Winter Energy Payment for couples

Only one person in the couple can be determined to be eligible to get Winter Energy Payment. But as with other extra help paid at a married, civil union or de facto rate, 50% of the couple rate is paid to the client and 50% to the partner. Note this can only occur when systems allow.

There is no ‘half-married’ rate of Winter Energy Payment. The effect of this is that where one person in the couple is no longer eligible to receive Winter Energy Payment, the other person can receive the full couple rate of payment. This may occur when one of the couple is (but not limited to):

• on a grade 2 or grade 3 sanction
• are receiving Residential Care Subsidy or Residential Support Subsidy or
• is overseas for longer than 28 days