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Income Management - Priority needs 103-01040000

Contact details

Income Management Policy helpdesk

Technical Support Line

Services Australia website

Managing your money contains useful information and resources

Rent v buy calculator

External websites

No Interest Loans Scheme is available to low income earners with a Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) or Health Care Card (HCC)

StepUP Loans Scheme provides low interest loans to people on low incomes through community providers across many parts of Australia

Personal Property Securities Register

Intranet links

Income Management Intranet

Office Locator TPO Search

Decision-making

Priority needs

This table contains questions to ask in regards to a customer's priority needs. The list is not exhaustive, the questions are not compulsory and are to be used as a guide only.

Category	Questions
1	Food How does the customer currently buy food - for example, individually, collectively or from one or more stores? In a household, how much does each member of the household contribute? Which stores are used? What is the customer's current spending on food? What are the customer's likely future costs for food? Are there other relevant factors such as health problems or special diets? It is not mandatory for a customer to have a regular expense for food however they must demonstrate how this priority need is met
2	Housing and rent How is the customer currently paying their housing costs? How much is spent on housing costs? Is the customer in shared accommodation and, if so, how much do they contribute? Is the customer meeting their housing costs? It is not mandatory for a customer to have a regular expense for rent or housing however they must demonstrate how this priority need is met.
3	Utilities What utilities costs does the customer have? How is the customer currently paying for utilities? Is the use of a meter, voucher or card required to access utilities on a pay-per-use basis, rather than direct payment to a utility provider? Does the customer ever have problems with electricity/phone being cut off because bills have not been paid? Are utility costs being shared? It is not mandatory for a customer to have regular expenses for utilities however they must demonstrate how this priority need is met.