The 2026-27 ACT Budget will deliver further targeted support to help Canberrans with the cost of living.

More funding for food relief services

Strengthening food relief ensures vulnerable members of the community can get the help they need, when they need it.

The ACT Budget will provide more funding for food relief services. This will:

• support increased demand, including pressures from fuel supply disruptions and broader economic impacts
• help keep supplies steady
• ensure help is available for families in need.

This investment builds on the strong partnership between the ACT Government and the community sector, with food relief providers working at the frontline to support Canberrans experiencing hardship.

A new Housing Crisis Support Fund

A new Housing Crisis Support Fund will provide targeted assistance to low-income households experiencing rental stress. The Fund aims to help people stay in safe and stable accommodation. It will provide:

• direct support for short-term rental costs. This includes grants covering up to four weeks’ rent (capped at $2,500) to help people stay in safe, secure and stable housing during periods of financial difficulty
• a new $250 Crisis Support Payment to assist with essential household expenses such as utilities, insurance and basic furnishings.

The Fund is expected to support more than 3,300 Canberrans through crisis support payments and rental subsidies.

Strengthening emergency assistance

The ACT Government continues to strengthen emergency assistance through the Emergency Material and Financial Aid (EMFA) scheme.

EMFA ensures Canberrans can access timely, flexible support when facing acute financial pressure. ACT Budget funding will:

• address financial pressures on EMFA providers in the community sector
• provide an uplift in available funding to support Canberrans experiencing financial pressure due to the ongoing fuel supply disruptions and associated economic impacts.

Supporting Canberra students

The 2026-27 ACT Budget includes further funding to support the expansion of the Education Equity Fund. In 2025, more than 6,200 eligible students were supported through one-off payments for school-related costs such as:

• uniforms
• books
• excursions
• extracurricular activities.

The Education Equity Fund reduces cost barriers for families and ensures all students can participate fully in school life.

These investments build on the support already offered to Canberra households by the ACT Government.

Around 40,000 individuals each year receive ongoing help with utility costs through the Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate. This has been permanently increased to $800 a year.

More support measures are available at www.act.gov.au/costoflivingsupport

Read more like this

• 2026–27 ACT Budget: more homes for those who need it most
• 2026–27 ACT Budget: investing in community services
• 2026–27 ACT Budget: investing in domestic, family and sexual violence

Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:

Subscribe to Our CBR