Change of circumstances for Essential Medical Equipment Payment (EMEP) 008-01040040

The EMEP is paid to eligible customers with medical needs (or their carers who live at the same residence):

• to cover the additional costs of running:
• each item of essential medical equipment, and/or
• medically required heating/cooling
• every 12 months based on the customer’s initial grant date. Customers will not have to lodge a new claim each year to continue to receive the payment

Once granted, EMEP is:

• automatically paid every 12 months on the grant date anniversary
• paid until the customer loses qualification or there is a change of circumstances

For the payment amount, see  Rates and thresholds > Essential Medical Equipment Payment (EMEP).

Note: EMEP is subject to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). On 1 July each year, EMEP rates increase in line with the CPI. All claims made on or after this date will receive the applicable rate of EMEP.

EMEP claims are made in relation to the customer’s current residential address. Customers only need to claim for EMEP once for their current residence and qualifying medical equipment.

Qualified customers are paid EMEP every 12 months on the anniversary date of the customer’s initial grant date. This payment will be paid automatically until the customer loses qualification or there is a change of circumstances.

EMEP may cancel if a change of circumstances occurs for the equipment user, their carer, the medical equipment being used or if the claim is not valid (such as duplicate identical claims). Cancellation means that the EMEP will not be paid to the customer on the EMEP 12 month anniversary date.

If a current EMEP customer completes a new claim for another item of qualifying equipment and/or medically required heating/cooling they are currently not being paid EMEP for, it will not replace their previous anniversary date(s). The person will have multiple anniversary dates and EMEP will be paid on the 12 month anniversary of each respective claim grant date.

See Eligibility for Essential Medical Equipment Payment (EMEP).

If the customer has lodged a duplicate claim less than 12 months from the previous EMEP and within the same financial year and there is no change in circumstances:

• process the claim, which automatically rejects PAC due to a claim previously being paid for the same address
• include the details of any outbound contact attempt in the rejection DOC

Make one attempt only to contact the customer to explain:

• the EMEP claim they lodged on [lodgement date] cannot be paid
• this is because they are already current for EMEP and receive this payment every 12 months from their original claim
• when their next payment is due (anniversary date)
• they can submit a new claim if they have a change in circumstances. For example, if they use a new item of medical equipment or change address

See the Resources page for eligibility scenarios.

If the customer has lodged a duplicate claim form less than 12 months from the previous EMEP and the claim is submitted after the end of the financial year and there is no change in circumstances, Service Officers must cancel the EMEP new claim activity (not the EMEP payment).

See Processing Essential Medical Equipment Payment (EMEP) claims to cancel the EMEP claim activity for duplicate EMEP claims.

See the Resources page for eligibility scenarios.

A new claim will only need to be lodged if the person with medical needs (equipment user) or their carer:

• needs to claim for another item of qualifying essential medical equipment and/or medically required heating/cooling they are currently not being paid EMEP for
• had a change of circumstances, and/or
• lost qualification

The EMEP new claim is required because:

• EMEP is paid to assist with increased energy costs at a particular residence due to running qualifying essential medical equipment and/or medically required heating/cooling
• if the customer moves from this address, a new claim must be lodged for the new residence

Proof of medical needs is not required for a new claim if the customer changes address and the new claim is for the same:

• qualifying essential medical equipment, and
• medical condition as claimed for the previous residence

Note: medical evidence/information provided for the initial EMEP claim cannot be more than 2 years old. See Claiming Essential Medical Equipment Payment (EMEP)

To reassess EMEP, record the following changes:

• change in residential address:
• this includes when the equipment user or their carer enters or is admitted into, an aged care facility, residential rehabilitation centre, hospital, medical facility, or is held in a detention centre or prison
• recording a change of address or correcting an address will auto cancel EMEP. End date the link with the equipment user if the carer applied for EMEP and has moved residence or changed address
• if a customer's address is corrected, set up a manual review on the anniversary date in the following year
• an item of qualifying essential medical equipment that is no longer used by the equipment user (EMEP can continue for other essential medical equipment being used at the current residence)
• the equipment user withdraws their consent for the EMEP to be paid to their carer (the equipment user should be invited to claim EMEP)
• the equipment user or their carer no longer contributes to the energy account for the current residence
• the equipment user or their carer goes overseas permanently
• death of the customer or equipment user