The Clean Energy Advance helps low and middle income households meet the impacts of carbon pricing on living expenses for up to 12 months. The Clean Energy Advance will be paid before the carbon price is introduced in July 2012. Eligible customers will receive the advance automatically from May 2012.

The Clean Energy Advance will provide assistance for income support recipients for the period from 1 July 2012 until the Clean Energy Supplement payments commence.

Clean Energy Advance payment rates and dates

You will receive the Clean Energy Advance if you get one of the following Centrelink payments and meet eligibility requirements. 

For a full list of Clean Energy Advance payments and rates please see the Clean Energy Advance payment rates on the FaHCSIA website.

You do not need to apply for the Clean Energy Advance. Payments will be made automatically as follows:

If you receive	Payment period
Family Payment Family Tax Benefit Part A and Part B	16 May 2012 to 29 May 2012
Pension Age Pension Bereavement Allowance Carer Payment Disability Support Pension Parenting Payment Single Widow B Pension Wife Pension	28 May 2012 to 8 June 2012
Other income support ABSTUDY Living Allowance Austudy Exceptional Circumstance Relief Payment Newstart Allowance Parenting Payment Partnered Partner Allowance Sickness Allowance Special Benefit Widow Allowance Youth Allowance	11 June 2012 to 22 June 2012
Seniors Supplement	25 June 2012 with regular quarterly payment

Lump sum Family Tax Benefit customers

The Clean Energy Advance is paid in respect of the 2012-13 financial year. If you claim Family Tax Benefit as a lump sum at the end of the financial year, the Clean Energy Advance will be automatically included when your 2012-13 lump sum claim is processed.

If you wish to be assessed for a Clean Energy Advance earlier, you will need to lodge a claim for fortnightly payments of Family Tax Benefit.

You can lodge your claim for Family Tax Benefit online with Centrelink Online Services.

Blended families and shared care arrangements

If both you and your partner are in receipt of Family Tax Benefit, you will both receive the Clean Energy Advance based on your blended family or shared care percentage. If only one person in the household is in receipt of Family Tax Benefit, the Clean Energy Advance will be paid to that person.

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders

People who hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and receive the Seniors Supplement will automatically receive a Clean Energy Advance on 25 June 2012. If you have a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, but do not receive the Seniors Supplement you will receive a letter in the mail advising that you need to provide your details to receive the Seniors Supplement and therefore the Clean Energy Advance. All you will need to do is complete the attached form and return it in the reply paid envelope.

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