Assistance & Hardship

Have you been impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19)?

We understand that our community is facing challenging times and that you and your family may be experiencing difficulties keeping on top of bills.

We can work with you to organise an affordable payment arrangement and if you’re eligible, help you to apply for financial assistance.

Our options include;

• Easy way payment options
• Payment extensions
• Registering a concession
• Utility Relief Grants

If you’d like to apply for assistance, please contact us at customercare@gippswater.com.au so we can better understand your situation and work with you while you are experiencing these difficult times.

Gippsland Water has a range of payment options to help you to pay your account.

Extended due date

You can contact us to ask for an extension to the date your account is due. Extensions are granted at Gippsland Water’s discretion and can be flexible to suit your needs.

There are a number of options to make it easy for you to pay your account in smaller amounts at regular intervals. Please see our Payment Options page for this information.

Utility Relief Grant Scheme

The Utility Relief Grant Scheme helps customers who are unable to pay their water account due to a temporary financial crisis.

To qualify, you need to show that unexpected hardship has left you short of money and you cannot pay your account without help.

Examples of such events include:

• A large increase in water use
• A recent decrease in income
• High, unexpected expenses on essential items

The grant may pay part or all of your Gippsland Water account, including any amounts you may be behind in. The scheme will not provide you with ongoing help with your account, as it is normally only available as a once-off.

Our Hardship Policy

We have a hardship policy that sets out how we help customers having difficulty paying their account. We also have a Family Violence policy, which is provided at the bottom of this page.

If you set up a payment arrangement with us, and make payments as agreed, it ensures you do not move through the debt recovery process. We will not restrict your water supply, take legal action or charge you additional debt recovery costs as long as you meet your payment schedule.

As well as the various payment options available, we offer information and referrals to government assistance programs (including the Utility Relief Grant Scheme) and non-cost independent financial counselors.

For more information about these payment assistance options or our hardship policy, read our Customer Care Program Brochure, contact us on freecall 1800 050 500 or email us.

Concessions

If you have a Health Care, Pension or DVA Gold Repatriation card (except dependants), you may be entitled to a concession on your account. Holders of Commonwealth Seniors Health Cards are not eligible for a concession.

If you are responsible for your water account, you can claim up to:

• 50% off costs up to $328.90 a year if you have both water and sewerage services; or
• if you only have one service, the concession is up to $164.45 a year.

For more information on whether you are eligible for a concession, contact the Department of Human Services on 1800 658 521.

How the concession value is calculated

Eligible tenants and home owners who only have a water service, are eligible for 50% off water charges or up to $52.18 per bill, whichever is lower. This means if your usage is $30, you will get $15 off (50% off). If your usage is $120, you will get $52.18 per bill (dependent of days in billing period) off (the maximum available per bill). The maximum rebate for the 2019-20 year is $164.45.

Homeowners with water and wastewater services receive a concession of 50% off both services, or up to $109.63 per bill (dependent of days in billing period), whichever is lower. The maximum rebate for the 2019-20 year is $328.90.

To receive a concession:

• you must be responsible for the account;
• the property must be used as a home only;
• the property must be your principal place of residence; and
• the name and address on your concession card must be the same as the name and address on your account.

You must register your concession details with us in order for the concession to be applied to your account. You can no longer claim the concession amount by showing your card when paying at the post office.

Register by sending your concession application form to:

Gippsland Water
PO Box 348,
Traralgon, VIC, 3844

Fax: 03 5174 0103

Or visiting our head office at Hazelwood Road, Traralgon with your concession card.

For more information, contact us on 1800 050 500.