Claiming Essential Medical Equipment Payment (EMEP) 008-01040010

Customers can claim EMEP to receive payment for:

• one or more items of qualifying essential medical equipment being used in their current residence, and/or
• medically required heating/cooling at their current residence

Once EMEP is granted, the customer will not need to claim again for the same equipment and/or heating/cooling at the same residence.

Customers with medical needs who use the equipment (or their carers who live at the same residence) must lodge a new claim for:

• another qualifying item of essential medical equipment and/or heating/cooling they are not receiving an EMEP for, or
• a change of circumstances that results in ineligibility, for EMEP

If the customer lives in different residences during the year, separate claims are needed for each residence. EMEP can be paid for the same item(s) of equipment at up to 2 residences every 12 months.

EMEP applies to the customer’s current residential address. Customers only need to claim once for EMEP for their current residence and qualifying medical equipment item(s).

Once granted:

• EMEP remains current
• Current EMEP customers will:
• be automatically paid
• receive EMEP on the anniversary of the initial grant date at 12 monthly intervals, and
• continue being paid until they lose qualification

Once EMEP eligibility is established, proof of medical needs is not required again if:

• the customer changes address but the new claim is for the same person with the same medical equipment/requirements, or
• a new carer is claiming and there are no other changes to medical requirements

Note: medical information provided for the initial EMEP claim cannot be more than 2 years old.

Encourage customers to create a myGov account and link their Centrelink online account to it.

EMEP claims can be made via the following channels:

• Online claim in Centrelink Online Services, by making the following selections:
• Make a Claim
• Crisis Payments
• Apply for Essential Medial Equipment Payment

If the customer is unable or unsuitable to complete an online claim, they can lodge a paper claim.

Assisted Customer Claim (ACC) cannot be used for EMEP.

Note: the equipment user must provide their Identity Confirmation documents.

A carer can claim if they provide care and attention on a regular and ongoing basis for a person with medical needs (the equipment user). They must live together at the same address. They do not need to be a formal carer or be receiving Carer Payment and/or Carer Allowance to qualify for EMEP. A parent, or other person responsible for a dependent child can be a carer, including a foster carer. The carer of a non-dependent adult may also qualify for EMEP.

Note: claims lodged by carers must include Identity Confirmation documents for themselves and the equipment user.

Customers may require an individual or organisation to act on their behalf as a nominee when conducting Centrelink business with Services Australia.

Correspondence nominees can only apply for an EMEP on behalf a customer via paper claim. See the Resources page for relevant claim forms.