Commencement dates
For service pension, age pension, war widow(er)'s pension, Disability Compensation Payment, MRCA wholly dependent partner payment and MRCA special rate disability pension, the energy supplement (ES) commenced on 20 March 2013. Energy supplement for Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) and eligible Gold Card holders also commenced 20 March 2013.
For MRCA permanent impairment payment, the ES commenced on 1 July 2013.
For VCES and MRCAETS fortnightly education allowances, the ES commenced on 1 January 2014.
No need to apply
Eligible recipients do not need to apply for an ES. If they are eligible, the ES will be paid automatically to the same payment destination as the underlying payment (UP).
Payability
ES is a daily entitlement and is paid as part of the UP. Where a person's UP is cancelled part way through the pension period, they will be paid ES for every day within the period they were entitled to the UP.
Payment dates and frequency
Unless an election is made to receive quarterly ES, the ES will be paid on the same and at the same frequency as the person's underlying payment except that:
- People who are paid pension supplement on a quarterly basis will receive their ES on the same day as their pension supplement.
- MRCA wholly dependent partners and permanent impairment payment recipients who elect to receive all or part of their UP as a lump sum will be paid their ES on a fortnightly basis.
Election to receive quarterly ES
People receiving a fortnightly UP may elect to receive ES as a quarterly payment, and may also revoke this election at any time. Electing and revoking to receive the ES quarterly requires notifying the Department in person, via telephone, via email or in writing (fax or mail). ES in respect of CSHC and eligible Gold Card holders can only be paid on a quarterly basis.
The quarterly ES is paid on the first pension pay day after 20 March, 20 June, 20 September and 20 December each year.
Portability
The ES is portable for up to 6 weeks of a temporary absence from Australia, after which time this payment will cease. For CSHC holders that depart Australia permanently or for a temporary absence greater than 19 weeks, they will still receive Energy Supplement for the first six weeks but on return to Australia, they will not be grandfathered and will not be able to receive Energy Supplement after 19 March 2017. This rule applies to anybody absent from Australia on 19 September 2016 and to any departure from Australia after that date.
Recipients of a UP who live permanently overseas are not eligible for ES.
Obligations
Recipients of ES must notify the department if they are leaving Australia permanently or for any overseas absence.
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