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Top-up payments of Clean Energy Advance

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Last amended: 27 July 2022

Eligibility

A person is eligible for a top-up amount if their circumstances change in a manner that makes them eligible for a higher clean energy advance (CEA) amount than they originally received. There are three scenarios where a person will have already received a CEA and will be eligible for a top-up payment:

  • where a person starts to receive a new clean energy underlying payment (CEUP), including under a different Act or Scheme, which attracts a higher clean energy advance daily rate (CEA daily rate) (eg transfer from newstart allowance to service pension)
  • where a person starts to receive a new CEUP which has a longer clean energy advance period (CEAP) and the same CEA daily rate (eg already receiving general rate of Disability Compensation Payment and commences to receive MRCA permanent impairment payment)
  • where a person moves to a higher payment rate of the same CEUP (eg VCES student moving to a higher rate of payment on their 18th birthday).    More →
Multiple top-up amounts may be payable

There is no limit to the number of top-up payments a person may receive, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for a top-up payment.

Payment of top-up amounts when transferring payments

The top-up payment is paid by the agency that pays the person's current CEUP. Where a person moves from a social security payment to a DVA payment, DVA pays the top-up and vice-versa.

Calculation of top-up amount

The following method applies to people receiving their first top-up payment.    

More →

 

Step

Action

1

Multiply the original CEA daily rate by the number of days from the clean energy advance start date (CEA start date) to the day before the change day.

Note: change day is the day where the new CEUP or higher rate of the same CEUP commences.

2

Multiply the new clean energy daily rate by the number of days from the change day to the end of the new CEAP.

3

Add results of steps 1 and 2.

4

Round result of step 3 to the nearest $10.

5

Deduct original CEA from result of step 4. The result, if greater than $0, is the amount of top-up.

 

The following method applies to people who have already received a top-up payment.    

More →

 

Step

Action

1

Multiply the original CEA daily rate by the number of days from the CEA start day to the day before the original change day.

2

Multiply the second CEA daily rate by the number of days from the original change day to the day before the second change day.

3

Repeat step 2 as necessary for all subsequent change days before the most recent change day.

4

Multiply the new CEA daily rate by the number of days from the most recent change day to the end of the new CEAP.

5

Add results of steps 1, 2, 3 & 4.

6

Round result of step 5 up to the nearest $10.

7

Add together the original CEA and any previous top-up payments.

8

Deduct the result of step 7 from the result of step 6. The result, if greater than $0, is the amount of top-up.

 

 

The clean energy advance is an upfront lump sum payment, paid in respect of a clean energy advance period. It is designed to help recipients meet the cost of living impact of the carbon price. Clean energy advance payments are excluded income for income support purposes.    

 

 

A clean energy underlying payment means any pension, payment, supplement or allowance under the VEA or MRCA that attracts a clean energy advance and energy supplement .

 

The clean energy advance daily rate is the daily rate used to calculate a clean energy advance and is calculated under section 61D of the VEA, section 424F of the MRCA, section 3A.3.1 of the VCES and section 3A.3.1 of the MRCAETS.

 

 

The following table outlines the clean energy advance period for each clean energy underlying payment:

Clean energy underlying payment

Clean Energy Advance Period

Service pension

Age pension

War widows/widower's pension

Disability pension

Seniors supplement

MRCA wholly dependant partner payment

MRCA special rate disability pension

1 July 2012 to 19 March 2013

MRCA permanent impairment payment

1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013

VCES fortnightly education allowance

MRCAETS fortnightly education allowance

First advance - 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013

Second advance - 1 July 2013 to 31 December 2013

 

 

The CEA start date is the first day from which a person is entitled to receive a clean energy advance.