Paying household costs

Power, gas and heating

If you've got extra costs due to increased use of power, gas or heating because of your disability, you may be able to get financial support through Work and Income's Disability Allowance. You don't have to be receiving a benefit to qualify.

How much you get for power, gas and heating depends on your situation.

It can be used to cover:

• the portion of your power and gas costs over and above normal usage
• the cost of firewood over and above normal usage.

The cost of power, gas or heating will be included from the date you're granted a Disability Allowance.

Find out more about power, gas and heating if you have a disability external on the Work and Income website.

Phones

If you need assistance with ongoing phone costs that are directly related to your disability, you may be able to get financial support through Work and Income's Disability Allowance. You don't have to be receiving a benefit to qualify for a Disability Allowance.

You can get up to a maximum of $70.04 a week for Disability Allowance. How much you get for phone costs depends on your situation.

It can be used to pay for:

• the regular and ongoing costs of renting a basic phone
• phone line rental
• wiring maintenance charges
• the ongoing cost of a mobile phone depending on your situation (i.e. you don't have a landline or there are no phone lines available).

Find out more about support with phone costs external on the Work and Income website.

Urgent and unexpected costs

Depending on your situation, Work and Income may be able to help you with urgent costs, like an unexpected bill. You may be able to get this support even if you're already receiving a benefit.

Work and Income can assist with costs like:

• food
• whiteware (for example, fridge, freezer and washing machine)
• home repairs and maintenance.

If you have an urgent or unexpected cost that isn't listed here (like clothing or bedding), Work and Income may still be able to help.

There are three kinds of one-off payments to help you pay an emergency cost that you can't pay for another way:

• Special Needs Grant: You don't need to be receiving a benefit to be eligible for this payment.
• Advance Payment of Benefit: You must receive a benefit to be eligible for this payment and you must pay the money back.
• Recoverable Assistance Payment: You can't receive this payment if you’re on a benefit and you must pay the money back.

Find out more about urgent or unexpected costs external on the Work and Income website.