your gas provider. Make sure you have your most recent bill and your concession card with you as they will need this during the application process. As with the seniors electricity rebate, if your application is successful the rebate money will be automatically applied and deducted from your gas bill.
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Seniors Energy Rebate VIC
If you have a seniors card in Victoria, you can apply for 2 different energy rebates for seniors:
- The Electricity Concession covers 17.5% of your electricity usage & service charges
- The Winter Gas Rebate covers 17.5% of your gas usage & service charges
You can apply for these energy rebates if you are a resident of Victoria and have a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, or Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card.
The electricity concession does not apply to the first $171.60 on your annual bill, which means that you will only receive this rebate for the money you spend after this amount. However, if you spend over $2,973.00 on electricity per year, you must apply for the Excess Electricity Rebate instead.
Likewise, the winter gas rebate does not apply to the first $62.50 of the six-month winter billing period, which means that you can only receive the rebate after you have spent $62.50. However, if you spend over $1,644.00 in the period from 1 May to 31 October, you must apply for the Excess Gas concession instead.
Who is Eligible for the Electricity Concession & Winter Gas Rebate in Victoria?
To be eligible for the annual Electricity Concession or Winter Gas Rebate in Victoria you must:
- Be a resident of Victoria
- Be the account holder
- Have one of the following cards:
- A Pensioner Concession Card
- A Health Care Card
- AVeterans’ Affairs Gold Card
Seniors Energy Rebate ACT
There is a seniors energy rebate in ACT known as The Utilities Concession.
The Utilities Concession helps to cover all utility bills for senior and pensioner residents in ACT with eligible concession or health care cards.
If you have a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card (PCC), Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card (HCC), Veteran’s Affairs Pensioner Concession Card or Gold Card, you can get an energy rebate worth up to $700 to assist with utility bills through this pensioners discount.
The Commonwealth Senior Health Care Card is not eligible for this concession
Who is Eligible for the ACT Utilities Concession?
To be eligible for the ACT Utilities Concession, you must be applying for your primary place of residence and be the main cardholder of one of the following:
- Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)
- Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card (HCC)
- Veteran’s Affairs Pensioner Concession Card (only POW, TPI & War Widows)
- Gold Card Holders
It's also important to note that the address listed on your card must match the address on your energy account or you will not be eligible.
Important!If you are a Low Income Health Care Cardholder, you will need to submit a new application every time you are issued a new card.
How to Apply for the Utilities Concession in ACT:
To apply for the Utilities concession, simply contact your energy provider and make sure you have your card information handy so that they can verify that you meet the eligibility criteria.
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Seniors Energy Rebate SA
Pensioners and seniors with eligible cards in South Australia have two available energy rebates:
- The Energy Bills Concession offers up to $231.41 / year to help cover the cost of energy bills (including petrol and LPG bottled gas)
- The Cost of Living Concession offers up to $107.60 / year for self-funded retirees on fixed incomes to help with electricity, gas, water, medical bills, and council rates.
How to apply for the seniors energy rebate in South Australia
To apply for the Cost of Living Concession or the Energy Bill Concession in South Australia you must live at the property you are applying for and have one of the following cards:
- Pensioner Concession Card
- DVA Gold Card
- Low Income Health Care Card
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
If you are applying for the Energy Bill Concession, nobody in your household can have an income of more than $3,000 per year unless they are a spouse, domestic partner, or dependent, or get an allowance through Centrelink or DVA.
Seniors Energy Rebate TAS
If you hold a DHS or DVA Pensioner Concession Card in Tasmania, you are eligible for two senior energy rebates in the state:
- The Annual electricity concession offers a daily energy discount of 140.70c / day to help pay for the cost of your electricity.
- The heating allowance for pensioners offers two payments of $28 in May and September to help pay for the cost of your heating.
Who is Eligible for the pensioners' energy rebate in Tasmania?
You can apply to both the annual electricity concession and the heating allowance if you live in Tasmania and have one of the following:
- DHS or DVA Pensioner Concession Card
- DHA Health Care Card, or an ImmiCard
To apply for the annual electricity concession and the heating allowance, simply contact your energy supplier.
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Seniors Energy Rebate WA
The name of the pensioners' energy rebate in Western Australia is called The WA Government Energy Assistance Payment.
The Energy Assistance Payment offers up to $305.25 annually for help with your energy bills in Western Australia.
The Energy Assistance Program now replaces the Cost of Living Allowance in Western Australia.
Who is Eligible for the Energy Assistance Payment?
You can apply for the WA Government Energy Assistance Payment if you’re a resident of Western Australia and have one of the following cards:
- Centrelink Health Care Card
- Centrelink Pensioner Concessions Card
- Veteran Affairs Gold Card
- Centrelink Commonwealth Seniors card
- Veteran Affairs Commonwealth Seniors Card
- Veteran Affairs Pensioner Concession Card
How to Apply for the Energy Assistance Payment
You can apply to this energy rebate using the following online application form.
Once you have applied, the government will verify concession card details with Centrelink, the DVA or the Department for Communities as well as look into your energy account consumption to prove the truthfulness of your application.
Seniors Energy Rebate NT
The name of the energy rebate for seniors over the age of 65 and residing in the Northern Territory is the NT Seniors Recognition Scheme.
the NT Seniors Recognition Scheme offers up to $500 / year to help with electricity, gas, phone and internet bills, as well as fuel, travel, and accommodation expenses.
Who is eligible for the NT Seniors Recognition Scheme?
To receive a rebate NT Seniors Recognition Scheme, you will need to prove your identity and residency with some supporting documents.
This includes proof of Australian citizenship or permanent residency with a supporting document which can include:
- A birth certificate
- An Australian passport
- A citizenship certificate
- Some types of Aboriginal identification
- An immigration card
- Other Australian government documents
You will also need to prove you are a current NT resident or live in the NT for 183 days out of the year, with proof of your current home address.
If you don’t have proof of a fixed home address, you can prove residency with a letter from a medical professional, police officer, or NT Government or Australian Government employee.
Sudden financial hardship?If you're suddenly experiencing financial hardship and having difficulty paying your energy bills, a one-off energy assistance payment might be available for you.
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How Do I Apply for the Seniors Energy Rebate in my state?
Below we have made a quick list of each seniors energy rebate or concession for pensioners by state and how to apply:
| Energy Rebate & State | How to apply |
|---|---|
| New South Wales Seniors Energy Rebate | Apply directly online for the Senior Energy Rebate NSW or call 13 77 88 |
| Electricity and Gas Rebates for Pensioners and Seniors in Queensland | Contact your gas or electricity retailer and provide your personal details |
| Annual Electricity and Winter Gas Rebates in Victoria | Contact your gas or electricity retailer and provide your personal details |
| ACT Utilities Concession | You must be a customer of a registered energy provider (ActewAGL, Origin, or EnergyAustralia) and contact them directly to apply |
| Tasmania Annual Electricity Concession or Heating Allowance | Contact your authorised retailer and provide your personal details |
| WA Government Energy Assistance Program | Apply directly online for the WA Government Energy Assistance Program |
| NT Seniors Recognition Scheme | Apply directly online for the NT Seniors Recognition Scheme |
| SA Energy Bill and Cost of Living Concessions | Apply directly online or fill out an Application For Household Concession and email it to a[email protected] |
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