NEWS: Medical Heating and Cooling Concession

The Medical Heating and Cooling Concession is a new energy concession that will be introduced by the South Australian Government, commencing on 1 January 2012.

It will provide additional financial assistance to people on low or fixed incomes who require medical heating and cooling in their home to prevent or reduce the symptoms and impact of multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinsons disease or a number of other qualifying medical conditions.

The concession will assist people who incur high electricity costs because of their medical need to use air conditioners or heaters on a frequent and/or prolonged basis to prevent the worsening of their symptoms.

To receive the concession applicants will need to provide certification from their regular medical practitioner or a specialist confirming they require frequent and prolonged use of heating and/or cooling appliances in their home to maintain their health.

The concession amount will be $158 per year (ie the same amount as the current energy concession) and will increase to $165 on 1 July 2012.

Who is eligible?

Like the energy concession, the Medical Heating and Cooling Concession will be available to assist with energy bills for the principal place of residence of people who:

• Hold a pensioner concession card or DVA Gold Card (marked TPI, EDA or War Widow);
• Receive an eligible Centrelink allowance;
• Low Income Health Care Card holders;
• Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card holders.

Applicants will be assessed for eligibility based on their income type as confirmed by Centrelink.
Further details of the Medical Heating and Cooling Concession will be available in due course.

This information is from the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion website.