Household Assistance Package

The Household Assistance Package includes tax reforms, increases to government pensions and benefits, and new payments.

Clean Energy Supplement

If you receive an income support payment or Family Tax Benefit, the Clean Energy Supplement will be paid automatically with your regular payment for:

• pensioners and most income support recipients from 22 March 2013
• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders who receive Seniors Supplement from 24 June 2013
• Family Tax Benefit recipients from 1 July 2013
• youth and most students from 1 January 2014, following a second Clean Energy Advance in July 2013.

If you are eligible, you will be paid automatically – you don’t need to contact us.

The amount of your Clean Energy Supplement depends on your circumstances and the payment you receive.

The Clean Energy Supplement provides ongoing assistance after the period covered by the Clean Energy Advance

Read more about the Clean Energy Supplement

Clean Energy Advance

The Clean Energy Advance is a tax-free payment, paid automatically as a lump sum to eligible pensioners, other income support recipients, families receiving Family Tax Benefit and Seniors Supplement recipients.

Read more about the Clean Energy Advance

Essential Medical Equipment Payment

The Essential Medical Equipment Payment is an annual $140 payment to people who experience increases in home energy costs from the use of essential medical equipment to manage their disability or medical condition.

Read more about the Essential Medical Equipment Payment

Low Income Supplement

The Low Income Supplement is a $300 payment which can be claimed annually. You may be eligible for the Low Income Supplement if, for the 2011-12 financial year, you were required to pay less than $300 tax and did not receive a pension or benefit from the Australian Government for more than 39 weeks.

Read more about the Low Income Supplement

Low Income Family Supplement

The low Income Family Supplement is a $300 payment which can be claimed annually. You may be eligible for the Low Income Family Supplement if, in the 2011-12 financial year if you or your partner (if you had one) received Family Tax Benefit for 39 weeks or more, and both you and your partner were required to pay less than $300 in tax.

Read more about the Low Income Family Supplement

Single Income Family Supplement

The Single Income Family Supplement is a payment of up to $300 for families with at least one dependent child and with one primary earner whose income is between $68,000 and $150,000. If there is a secondary income earner in the family, their income needs to be below $18,000.

Read more about the Single Income Family Supplement

Tax reforms

From 1 July 2012, the tax-free threshold was raised from $6000 to $18 200. Many Australians with taxable incomes up to $80,000 will receive a tax-cut.

For more information visit the Australian Taxation Office website.

Clean Energy Future Plan

The Household Assistance Package is part of the Australian Government’s plan for a clean energy future. Read more about the Clean Energy Future Plan.