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New Medical Cooling Rebate To Benefit People With MS.     Like Cooling Concessions

Medical Heating and Cooling Concession Introduced by the State Government

On 1 January 2012, the South Australian Government introduced the Medical Heating and Cooling Concession. This energy concession assists South Australians on a fixed or low income who have a qualifying medical condition, including multiple sclerosis, which requires the frequent use of heating or cooling in the home to prevent the severe exacerbation of their condition.
For more information about the rebate and to download an application form, please click here.

People living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other medical conditions affected by extreme hot and cold weather will benefit from the State Budget announcement of a new medical heating and cooling rebate.

The rebate would increase the energy concessions to $316 per year. The current pension rebate is being increased to $158 per year with a further $158 per year for those suffering from a medical condition.

MS Society of SA & NT CEO, James Bardsley, welcomed the announcement and said it was the result of months of campaigning by people with MS.

“Just a 0.5C increase in core body temperate can significantly increase MS symptoms; people with MS don’t have a choice about turning on their air conditioners.”

“This concession will help people with MS and their families cope with the increased financial burden of their condition”

The Government is still working out the details of this new initiative but a preliminary outline is provided below.

About the medical heating and cooling concession

  • The Medical Heating and Cooling Concession is a new energy concession that will be introduced by the South Australian Government, commencing on 1 January 2012.
  • It will provide additional financial assistance to people on low or fixed incomes who require medical heating and cooling in their home to prevent or reduce the symptoms and impact of multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinsons disease or a number of other qualifying medical conditions.
  • The concession will assist people who incur high electricity costs because of their medical need to use air conditioners or heaters on a frequent and/or prolonged basis to prevent the worsening of their symptoms.
  • To receive the concession applicants will need to provide certification from their regular medical practitioner or a specialist confirming they require frequent and prolonged use of heating and/or cooling appliances in their home to maintain their health.
  • The concession amount will be $158 per year (ie the same amount as the current energy concession) and will increase to $165 on 1 July 2012.
  • It will be available to eligible applicants in addition to the current energy concession
  • It will be applied quarterly to electricity accounts in the same way as the current energy concession or provided as an EFT payment or cheque.
  • The concession will be backdated for eligible applicants in the first year to 1 July 2011.
  • Initial applications for the concession will commence from 1 January 2012.
  • The Medical Heating and Cooling Concession will be administered by the Department for Families and Communities.

Who is eligible?

Like the energy concession, the Medical Heating and Cooling Concession will be available to assist with energy bills for the principal place of residence of people who:

  • Hold a pensioner concession card or DVA Gold Card (marked TPI, EDA or War Widow);
  • Receive an eligible Centrelink allowance;
  • Low Income Health Care Card holders;
  • Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card holders.

There are approximately 2,000 people with MS in South Australia. Approximately 52% have personal incomes of less than $26,000 per annum and also face significant disease-related out-of-pocket costs of more than $4,000 annually.

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of SA & NT will provide more details as they become available.