Drivers discover NSW government owes them hundreds in cash

Aussie drivers have been receiving surprise cash boosts from the government as part of a scheme most people didn’t know about.

Aussies have been reminded of their entitlement to hundreds of dollars in rebates that could see them more than $1500 richer heading into the festive season.

The NSW government has a big stack of cash ready to pay out to drivers who used toll roads onwards from July 2022, with each person eligible to claim up to $1552.

A reminder was issued this week by a woman who told fellow drivers, “it’s your money”.

“If you haven’t already done it, the NSW government owes you money,” she wrote in a post to social media on Wednesday.

“It’s your money!” she said.

Drivers who suspected they could be owed a rebate could check by logging into their Service NSW account and finding the “claim your toll rebate” option.

They then would need to follow the prompts for the site to indicate whether they were eligible for money and if so, how much.

Drivers have received surprise cash boosts in their Service NSW account. Picture: Facebook

The social media post also highlighted that NSW drivers who were sole traders could also now claim by linking their business account, which was a new feature.

“Unless your app says ‘no claims currently available’ then the government owes you money. Go geddit (sic),” she wrote.

Dozens responded saying they had no idea they were eligible for money back until reading her post.

“You bloody legend. We’re getting back $750 that we really need right now,” one person wrote in a comment.

“OMG! You just made me $$$$$$$ Thank you,” another said.

Others weighed in to reveal the cash boost they received after checking their account, with one announcing she got $300 and another banking $190, while someone else got $240.

The woman behind the post argued Service NSW wasn’t making the rebates as obvious to drivers as it should.

“It pisses me off. It’s our money! And sure it is ‘available’ but you have to hunt around for it so much. I think the people who need it most this Christmas have no idea it is even there for the taking,” she said, describing it “annoying”.

A Service NSW spokesperson said millions had been paid out to drivers in toll rebates.

“As of November 24, 2023, $125 million worth of toll relief successful claims paid to 343,000 eligible motorists with an average of $364 per claim, with 99 per cent customer satisfaction,” they told news.com.au.

“The Toll Relief Rebate Scheme opened on 24 January 2023, allowing eligible motorists to claim a 40 per cent rebate on a quarterly basis, once they spend more than $375 a year, up to a maximum rebate claim of $750 a year.

“Eligible motorists who spend more than $402 a year on tolls in the 2023-24 financial year, will receive a 40% rebate and can also be claimed quarterly, up to $802 for the financial year. Eligible customers accrued toll spend for this rebate is until 30 June 2025.”

Former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet introduced the road toll subsidy as part of a $7 billion cost-of-living relief package earlier this year.

Aussie drivers could be owed hundreds of dollars.

If drivers spend $375 or more on NSW road tolls between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, they may be eligible for a 40 per cent rebate of up to $750.

If they spend $402 or more during the following financial year (July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024), the maximum rebate jumps up to $802.

Sole traders can grab up to $1500 in rebates in 2023 and $1605 in 2024.

Both the minimum road toll spend and maximum rebate will increase for each year that the subsidy is running.

The rebate can be claimed once a quarter and up to a year after the relevant financial year ends. Rebates owed will accrue into the following year.

Before drivers claim for the first time, they will need to link their toll account to their MyServiceNSW account. Doing so allows drivers to check their toll spend and ensure it exceeds the rebate thresholds.

To be eligible, a driver must be a NSW resident, have an active NSW toll account and have accrued the tolls in a vehicle that’s registered in NSW and below the 2794-kilogram TARE weight.

Tolls paid on the following roads count towards drivers’ spends: Westlink M7, Hills M2, NorthConnex, WestConnex, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Harbour Tunnel, Lane Cove Tunnel, Eastern Distributor, Cross City Tunnel, Military Road E-Ramp and M5 South-West, unless you already claim for the M5 South-West cashback scheme.