Cost of living Qld: Residents unaware of millions in assistance

Most Queensland families are entitled to a $150 cost of living assistance payment. THIS IS HOW TO GET IT

Millions of state government dollars dedicated to easing the cost of living for vulnerable Queenslanders are going unspent, new analysis has revealed.

More than a fifth of Queensland’s population are entitled to a variety of targeted concessions and rebates to ease the load in areas like electricity bills, transport, and back-to-school costs.

But many of the state’s low-income households are missing out, with experts blaming a confusing patchwork of eligibility criteria and complicated application processes.

Analysis of about 20 state government concession and rebate programs revealed about $22.8m of budgeted cash had gone unspent last financial year.

This included $2.1m in FairPlay vouchers – $150 for families in hardship to put towards their child’s sport fees – going unspent in 2022-23 out of a $7.5m budget.

Nearly $2.4m of the government’s Taxi Subsidy Scheme – which provides up to $30 in subsidies per taxi trip for those with severe disabilities – also went unused in 2022-23.

Queensland Council of Social Service chief executive Aimee McVeigh said the convoluted concessions system meant the most vulnerable in the community were missing out on help they were entitled to.

And those doing it toughest are also likely to have the least access to the digital world and online self-service portals as a result.

“When you are a person that is on a really low income, potentially under significant hardship, you may have literacy challenges, and you may not be in a position to shop around or ring up to access concessions,” she said.

“If we are really genuinely wanting to ensure the right people in our community access concessions, we need to design a system that provides immediate discount.”

Queensland Council of Social Service CEO Aimee McVeigh

A recent UComms poll, conducted exclusively for The Courier-Mail, revealed the major parties were tied 50-50 on a two-party-preferred basis and the political leaders’ handling of cost of living in the next few months will be crucial in deciding which one governs the state for the next four years.

Ms McVeigh called for the state and federal governments to negotiate a way to connect up their separate system to make access to concessions easier.

The state government, after last year’s budget, launched the “Queensland Savers” website as a one-stop shop designed to help people access the supports available to them – a move QCOSS noted as a major improvement.

But applications for concessions are still handled by a variety of channels, such as state departments, local government and third-parties like community associations.

QCOSS is advocating for the state government to be allowed to tap into the commonwealth’s database of support recipients – like those on aged pensions or disability pensions – so concessions can be applied automatically instead of people applying for individual programs.

Premier Steven Miles said Queenslanders had access to the “biggest cost-of-living relief plan in the nation” – bolstered by a $1.5bn electricity rebate package. But he conceded there was “more to do”, signalling the upcoming state budget would be “all about helping families with the cost of living”.

“The concessions finder is easy to use, to highlight what concessions and rebates are there for you, your friends and family,” he said.

“I encourage all Queenslanders to check their eligibility – you’d be surprised at what you could save.

“We’ve already seen an extra 270,000 eligible households access huge electricity bill relief since the Queensland Saver’s website was launched. That’s $1072 in relief for households that may otherwise have only received $550.”

Ms McVeigh said rebates were targeted at the lowest incomes but current cost-of-living pressures were being experienced also by working families, who were running “significant weekly household deficits” as a result.

She said energy rebates were among the “most practical and meaningful ways” governments could provide relief at the moment.

The Queensland Savers website shows those who have the Commonwealth Pension Concession Card or Health Care Card are entitled to the most number of targeted concessions.

QLD REBATES AND CONCESSIONS

■ FairPlay

Provides $150 vouchers to parents and carers in hardship to help with a child’s sporting and extra-curricular fees and registration.

2022/23: $2.13m of $7.5m budget unclaimed

■ Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession Scheme

Provides $479.03 per year toward electricity bill for eligible people with a chronic medical condition like multiple sclerosis, autonomic system dysfunction, significant burns or a severe inflammatory skin condition, which is aggravated by changes in temperature.

2022/23: $900,000 of $2.9m budget unclaimed.

■ Smoke alarm installation reimbursement

Approved foster and kinship carers who are owner occupiers can be reimbursed for the costs of upgrading smoke alarms in their homes to a total of up to $1500.

2022/23: $483,233 of $600,000 budget unclaimed.

■ The Spectacle Supply Scheme

Provides eligible Queensland residents with a pair of basic prescription spectacles, once every two years.

2022/23: $1.35m of $10.05m budget unclaimed.

■ The Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme

Provides financial assistance to patients needing to travel for specialist healthcare that are not available within 50 kilometres of their nearest hospital or health facility. From 2023/24, accommodation rates for eligible PTSS patients increased from $60 per person per night, to $70 per person per night, and mileage concession rates increased from 30 cents to 34 cents per km.

2022/23: $12.7m of $97.1m budget unclaimed.

■ School Transport Assistance Scheme

Provides assistance in situations where access to education is impeded by distance, income or isolation. No request for STAS funding for an eligible student is denied, regardless of the varying student numbers or expected budget for the school year.

2022/23: $19.1m extra claimed above the $153.6m estimated budget.

■ Pensioner Rate Subsidy Scheme

A rates subsidy of up to $200 per year is available for eligible Queensland pensioners to help ease the cost of living. Customers must apply through their local council.

2022/23: $4.6m of $58.6m budget unclaimed.

■ FairPlay

Provides $150 vouchers to parents and carers in hardship to help with a child’s sporting and extra-curricular fees and registration.

2022/23: $2.13m of $7.5m budget unclaimed

See what else you could be eligible for at Queensland Savers

Originally published as Cost of living Qld: Residents unaware of millions in assistance