Essential Medical Equipment Payment
Alternative names for essential medical equipment
A list of alternative names for the equipment is available.
Household Assistance Package
This payment is a part of the Household Assistance Package. The package also includes the Low Income Supplement, Low Income Family Supplement, Clean Energy Advance,Clean Energy Supplement and Single Income Family Supplement.
Information in your language
You can read more about the Essential Medical Equipment Payment in languages other than English.
Quick links
- Apply online now. Payments will be made from 1 July 2012.
- Find your nearest DHS Service Centre
Eligibility basics
- are covered by a Commonwealth concession card issued by the Department of Human Services or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
- provide proof that the specified equipment or heating/cooling is medically required
- are responsible, either wholly or partly, for meeting the energy costs associated with running the equipment
The Essential Medical Equipment Payment is an annual $140 payment to people who experience additional increases in home energy costs from the use of essential medical equipment to manage their disability or medical condition. This payment must be claimed, and payments will be available from 1 July 2012.
You may be eligible for this payment if you or the person in your regular care at home:
- are covered by a Commonwealth concession card issued by the Department of Human Services or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
- provide proof that the specified equipment or heating/cooling is medically required. This proof can be provided as:
- certification from a Medical Practitioner,or
- evidence that the essential medical equipment currently qualifies for assistance under one of the state or territory government schemes, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Rehabilitation Appliances Program.
Note: This evidence option does not apply to medically required heating/cooling.
You may also need to prove that you, or the person you care for, contribute to the payment of the home energy account.
You will need to apply for the Essential Medical Equipment Payment online. There will be no need to reapply in future years unless your personal circumstances change. To receive this payment, you will also need to be in Australia on the date that you apply for the payment and on the anniversary of this date in subsequent years. Dependent children are not able to claim this payment.
Eligibility & payment rates
Items that attract an Essential Medical Equipment Payment
The following list of equipment will attract an Essential Medical Equipment Payment.
Medical conditions that attract a payment for heating and cooling
If you have one or more of the specified medical conditions outlined below, you may be eligible for the Essential Medical Equipment Payment.
Alternative names for essential medical equipment
The following table supplies alternative names for essential medical equipment.
Read more about alternative names for essential medical equipment
Other benefits while receiving Essential Medical Equipment Payment
If you qualify for the Essential Medical Equipment Payment, you may be entitled to other payments and benefits, such as:
Claiming
Applying for the Essential Medical Equipment Payment
You will need to apply for the Essential Medical Equipment Payment on line. To apply you will need to log on to Centrelink Online Services. If you are not registered for online services you will need to create an online account with australia.gov.au and register for Centrelink Online Services before you can begin the online claim.
See Information you need to know about your claim.
There will be no need to reapply in future years unless your personal circumstances change.
To receive this payment, you will also need to be in Australia on the date that you apply for the payment and on the anniversary of this date in subsequent years.
Dependent children are not able to claim this payment.