Winter Energy Payment

You'll automatically get the Winter Energy Payment if you’re getting Jobseeker Support Student Hardship, or any of these other Work and Income benefits:

• Jobseeker Support
• Sole Parent Support
• Supported Living Payment
• Young Parent Payment
• Youth Payment
• Emergency Benefit
• Emergency Maintenance Allowance.

You don't need to apply, as long as you're getting one of the above you'll be paid the Winter Energy Payment.

Who can't get the Winter Energy Payment

You can't get the payment if you're not getting Jobseeker Support Student Hardship or one of the above payments from Work and Income.

Winter Energy Payment dates

The Winter Energy Payment will be paid from 1 May to 1 October while you’re also getting Jobseeker Support Student Hardship.

Winter Energy Payment rates

Single people with no dependent children	$20.46 a week
Couples, and people with dependent children	$31.82 a week

Couples will be paid $31.82 whether you live together or separately.

You’ll get the Winter Energy Payment automatically along with Jobseeker Support Student Hardship.

The Winter Energy Payment:

• doesn’t affect your other payments from us, or your Income Related Rent
• is a non-taxable payment
• can’t be paid as a lump sum.

Your first payment

Your first payment in May will be a part payment and your second payment will be for the full amount.

This is because you get paid for the week that's just been. As 1 May is part-way through this pay period, you won't get the full amount in your first May payment.

Stop Winter Energy Payment

If you don't want this payment, you can stop it by calling us.

We won't restart it again (even in future years) unless you ask us to.

Restart Winter Energy Payment

You can restart payments at any time by calling us.

If you restart payments outside of the payment period (eg 1 May - 1 October), your payment will restart with the next Winter Energy Payment period (if you're getting Jobseeker Support Student Hardship, or any of the above Work and Income benefits).