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Help paying bills

Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) vouchers

Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) is a NSW Government Scheme designed to help people who are having trouble paying their home electricity and/or gas bill because of a crisis or emergency situation. The Scheme helps people in these situations to stay connected.

The $50 EAPA vouchers are distributed to electricity and gas customers by a range of community welfare organisations.

• Where to find EAPA: list of NSW Government EAPA distributors
• Who to contact about EAPA: Talk to your retailer or phone Service NSW on 13 77 88
• Can't find EAPA? Contact EWON for help

Before you seek assistance

If you are having trouble paying your bill, speak to your energy company first. All energy retailers in NSW have programs to help customers in financial difficulty manage their bills more effectively.

If you are unable to make arrangements with your supplier, contact a local community agency that distributes EAPA vouchers to make an appointment.

If you can't get an appointment right away, let your supplier know you made an appointment for EAPA assessment. Your supplier is not allowed to disconnect you if they know you have an appointment booked for an EAPA assessment.

Where can you get EAPA?

Many community welfare organisations distribute EAPA vouchers. These include:

• St Vincent de Paul Society
• The Salvation Army
• Anglicare
• Lifeline
• some migrant resource centres
• some community or neighbourhood centres
• some indigenous community services.

Download a list of community welfare agencies that distribute EAPA. If you can't locate an agency in your area, contact us for help.

Who can get EAPA?

If you are in financial hardship due to a crisis or emergency situation you can apply for EAPA voucher assistance. This hardship may be caused by a range or combination of factors, including:

• a loss of income
• a very high electricity/gas bill
• an illness in the family
• a family crisis
• unexpected expenses or bills.

The community welfare organisation will make an assessment based on government issued guidelines.

How does it work?

1. In most cases you will need to make an appointment with the agency by phone
2. Let your provider know you have made an appointment for EAPA assessment
3. Take your electricity or natural gas bill to the appointment and the agency will assess whether you are eligible for EAPA vouchers and, if so, how many.
4. The agency will submit these vouchers electronically straight to the provider and they should be paid into your account within five business days
5. The agency may also help you arrange a payment plan with your provider for the remainder of the bill, or provide other assistance such as financial counselling
6. If not organised beforehand, call your energy provider to make an arrangement for the remainder of your bill
7. If you are unable to make arrangements to pay the remainder, you can contact us for help.

Water Payment Assistance Scheme (PAS) credits

The Water Payment Assistance Scheme (PAS) can help you if you are having difficulty paying your Hunter Water, Sydney Water or Shoalhaven Water bill. This scheme assists people experiencing financial hardship by providing credit to a water account.

Before you seek assistance

If you are having trouble paying your bill you should speak to your water company first. Water suppliers may be able to suggest a payment scheme or arrangement to assist you manage your bills (see customer assistance programs).

If you are unable to make arrangements with your supplier, contact a local community agency that offers this form of assistance and make an appointment.

Where can you get water credits?

Many community welfare organisations offer PAS. These include:

• St Vincent de Paul Society
• The Salvation Army
• Anglicare
• The Smith Family
• Some community or neighbourhood centres.

If you can't find a PAS agency in your area, contact us for help.

Who can get water credits?

Anyone who is in financial hardship can apply for PAS assistance. The hardship may be caused by a range or combination of factors, including:

• a loss of income
• a very high water bill
• an illness in the family
• a family crisis
• unexpected expenses or bills.

What about tenants?

Although the landlord is responsible for the water account, in many cases it is a condition of the lease for tenants to pay for the cost of water consumption. If you are responsible for this part of the water bill, you may be eligible for PAS.

Access to PAS for tenants is limited to $150 for water usage. As PAS cannot be used to put an account in credit, the landlord should not pay the entire bill in advance if you want to use PAS credit. As this is a private arrangement between you and your landlord or real estate agent, speak to them first if you are facing financial difficulty.

For detailed information, contact your water supplier. Further information on your rights and responsibilities as a tenant is available from Tenants NSW.

How does it work?

1. In most cases you will need to make an appointment with the agency over the telephone.
2. Take your water bill to the appointment and the agency will decide if they can assist you
3. The agency may also help you arrange a payment plan with your supplier for the remainder of the bill, or provide other assistance such as financial counselling.
4. Pay the vouchers on to your account at the post office or other outlet, remembering to bring along a recent bill with the barcode intact.
5. If not organised beforehand, call your water supplier to make an arrangement for the remainder of your bill.
6. If you are unable to make arrangements to pay the remainder, you can contact us for help.

Financial counselling

A financial counsellor can help if you are having trouble making payments on your energy or water accounts, or negotiating an affordable payment plan with your supplier.

Financial counsellors provide a free community service and they work in community organisations that assist consumers who are experiencing financial problems.

A financial counsellor can negotiate or advocate on your behalf, and they can develop a budget which can help you manage your finances and stay on top of your bills. A report from a financial counsellor can help show what you can afford to pay towards a energy or water debt.

Find a financial counsellor in your area.

NILS assistance

The No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) helps low income households to purchase or replace essential household items.

A typical NILS loan is around $800 to $1200 for whitegoods, furniture, medical appliances or any other essential household item. As loans are repaid over 12-18 months, the money is 'recycled' and lent out again to other people in the community.

There are number of community agencies in NSW that operate NILS schemes. A comprehensive list of schemes and detailed information about the program is available on the NILS website or phone 1800 50 9994.

Example of the NILS loan process (taken from the NILS website)

1. The client is given preliminary information about how NILS work, including the allowable loan purposes, the application process and the obligation to repay. If the client meets the eligibility criteria, they make an appointment to see the loans officer. They are told what documentation they need to bring, and are asked to get 2 quotes for the product they are requesting a loan for.
2. The client has an interview with the loans officer. The client is required to bring specific documents, such as their lease and last electricity bill. The client is also helped to fill out a detailed statement of their household budget and income. These steps are necessary to demonstrate that the loan eligibility criteria have been made and the repayments are affordable.
3. The loan application is checked by a loans committee to ensure it meets the criteria. If approved, the client signs a loan contract which sets out their rights and responsibilities in simple terms. A cheque is made out to the retailer and the client takes possession of the goods.
4. A fortnightly repayment method is established for the client. This may be a book of bank deposit slips, a bank direct deposit arrangement or a Centrelink direct debit arrangement (via Centrepay).
5. If the client has problems with repayments, they are encouraged to contact the NILS loans officer to defer or reduce repayments.

Rebates and assistance

NSW Government Rebates

The NSW Government funds a number of rebate programs for electricity and gas customers, including:

• NSW Family Energy Rebate
• Low Income Household Rebate
• NSW Gas Rebate
• Life Support Rebate
• Medical Energy Rebate
• Seniors Energy Rebate

You can also apply for all NSW rebates except the Family Energy Rebate through your electricity supplier. Learn more about rebates, eligibility and the application process.

Important things to note:

• You may need to reapply for these rebates periodically.
• Generally, the energy, life support and medical rebates are not backdated.
• If your household is registered as using a life support system, you cannot be disconnected.
• If you move address or switch retailers, make sure that the rebate has been applied to your new account.
• The Family Energy and Low Income Household rebates are available to long-term residents in caravan or residential parks.
• As of 1 July 2013 the Low Income Household Rebate is available to eligible residents of retirement villages
• As of 1 July 2015, if you operate more than one piece of life support equipment, or if more than one person in your home uses life support equipment, you may be entitled to multiple rebates. For more information, see this list of approved life support equipment
• NSW Energy & Resources has rebate language support for NSW consumers available in Arabic, simplified Chinese and Vietnamese
• The NSW Social Programs for Energy Code outlines that if you’re a new customer, your provider should ask if you are eligible for rebates at the time you open an account. If you become eligible for a rebate after you’ve opened an account, you should contact your retailer and provide them with your Centrelink or Veterans’ Affair number
• If you are a rebate participant, your retailer should use reasonable endeavours to help you identify the most appropriate market offer available.

If you are not satisfied with how your supplier has applied your rebate, you contact us for help.

Federal Government Payments and Allowances

Utilities Allowance

The Utilities Allowance is a Federal Government allowance designed to help pensioners meet the costs of regular bills such as gas, electricity and water. It is a non-taxable payment and it is not subject to an income or assets test. It is available to people residing in Australia who receive the age pension, Mature Age Allowance (MAA), Partner Allowance (PA) or Widow Allowance (WA).

For new applicants, qualification is determined on 20 March and 20 September each year and payable every March and September thereafter. For more information contact Centrelink.

Essential Medical Equipment Payment

To be eligible for the Essential Medical Equipment Payment, Centrelink customers and DVA Concession Card holders must provide proof that the specific equipment or heating/cooling is medically required. The rebate will be automatically paid each year once an application is accepted, so customers need to reapply if their personal circumstances change. Please note that this payment can be claimed for a wider range of equipment than is covered by the NSW State Government's Life Support and Medical Rebate schemes, including insulin pumps, electric wheelchairs and airbed vibrators. See if you're eligible here.

Water rebates

Some water suppliers (Sydney Water, Hunter Water, Shoalhaven Water) provide a range of rebates including pensioner rebates on water and sewerage charges. Sydney Water and Hunter Water also provide rebates to customers who use water in life-sustaining equipment such as kidney dialysis machines. Conditions vary so contact your water supplier for more information.

Changes to pension eligibility

The asset test for the pension changed on 1 January 2017, which will mean that some people will no longer be eligible for energy or water rebates. Read more to find out if the changes affect your rebate eligibility.

Where to get help

Credit and debt hotline

If you have unpaid bills and a debt collector (sometimes called a “mercantile agent”) contacts you, call the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 for free advice or call EWON. For more information contact the Financial Rights Legal Centre.

Community welfare agencies

Community welfare agencies can help customers in financial difficulty by:

• negotiating with your energy or water supplier about what you can afford to pay
• referring you to a financial counsellor or other support services

Some agencies provide emergency financial assistance in the form of:

• EAPA vouchers
• PAS vouchers for water
• food, clothing or furniture
• Telstra vouchers
• NILS

No Interest Loan Schemes (NILS)

The No Interest Loan Schemes (NILS) program helps people on low-income by providing interest free loans for items such as new, energy efficient appliances. NILS is available through some community organisations. Contact community organisations in your local area to see if they offer NILS or contact NILS NSW on freecall 1800 509 994.

Tenancy advice services

If you are a tenant and need help sorting out a problem with your landlord about issues such as water accounts, electrical or plumbing repairs, or meter access, contact Tenants NSW for free advice and assistance.

Legal advice

A community legal centre may be able to help you with free advice. Community legal centres are independent, non-profit community organisations providing free legal advice, information and referrals for individuals and communities across New South Wales. Some centres provide legal advice over the phone, or hold interview and advice sessions after business hours. For further information contact the Community Legal Centres NSW.

Customer assistance programs

Electricity and gas suppliers

In New South Wales, electricity and gas retailers are required by law to have a published hardship charter and to operate a customer assistance program.

Retailers may have slightly different eligibility criteria for their programs. However when a customer is part of their assistance program, they are protected from disconnection and a tailored payment arrangement is developed to help them manage their account.

Differences between the hardship programs of retailers can include the types of incentives the retailer offers customers for making regular payments (eg waiving fees, making co-payments).

According to the Electricity Supply (General) Regulation 2001 (Clause 13AA) and the Gas Supply (Natural Gas Retail Competition) Regulation 2001 a customer hardship charter must contain the following:

• processes to identify hardship customers, including identification by the supplier and self-identification by the customer
• processes for the early response by the supplier for hardship customers so identified
• flexible payment options (including the payment plan operated in accordance with Clause 13A  for the payment of amounts to the supplier by hardship customers
• processes to identify appropriate government concession programs and appropriate financial counselling services and to notify hardship customers of those programs and services
• an outline of a range of programs that the supplier may use to assist hardship customers
• information, in community languages (including Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek and Spanish, and any other language approved by the supplier after consultation with any relevant customer consultative group), about the availability of interpreter services for the languages concerned and telephone numbers for the services.

The Australian Energy Regulator is currently developing guidelines for National Hardship Indicators.