Under the Household Assistance Package, Australians who rely on medical equipment which attracts additional running costs as a result of the implementation of the carbon tax, can now claim $149 annually.
If you have additional home energy costs because you need to operate essential medical equipment, then you can now claim the Essential Medical Equipment Payment. It is worth noting that this payment can also include medically required heating and/or cooling in your home if you need it to manage your disability or medical condition.
The Essential Medical Equipment Payment will be $149 during the 2015-16 financial year, and will be indexed annually in line with the Consumer Price Index.
The Essential Medical Equipment Payment will need to be claimed, however, in following years you will be paid automatically as long as you remain eligible. To be eligible for the payment, you must operate an item of medical equipment, or suffer from one of the conditions which requires increased heating or cooling. You also need to hold, or be included on, a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card to receive the payment.
Applications can be lodged now by selecting the Online Services option. If you do not have online access to Human Services, you can request a hard copy of the claim form by calling 132 468 and say ‘medical equipment’ at the prompts. A Human Services operator can arrange for a claim form to be sent to you.
Items covered by the Essential Medical Assistance Payment