Battler budget bonus: Almost four million vulnerable people including veterans, carers and pensioners to receive a $125 ‘gift’ towards their soaring power bills
- Energy handouts will be handed to about 3.9 million vulnerable Australians
- Money will be directed into bank accounts before July to help power bill costs
- Estimated $285 million will be doled out to people such as veterans and carers
- One-off payment is one promise of federal budget to be announced on Tuesday
The federal government will give a generous handout to nearly four million vulnerable Australians in a bid to relieve the strain of the soaring cost of power bills.
As part of Tuesday’s budget, a one-off payment will be sent to about 3.9 million people who are either veterans, carers, single parents, aged pensioners and people who receive the disability support pension.
An estimated $285 million will be dished out, with singles scoring $75 and couples taking home $125 before July, The Daily Telegraph reported.
The federal government will give a generous handout to nearly four million vulnerable Australians in a bid to relieve the strain of the soaring cost of power bills (stock image)
As part of Tuesday’s budget, a one-off payment will be sent to about 3.9 million people who are either veterans, carers, single parents, aged pensioners and people who receive the disability support pension (stock image)
An estimated $285 million will be doled out, with singles scoring $75 and couples taking home $125 before July (stock image)
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the Energy Assistance Payment would go a long way to lift the burden for many people across the different states.
‘It will particularly support older people living in NSW, with the payments to be provided to more than 760,000 people on the age pension.’
Then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull first put the proposal to Cabinet in August last year.
Included in it, the competition watchdog was going to be given the capacity to cap default power prices.
Talks were also believed to be stirring to urge energy giants to match the handout.
Though the proposal was knocked back, and it is understood one of the opponents was then-treasurer and now-prime minister Scott Morrison.
‘There was so much noise about leadership, everyone thought it would be lost,’ a Cabinet minister said.
The energy payout won’t be the only promise made to older voters as part of the upcoming budget.
Government sources have confirmed they can also expect new in-home care packages in an attempt to keep them in their homes for longer.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the Energy Assistance Payment would go a long way to lift the burden for many people across the different states (stock image)
Then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull first put the proposal to Cabinet in August last year (stock image)