Key concessions to help with the cost of living
If you have an eligible concession card, you can access free and discounted services in the ACT to help you with the cost of living. This includes help with energy bills, transport, car rego and paying for school essentials.
Get $800 off your energy bills
You can get $800 off your energy bill when you apply for the Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate.
To get the Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate, you must:
- live in the ACT
- pay an energy bill.
You must also have one of the following cards from Services Australia, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs or the ACT Government:
- Pensioner Concession Card
- Low Income Health Care Card
- Health Care Card
- Veteran Gold Card
- ACT Service Access Card.
Apply for the Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate.
Free travel on public transport
You can travel for free all the time on Transport Canberra buses and light rail if you:
- are 70 or over and have a Seniors Card
- are a child aged 5 or under who hasn't started school
- have a Veteran Gold Card marked TPI or EDA or are their companion
- are a companion travelling with a Companion Card holder
- have an approved Student Transport Program concession card
- have a visual impairment.
You can travel for free on weekends, public holidays and between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm or after 6:00 pm on weekdays if you have one of the following cards from Services Australia, the Department of Veterans' Affairs or ACT Government:
- Health Care Card
- Pensioner Concession Card
- Veteran Gold Card
- ACT or interstate Seniors Card
- ACT Services Access Card.
Find out how to buy a concession fare for buses and light rail.
Help paying rates
You can get up to $750 off your rates and $98 off the Police, Fire and Emergency Services Levy if you have a Pensioner Concession Card or a Veteran Gold Card.
You can also arrange to pay all or part of your rates later.
Discounts on car registration and driver licence fees
You can get a discount on your car registration fee and driver licence if you have one of the following cards from Services Australia, the Department of Veterans' Affairs or ACT Government:
- Low Income Health Care Card
- Pension Concession Card
- Seniors Card
- ACT Services Access Card.
Check the discounts you can get on your car registration and driver licence.
One-off payments to help families with the cost of schooling
If you have children in preschool to year 12 in 2023, you could get a one-off payment from the Future of Education Equity Fund to help cover the costs of education.
Payments you could get:
- $400 for preschool students
- $500 for primary school students
- $750 for high-school and college students.
To apply for the payment, you must live in the ACT and have one of the following:
- Low Income Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card from Services Australia that lists the student as a dependent
- other proof you have a low-income or are under financial stress.
Check if you can get the Future of Education Equity Fund payment.