How to Claim the Essential Medical Equipment Payment for Home Energy Costs
Claim a yearly payment for eligible medical equipment or medically required heating or cooling at home. Check the concession card, energy cost and evidence rules.
AU Australia
Benefits & Support ~ 5 min read
6 FAQ
Updated 2026-09-29
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You or the person you care for may qualify for the Essential Medical Equipment Payment if you need eligible medical equipment or medically required heating or cooling at home, have a Commonwealth Concession Card, pay the energy running costs and are in Australia when claiming. Services Australia pays $203 per year for each eligible piece of equipment and for medically required heating or cooling. Claim through your Centrelink online account linked to myGov, or use a claim form if you cannot claim online.
What you need
- Details of the eligible equipment used at home or the medical need for heating or cooling.
- A Commonwealth Concession Card for you or the person you care for.
- Proof that you or someone you provide care for pays the energy running costs, such as an electricity or gas bill; Services Australia says this can be provided later if unavailable when claiming.
- Medical confirmation completed by a medical practitioner, or qualifying state or territory scheme evidence for the same equipment where accepted. Scheme evidence does not replace medical evidence for heating or cooling claims.
- An Equipment User Declaration if the person using the equipment claims but wants their carer to receive the payment.
- A Centrelink online account linked to myGov for an online claim; Services Australia may also require identity verification.
Eligibility
You or the person you care for must need eligible essential medical equipment or medically required heating or cooling at home, have a Commonwealth Concession Card, pay the energy running costs and be in Australia when claiming. A dependent child cannot claim in their own name, although a carer may claim where the rules are met. The equipment and medical conditions for heating or cooling are restricted to those recognised by Services Australia.
How to do it
- Check that the equipment or medical need for heating or cooling is covered and that the concession card, energy cost and Australian presence rules are met.
- Ask your medical practitioner to complete the required medical confirmation and prepare proof of energy costs and any other supporting evidence requested.
- For an online claim, sign in to myGov and select Centrelink, then Make a claim or view claim status → Make a claim → Disabled, ill or injured → Get Started → Apply for Essential Medical Equipment Payment.
- If you cannot claim online, complete form SA440 for one person or the Multiple Claim form SA451 for more than one person at the same address. Submit the completed claim and signed supporting forms as directed by Services Australia.
- Check your myGov Inbox or postal mail for the decision and respond if Services Australia requests more details.
Who can get the payment, and how much is it?
The Essential Medical Equipment Payment helps with home energy costs for eligible medical equipment or medically required heating or cooling. You or the person you care for must need the equipment or temperature control, hold a Commonwealth Concession Card, pay the energy running costs and be in Australia when claiming. Dependent children cannot claim the payment themselves.
Services Australia pays $203 per year for each eligible piece of equipment and $203 per year for medically required heating or cooling. For example, two eligible devices plus medically required heating can produce three yearly payment amounts. The payment does not depend on claiming the same item afresh each year.
Which home energy needs are eligible?
Services Australia's equipment list includes home dialysis machines, ventilators, respirators, feeding devices, oxygen concentrators, heart and suction pumps, medically prescribed infant apnoea monitors, nebulisers used daily, positive airways pressure devices, phototherapy equipment, air bed vibrators, electric wheelchairs and insulin pumps. Equipment with non-rechargeable batteries and mobility or electric scooters are excluded. Check the specific device against the official list rather than assuming any electrically powered medical aid qualifies.
Heating or cooling is covered for specified medical needs, including a spinal cord injury at or above T7, stroke, brain injury, neurodegenerative disorder, muscular dystrophy, full thickness burns over more than 20% of the body, specified rare sweating disorders and chronic erythrodermas. Ordinary household heating or cooling by itself does not establish eligibility.
What evidence should you prepare?
A medical practitioner normally completes the Medical confirmation form. For equipment claims, Services Australia can instead accept evidence that the person with medical needs or their carer already receives assistance for the same equipment through a state or territory government scheme. That alternative does not apply to medically required heating or cooling.
You must provide proof that you or someone you care for pays the energy running costs, such as an electricity or gas bill. Services Australia allows you to provide this later if you do not have it when lodging the claim. If the equipment user wants the payment made to a carer, an Equipment User Declaration gives that approval. Services Australia may ask for other evidence relevant to the claim.
How do you submit the claim?
The online route requires a Centrelink online account linked to myGov. Sign in and choose Make a claim or view claim status → Make a claim → Disabled, ill or injured → Get Started → Apply for Essential Medical Equipment Payment. Follow the questions and provide the supporting documents requested.
If you cannot claim online, Services Australia directs you to form SA440 when claiming for one person or the SA451 Multiple Claim form when claiming for more than one person at the same address. A medical practitioner must complete the confirmation section of the applicable form. Contact the Disability and carers line or visit a service centre if you cannot access a form.
What happens after you claim?
Services Australia sends the outcome to your myGov Inbox, or by post if you do not receive electronic letters. It may request further details. Once approved, the payment continues each year for the same equipment or heating and cooling while your circumstances remain eligible. You need a new claim for an additional piece of equipment or after changing address. A move ends claims at the old address; if you use the same equipment at the new address, Services Australia says you do not need to provide medical evidence again with the new claim.
Tell Services Australia about changes in your circumstances within 14 days. Other support may address separate needs: a person providing daily care can check Carer Allowance, while someone assessing broader disability income support can read about Disability Support Pension.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Essential Medical Equipment Payment?
Services Australia pays $203 per year for each eligible piece of medical equipment and $203 per year for medically required heating or cooling.
Can I claim for an electric wheelchair or mobility scooter?
An electric wheelchair is on Services Australia's eligible equipment list. A mobility or electric scooter is not eligible.
Does any medical condition qualify for heating or cooling assistance?
No. Services Australia lists specific conditions for medically required heating or cooling, and medical confirmation is required.
Can a carer receive the payment?
You or your carer can claim where the eligibility rules are met. If the equipment user claims and wants the carer paid, an Equipment User Declaration is required.
Do I need to claim again every year?
No. Services Australia continues yearly payments for the same approved equipment or heating and cooling while circumstances remain eligible. Claim again if you need to add equipment or move address.
What if I do not have an electricity or gas bill when I claim?
You must provide proof of the energy running costs, but Services Australia says you can give it later if it is unavailable when you submit the claim.
Official sources
Services Australia – Who can get Essential Medical Equipment Payment and how much you can getServices Australia – How to claim Essential Medical Equipment PaymentServices Australia – Evidence for Essential Medical Equipment PaymentServices Australia – Supporting documents for the Essential Medical Equipment PaymentServices Australia – Eligible equipment for Essential Medical Equipment PaymentServices Australia – Heating or cooling for medical needsRelated procedures
Useful next steps and closely related guides for Australia.
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