Thousands of Australians will be eligible for a huge discount on their energy bills with the welcome news for families ahead of Christmas.
Both the NSW and South Australian governments have extended the right to energy bill relief as part of the National Energy Bill Relief Plan.
Those who qualify now can receive up to $500 off their electric bill for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
The rebate was first announced in this year's federal budget and is funded by the federal government, along with states and territories.
How much you can receive and when you get the discount depends on where you live in the country.
Those who now qualify for the rebate can get up to $500 off their electric bill for the 2023-2024 financial year
Your eligibility, how much you can receive and when you receive it depends on where you live
In NSW, the discount has been extended to those receiving health benefits, low-income health care card holders and Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Gold Card holders.
In South Australia, the discount is now eligible for recipients of the Commonwealth Family Tax Benefit, people receiving Carer Allowance and holders of certain DVA cards.
It is estimated that another 55,000 people are now eligible for the payment in NSW, a spokesperson for the NSW Environment and Heritage Department said Yahoo.
The figure brings the total of eligible households to 1.6 million.
A total of 420,000 households in South Australia are eligible for the payment.
The South Australian government is now processing the second installments of the payment.
Applications open six weeks early to help with the higher costs at this time of year.
“We understand that many people are doing extremely hard as cost-of-living pressures continue, and we want everyone to be able to access the support they are eligible for,” NSW Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said.
“This is a significant milestone in the rollout of National Energy Bill Relief in New South Wales, with payments now available to all eligible consumers.”
People can check their eligibility and apply for the scheme on the NSW Government website.
The South Australian Government said Services Australia was contacting the new cohort of eligible people and inviting them to apply.
It is estimated that another 55,000 people are now eligible for the payment in NSW
Applications open six weeks early to help with the higher costs at this time of year
“As we head into Christmas, a reduction in energy bills will provide some relief at what is traditionally a very expensive time of year,” South Australian Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said.
Those in South Australia who never received any relief in the first quarter of the year but were eligible will get the full $500.
Existing recipients do not need to apply as the payment would have automatically allocated the payments to their electricity bill.
In more welcome news, the South Australian government has also extended its $650 energy bill reduction to thousands more businesses.
To qualify, businesses must be on embedded networks, such as businesses in shopping centers that do not receive their bill directly from an energy retailer.
It will be rolled out early next year after Business SA raised concerns with the government that businesses on embedded networks would miss out.
“There are many South Australian households and businesses under pressure right now, which is why we are providing targeted support to help those most in need in our community,” Treasurer Mullighan said.
“I encourage all consumers to check their eligibility and get the support they are entitled to,” said Trish Doyle, NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy.