Health Care Card Electricity Rebates by State: 2026 Guide

What to know

Health Care Card holders, including people on JobSeeker, carers and many families, can claim the main electricity concession in most states. In South Australia, only the Low Income Health Care Card qualifies, alongside eligible Centrelink payments.

Some programs exclude the Health Care Card, such as Queensland's gas rebate. Health Care Cards can also need a fresh application each time a new card is issued, as in the ACT.

Energy programs open to Health Care Card holders

Energy programs open to Health Care Card holders, 2026-27
Program	Where	Worth
Low Income Household Rebate	NSW	Up to $285 a year ($313.50 in embedded networks)
Medical Energy Rebate	NSW	Up to $285 a year ($313.50 in embedded networks)
NSW Gas Rebate	NSW	Up to $110 a year ($121 in embedded networks)
Home Energy Saver	NSW	Discount up to $4,000 or zero-interest loan up to $15,000
Annual Electricity Concession	VIC	17.5% off electricity usage and supply costs
Winter Gas Concession	VIC	17.5% off gas usage and supply costs from 1 May to 31 October
Excess Electricity Concession	VIC	17.5% on costs above $4,038.82 a year
Medical Cooling Concession	VIC	Extra 17.5% off from November to April
Life Support Concession	VIC	The cost of 1,880 kWh of electricity a year
Non-mains Energy Concession	VIC	$58 to $666 a year per energy type
Utility Relief Grant Scheme	VIC	Up to $650 per utility every two years
Queensland Electricity Rebate	QLD	$399.47 a year
Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession Scheme	QLD	$522.09 a year
Electricity Life Support Concession	QLD	$1,063.30 a year per oxygen concentrator, $712.07 per dialysis machine
Energy Bill Concession	SA	Up to $291.27 a year
SA Concessions Energy Discount Offer	SA	20% off Origin's standard electricity charges
Medical Heating and Cooling Concession	SA	$291.27 a year
Cost of Living Concession	SA	$270.60 for 2026-27
Energy Assistance Payment	WA	$377.14 a year
Dependent Child Rebate	WA	$396.56 for one child, plus $103.91 for each additional child
Air Conditioning Rebate	WA	$78.98 a year
Life Support Equipment Energy Subsidy	WA	$58 to $1,517 a year per item
Thermoregulatory Dysfunction Energy Subsidy	WA	$832 a year
Annual Electricity Concession	TAS	184.347 cents a day, about $673 a year
Medical Cooling or Heating Concession	TAS	55.216 cents a day, or $201.54 a year
Embedded network electricity concessions	TAS	$673 low-income rebate, plus medical and life support amounts
Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate	ACT	$800 a year
Home Energy Support Program	ACT	Up to $5,000: 50% of costs, up to $2,500 per upgrade

From official government sources, checked October 2026. Follow the links for full rules.

Rebates by state: NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, ACT, NT, federal.

What each program requires

Low Income Household Rebate (NSW)

You are named on the electricity account for your home.
You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card or Veteran Gold Card.

Paid: As a credit on your electricity bills for retail customers, or into your bank account for embedded network customers. Full details.

Medical Energy Rebate (NSW)

You, or someone living with you, cannot regulate body temperature when exposed to extreme heat or cold because of a medical condition.
The person meets at least one primary and one secondary qualifying condition, assessed by a registered medical practitioner who has treated them for at least 3 months.
The account holder or the person with the condition holds a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card or Veteran Gold Card.

Paid: As a credit on your electricity bill, or into your bank account for embedded network customers. Full details.

NSW Gas Rebate (NSW)

You are named on the gas account and bill, with a natural gas account for your home, or you use more than 45 kg (88 litres) of bottled LPG a year for basic household needs.
You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card or Veteran Gold Card.

Paid: As a credit on your gas bill, or into your bank account for LPG and embedded network customers. Full details.

Home Energy Saver (NSW)

Loans: you own the property, are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and your combined taxable household income is up to $210,000.
Discounts: you own the property or are a tenant named on the lease, and either hold an eligible concession card or have a combined household income up to $80,000.

Paid: As an upfront discount or a zero-interest loan for approved energy upgrades. Full details.

Annual Electricity Concession (VIC)

You are the electricity account holder.
You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans' Affairs Gold Card.

Paid: As a discount on every electricity bill. Full details.

Winter Gas Concession (VIC)

You are the mains gas account holder.
You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans' Affairs Gold Card.

Paid: As a discount on gas bills covering 1 May to 31 October. Full details.

Excess Electricity Concession (VIC)

Your annual electricity costs are above $4,038.82, for the year starting 1 December 2025.
You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans' Affairs Gold Card.
The electricity is for domestic use, with no business run from the address.

Paid: As a discount on your electricity bill, backdated once approved. Full details.

Medical Cooling Concession (VIC)

You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans' Affairs Gold Card and are the account holder.
You, or someone in your household, has a medical condition that affects the body's ability to regulate temperature, confirmed by a doctor.
Pre-approved conditions are multiple sclerosis, lymphoedema, Parkinson's disease, fibromyalgia, post-polio syndrome and motor neurone disease. Other conditions are assessed by the department.

Paid: As a discount on electricity bills between 1 November and 30 April, on top of the Annual Electricity Concession. Full details.

Life Support Concession (VIC)

You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans' Affairs Gold Card and are the electricity account holder.
You, or someone in your household, uses an eligible machine: an intermittent peritoneal dialysis machine, an oxygen concentrator or a haemodialysis machine.

Paid: As a discount on your electricity bill. Full details.

Non-mains Energy Concession (VIC)

You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans' Affairs Gold Card.
You pay for non-mains energy: LPG, firewood, heating oil, generator fuel, or electricity through an embedded network.
Firewood must be your only fixed heating. Generator fuel claims need the home to be off the mains grid.

Paid: As a yearly payment based on what you spent on each energy type. Full details.

Utility Relief Grant Scheme (VIC)

You have an overdue mains electricity, gas or water bill because of a temporary financial crisis.
You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans' Affairs Gold Card, or are part of a low-income household.
You cannot pay without help and are at risk of disconnection, and you have experienced family violence, a drop in income, high unexpected costs for essentials, or housing costs above 30% of your income.

Paid: To your retailer, which credits it against the amount you owe. Full details.

Queensland Electricity Rebate (QLD)

You are the electricity account holder and the supply address is your principal place of residence.
You hold a Queensland Seniors Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card (including Low Income and Ex-Carer Allowance (Child) cards) or Veteran Gold Card, or are an asylum seeker with an ImmiCard.
Foster Child Health Care Card and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders are not eligible.

Paid: Deducted from your electricity bills. Full details.

Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession Scheme (QLD)

You live in Queensland and have, or care for a minor with, a chronic condition that is made significantly worse by heat or cold, such as multiple sclerosis or autonomic system dysfunction.
Your home has an air conditioner or heater.
The applicant or guardian holds a Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card and is responsible for paying the electricity bill.

Paid: As a yearly concession. Full details.

Electricity Life Support Concession (QLD)

Oxygen concentrator users: the machine is supplied free through the Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme, you have been assessed under its criteria, and you hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Health Care Interim Voucher, Child Disability Allowance or Queensland Seniors Card.
Kidney dialysis users: the home machine is supplied free through a Queensland Health hospital.
Machines not supplied by the scheme or Queensland Health, and CPAP machines, are not eligible.

Paid: Calculated monthly and paid quarterly into your bank account. Full details.

Energy Bill Concession (SA)

You live at the property.
The energy account is in your name and you are listed first on the bill.
You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Low Income Health Care Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or an eligible Veteran Gold Card, or receive an eligible Centrelink payment such as JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment, Austudy or ABSTUDY.

Paid: As a credit on your electricity bill for owners and private tenants. Residential park residents and people without a retailer bill get quarterly bank payments. Full details.

SA Concessions Energy Discount Offer (SA)

You already receive the South Australian Energy Bill Concession.
You are willing to take up an electricity, gas or LPG offer with Origin Energy.

Paid: As discounts on your Origin bills. Full details.

Medical Heating and Cooling Concession (SA)

You live at the address on the application.
You, or a child you are parent or guardian of, have a medical condition that is severely worsened by hot or cold weather, certified by a specialist or GP.
You use an air conditioner at that address for the medical heating or cooling.

Paid: As a yearly concession, in addition to the energy concession. Full details.

Cost of Living Concession (SA)

You live at the property, assessed on your circumstances on 1 July.
You hold an eligible card, receive an eligible Centrelink payment, or meet the low-income test.
Tenants must have a written rental agreement.

Paid: By bank transfer, between August and December each year. Full details.

Energy Assistance Payment (WA)

You or someone in your household holds a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or DVA Gold Card. A WA Seniors Card on its own does not qualify.
You are charged for your own electricity use, based on actual or estimated usage.
Tenants must have lived at the address, or have a lease, for at least three months.

Paid: As a credit on Synergy or Horizon Power bills, or by bank transfer from RevenueWA. Full details.

Dependent Child Rebate (WA)

You are eligible for the Energy Assistance Payment.
You have dependent children in your household, under the rules of the Energy Concession Extension Scheme.

Paid: With the Energy Assistance Payment, as one amount. Full details.

Air Conditioning Rebate (WA)

You are eligible for the Energy Assistance Payment.
You meet the additional conditions for the air conditioning rebate under the Energy Concession Extension Scheme, which are set out by your retailer or RevenueWA.

Paid: With the Energy Assistance Payment, as one amount. Full details.

Life Support Equipment Energy Subsidy (WA)

You are the patient, or the guardian or primary carer of a patient, who depends on specified life support equipment at home under specialist medical advice.
You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Health Care Interim Voucher. The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card does not qualify.
The equipment is prescribed by a relevant medical practitioner, or by a GP working from a specialist's written diagnosis.

Paid: Into your nominated bank account, within 10 working days of approval. Full details.

Thermoregulatory Dysfunction Energy Subsidy (WA)

You are the patient, or the guardian or primary carer of a patient living with you, who needs heating or cooling for a medical condition.
You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Health Care Interim Voucher. The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card does not qualify.
The patient meets at least two of three qualifying conditions, certified by a doctor or specialist who has treated them for at least three months.

Paid: Yearly in advance, into your nominated bank account. Up to two payments per household if two eligible people live there. Full details.

Annual Electricity Concession (TAS)

You hold an eligible concession card, or a Bridging Visa E ImmiCard.
You are the electricity account holder.

Paid: As a daily discount on your electricity bills. Full details.

Medical Cooling or Heating Concession (TAS)

You, or someone you live with, has a medical condition that requires cooling or heating of your main home to manage it.
A medical practitioner certifies the condition.
Embedded network applicants need a low-income Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card.

Paid: As a daily discount on your electricity bills. Full details.

Embedded network electricity concessions (TAS)

You live in an embedded network, such as a retirement village, caravan park or residential complex where the site owner bills you for electricity.
You do not already receive an electricity concession from a retailer or the network operator.
Low-income rebate: you hold a low-income Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card, eligible Bridging E visa ImmiCard or Tasmanian Concession Card for community detention.

Paid: Into your bank account. Full details.

Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate (ACT)

You are the primary holder of a Pensioner Concession Card, Low Income Health Care Card, Health Care Card, eligible Veteran Gold Card (Prisoner of War, War Widow or TPI) or ACT Services Access Card.
The electricity account is in your name at your principal place of residence. One rebate per household.
The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card is not eligible.

Paid: As a daily credit on your electricity bill, higher in winter. Embedded network residents are paid directly. Full details.

Home Energy Support Program (ACT)

You live in the ACT and own and live in the home where the upgrade will be installed.
You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, DVA Gold Card or Health Care Card.
You have attended a free online Everyday Climate Choices workshop.

Paid: As a rebate of 50% of the supply and installation cost. Full details.

Common questions

In most states, yes. NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA, Tasmania and the ACT accept it for their main concession. In SA, the Low Income Health Care Card qualifies.

In some places. The ACT asks Health Care Card holders to apply again each time a new card is issued. Check with your retailer when your card changes.

Not for Queensland's Electricity Rebate, which specifically excludes it. Check the rules in your state.

Sources

Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.