Winter Energy Payment

The Winter Energy Payment is an extra payment over the winter months for students getting Jobseeker Support Student Hardship.

Important information

You don't need to apply – you’ll get the Winter Energy Payment automatically with Jobseeker Support Student Hardship.

  • Who can get the 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.

  • Payment period and rates

    Winter Energy Payment dates

    The Winter Energy Payment will be paid from 1 July to 29 September 2018 while you’re also getting Jobseeker Support Student Hardship.

    From 2019 it will be paid from 1 May to 1 October.

    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 in 2018

    Your first payment in July 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 July is part-way through this pay period, you won't get the full amount in your first July payment.

  • Stop and restart the 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 July - 29 September 2018), 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).

    StudyLink phone numbers