Hardship
The Department of Human Services (DHS) and other agencies offer a variety of concessions and benefits to eligible cardholders to assist low-income Victorians during financial hardship. If you have a relevant concession card, you may be eligible for one of these concessions.
Eligible concession cards
DHS concessions
- Utility Relief Grant and Non-Mains Utility Relief Grant schemes
The Utility Relief Grant and Non-Mains Utility Relief Grant schemes provide assistance for domestic customers who are unable to pay their utility bills due to a temporary financial crisis.
Other benefits and concessions
- Centrelink advance payment scheme
Centrelink provides an Advance Payment Scheme that provides lump sum payments in advance from future Centrelink payments. The advance must be repaid, as it is essentially an interest free loan. - Centrelink financial information service
Financial Information Service (FIS) offered by Centrelink gives information to help people improve their standard of living by using their own money to their best advantage. - Emergency relief
Several welfare organisations provide emergency relief in the form of food, clothing and household goods such as second-hand furniture and blankets, for people experiencing a severe financial crisis.
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