Reducing debts and expenses

Council rates

Councils can charge interest on the amount you owe if you have not paid your rates on time. If you are concerned that you may not be able to pay your rates, talk to your council before your rates are due.

Many local councils have a rate assistance or rebate policy for people in financial hardship. You may be able to:

• claim a concession rate – these are available to holders of some concessions; the concession rate varies in each state and territory
• negotiate a payment plan to pay your rates in smaller instalments
• write off interest charges on overdue rates
• defer part or all of your rates and charges for a set period of time.

Contact your local council to find out about the help they offer to ratepayers. Most councils will ask you to put your request in writing.

Income tax

If you owe tax and are concerned about being able to pay it on time, call the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) on 13 11 42 as soon as possible. It is still important to lodge your tax return or business activity statements (BAS) on time, even if you know you can’t pay the tax. This avoids late lodgement penalties and shows that you are trying to meet your obligations. Depending on your circumstances, the ATO may decide to give you more time to pay or agree to one of the following measures.

Pay your tax debt by instalments

If you have a tax debt and you cannot pay it in full, you may be able to pay in weekly, fortnightly or monthly instalments. This is called a payment plan.

Depending on the amount you owe, there are different ways to set up a new payment plan with the ATO. The ATO’s online payment plan estimator can help you work out how to pay your debt.

Ask for interest charges to be reduced

The ATO charges interest on unpaid tax debts. This general interest charge (GIC) starts from the original due date, even if you enter into a payment plan. If you are experiencing financial difficulties because of cancer, you can ask to have some or all of the GIC reduced or cancelled. This is known as the remission of GIC.

Contact the ATO on 13 11 42 and explain why your payment was delayed and any steps you took to avoid the delay. For larger amounts, you may be asked to put your request in writing.

How to set up a payment plan with the ATO

For income tax debt, have your tax file number (TFN) ready. For business activity statement (BAS) debt, have your Australian business number (ABN) ready.

Use the online service – debt under $200,000

Visit myGov and link your myGov account to the ATO. myGov is a secure way to connect with various government services. You can create an account if you don’t have one already.

Call the automated phone service – debt under $200,000

Call 13 28 65 (individuals) or 13 72 26 (businesses) and follow the prompts. You can suggest a payment arrangement. If this is accepted, the ATO will send you a confirmation letter.

Speak to a customer service officer – debt over $200,000

Call 13 11 42 to speak to someone at the ATO. They will ask about your financial situation, such as why you haven’t been able to pay and how you plan to pay the debt.

Apply for a release of your tax debt

You can apply to have some types of tax debt permanently removed (released). You will need to show that paying the debt would cause you serious hardship. This means you would be unable to provide food, housing, medical care or other essentials for yourself or your family.

Use the ATO’s debt release tool to work out if you are eligible to apply for a release of your tax debt and to get the application form. You will need to provide pay slips and bank statements. You can also call 13 11 42 to discuss your options.

Utility bills

Utilities include services like electricity, gas, water, phone and internet. If you need help paying for your utilities, you have some options.

Hardship programs – Most utility providers are required by law to offer payment options to customers who are having trouble paying their bills. This is called a hardship policy, and how this works varies from provider to provider.

You may be able to set up a payment plan that will allow you to pay later (defer the payment) or pay several smaller amounts over a set period (pay by instalments). Once you register with a hardship program and are regularly paying something off your bill, your utility provider cannot cut off your supply. To find out more about individual hardship programs, contact your service provider.

Rebates and concessions – Rebates and concessions can reduce the amount you owe on your utility bills. They are usually available to customers on low incomes, people receiving certain Centrelink payments and holders of some concession cards.

Special rebates may be available to customers who are medically unable to regulate their body temperature, or who need to use certain essential medical equipment (such as an oxygen concentrator) at home.

Payment vouchers and grants – In most states and territories, customers in financial hardship can receive payment assistance vouchers or grants to put towards their utility bills.

These may be available through community welfare agencies such as the Salvation Army, or directly by the relevant state or territory government department.

To find organisations and government departments that provide rebates and vouchers visit Moneysmart.

Energy efficiency programs – Changing how you use energy may reduce your bills. Some states and territories offer free energy and water efficiency assessments to help customers find ways to use less energy and water. They may also help with energy-saving or water-saving repairs and alterations, such as offering a reduced fee for a plumber to fix your leaking taps.

Visit energy.gov.au for energy-saving tips, and to find assistance in your state or territory. Download the Light Bulb Saver app from the App Store or Google Play to see how much money you can save by using energy-efficient alternatives.

Support and disputes – Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Family members or friends might be able to help you find information or talk to a financial counsellor. Cancer Council 13 11 20 can sometimes help you find a financial counsellor.

Independent services can help you resolve disputes with your utilities provider. If you need help with a dispute about phones or the internet, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman may be able to assist.

For disputes with water or gas providers, contact your state or territory’s energy and water ombudsman. For a list of ombudsman schemes, go to the Australian Energy Regulator and search for useful contacts.

I was embarrassed to ask for help, but it was a bad time for me to get sick. Getting help paying my water rates was much appreciated.”
GEORGE

Education expenses

If cancer has caused you financial hardship, you may be able to come to some arrangement regarding school fees or it may be possible to delay (defer) repayment of your education (HECS–HELP) debt. Special grants can help young people to continue their education.

Negotiate school fees

Fees are not compulsory in public schools, but it’s a good idea to contact the school to discuss payment of voluntary contributions. Many private and independent schools are willing to make arrangements for parents experiencing unexpected hardship who cannot pay school fees in the short term. Ask for written confirmation of any changes you negotiate.

Once you become aware that your financial situation has changed, get in touch with the school principal straightaway to discuss your options. These may include:

• investigating scholarships or bursaries that cover school fees and other expenses
• negotiating a payment plan
• requesting a temporary suspension of your fees.

Apply for an education grant

Young people affected by cancer may be able to apply for special grants to help them pay for education and training. Here are some organisations that provide grants:

Redkite provides grants to young people aged up to 18.

Ronald McDonald House Charities offers the Charlie Bell Scholarship program each year to people aged 15–20.

Young Carers Network, part of Carers Australia, provides the Young Carer Bursary Program for carers aged 12–25.

Defer HECS–HELP debts

You may have a HECS–HELP debt under the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) or the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP). If you are having trouble repaying the debt, you can apply to the ATO to defer or reduce your repayments.

You will need to show that making the repayments would cause serious hardship (e.g. would leave you unable to provide food, accommodation, clothing, medical treatment or other necessities for you or your family) or that there are other special reasons such as having a serious illness.

The ATO may also ask you to provide details of your income and expenses as well as a copy of your most recent pay slip. If your application is successful, you will not need to make any repayments until the next financial year. If you want to defer your repayments for another year, you will need to reapply. There are time limits that apply. To defer your HECS–HELP repayments, download and complete an application form. Call 1300 650 225 or visit the ATO’s website.

Loans and credit cards

If you are worried about keeping up with repayments on your loans (such as home or car loans) or credit cards, don’t wait until you have fallen behind. Take action early, before a lender or credit card provider begins legal proceedings. If debt collectors are contacting you, ask a financial counsellor for advice.

Talk to your loan provider

Let the organisation you owe money to (the creditor) know that you are experiencing financial hardship because you or a family member has cancer. The creditor may agree that you can:

• stop making repayments for a short time, such as 6–12 months
• make lower repayments for a short time
• change to interest-only repayments for a specified period
• pay by instalments
• reduce the total amount owing
• extend how long you have to pay the loan (the loan term).

Making a payment arrangement as soon as possible can protect your credit rating. If you apply for a loan in the future, the lender will usually check your credit report before approving the loan.

A credit report details your credit history and rating, including every time you have applied for credit or not made a repayment on time (defaulted). It is held by a credit reporting agency. Your credit rating helps a lender assess the risk of lending to you.

Contact the creditor to make a payment arrangement. Make sure you get any agreement in writing, and check what interest and fees you will need to pay. Speak to a lawyer or financial counsellor if you need help understanding the documents.

Apply for a hardship variation

If you are finding it hard to repay loans and credit cards, you can apply for a hardship variation. This is usually a temporary arrangement to help you manage short-term financial difficulties. It is a formal process where you ask your credit provider to change the terms of your loan contract. It is usually only offered by lending institutions and banks.

To be eligible to apply for a hardship variation, you will usually need to meet the following criteria, although these can change between lenders:

• the loan is for a personal reason (e.g. home loans, personal loans or car loans), not a business loan
• you can reasonably repay the adjusted amounts agreed under a varied loan contract – maybe you are planning to go back to work after treatment, or you can pay off your debt over a longer term
• you can’t make your repayments at the moment because of illness, unemployment or some other reasonable cause.

Even if you don’t meet the above criteria (e.g. your loan is a business loan), your credit provider may still be willing to help you, although it won’t be called a hardship variation.

To apply for a hardship variation, write to or call your credit provider and explain your situation. You can also ask a financial counsellor to negotiate for you. If you ask someone else to negotiate on your behalf, you will probably need to fill in a form, usually called a third party authority form. This authority confirms that you have authorised this person to act on your behalf.

You can ask for reduced repayments or a complete hold on repayments for a specific period of time or until your situation has improved.

The credit provider will usually continue to charge interest on the loan even if repayments are reduced or on hold. This means that the loan balance may increase, which could increase your instalment payments once your period of hardship variation ends. Check with your creditor about the terms that apply to you.

Your credit provider may ask you for more information about your finances to help them with the decision. Work out what you can afford to pay before you talk to creditors. Once you agree to an amount, it may be difficult to change it. You can usually pay more if you find you can afford to. Remember, the creditor is focused only on the amount you owe them.

Getting a hardship variation may protect your credit rating if you get a variation agreement early and you stay up to date with the lower repayments. Sometimes credit providers are required to report any defaults on loan repayments immediately, which can affect your credit rating. If you have a hardship variation agreement and think you might miss a payment, tell your credit provider straightaway.

If your application for a hardship variation is refused, the credit provider must give written reasons. If you think the reasons provided are unfair, you can complain through an external dispute resolution scheme. Sometimes, your credit provider will ask for more information. Make sure you respond by the date set by your credit provider so your hardship variation request can be assessed.

If you think you will not be able to reasonably repay the loan, you may need to consider other options. These may include a debt release on compassionate grounds, selling assets or, as a last resort, bankruptcy.

How to refinance your loans

Rolling all your loans into one can make it easier to manage the repayments. This is called debt consolidation or refinancing. Before you refinance, follow these important steps:

Compare interest rates, fees and charges – make sure you will be paying less for your new loan and check whether your current provider will charge any exit or penalty fees.

Check the time frame – some providers offer debt consolidation with competitive interest rates for a short time only (e.g. 6 or 12 months).

Check the company is licensed – to find out if a lender or broker is licensed, search the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) professional register.

Avoid predatory lenders – some businesses take advantage of people in financial difficulty by offering options that can lead to more problems. They may charge very high establishment fees and interest rates, and make the loan term very short, even for a big loan. This is called predatory lending. If you think you have a loan with a predatory lender, it’s important to get legal advice immediately. Search for your nearest community legal centre at Community Legal Centres Australia.

Get independent advice – See a financial adviser or financial counsellor.

How to resolve credit disputes

Almost all credit providers have an external dispute resolution (EDR) scheme. An EDR scheme allows you to have a dispute resolved by an independent party for free and without going to court.

Many credit providers have internal dispute resolution (IDR) schemes. Ask your credit provider about their complaints processes.

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) provides EDR for all financial services in Australia. To check if your credit provider is a member and for more details about making a complaint, visit AFCA or call 1800 931 678.

Ask about credit card repayment protection

When you applied for a credit card, you may have taken out credit card repayment protection. This will help cover repayments if you’re unable to work due to illness, permanent disability or death. There is usually a waiting period before you can make a claim. Also, conditions apply for using credit card repayment protection. Speak to your credit card provider to see if you have repayment protection.

Ask if you’re eligible for debt release

In some limited circumstances, your creditor can decide to write off (waive) your debt altogether. This is known as debt release on compassionate grounds, and it is rare. It is usually an option only for people who have been on Centrelink benefits for a long time and have no assets except household goods and tools of trade.

If you think you may be eligible, ask a financial counsellor or a community legal centre to help you apply to have your debts released. Debt release can affect your credit rating, so find out what this means before going ahead.

Check if the debt is secured or unsecured

When you owe money, the debt may be secured or unsecured. The type of debt affects what action the lender (creditor) can take to get their money back if you stop making repayments.

Secured debt – This is a debt that is backed against a particular asset. When a bank lends you money, they may take security for the debt. This means that if you stop making repayments, \the bank can take certain property (called the security property) and sell it to get back the amount you owe. Home mortgages and car loans are secured debts.

Unsecured debt – With this type of debt, if you stop making repayments, there is no particular asset the creditor can take and sell. If you can’t pay the debt, you may be able to agree on a hardship variation or get help from Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) to resolve the dispute. Otherwise, the creditor must go to court and get an order for you to pay the debt.

Sometimes, the creditor may be able to take some of your income or assets to repay what you owe. Credit cards and personal loans are usually unsecured debts.

What to do if a creditor takes you to court

Get professional advice straightaway – If you receive an official court document, such as a
statement of claim, you will have only a limited time (usually 21 or 28 days) to file a formal response at court.

A statement of claim sets out what your creditor thinks you owe them. If you disagree with the claim, you need to lodge a defence with the court.

If you need legal help, you can search for your nearest community legal centre or ask your financial counsellor to refer you to a lawyer. You can also visit the National Debt Helpline or call 1800 007 007 for more information.

Ask whether you can set up a payment plan – If you agree you owe the amount in the claim but are not in a position to pay it, you can try to negotiate a payment plan with the creditor. You may also have the right to get the statement of claim put on hold and use an external dispute resolution (EDR) scheme. This may give you an opportunity to set up a payment plan with your creditor. Seek advice from a financial counsellor or lawyer if you think the dispute could be referred to an EDR scheme, or if you are unsure.

Don’t ignore a statement of claim – If you don’t file a formal response or appear at the hearing, the creditor can get a default judgment against you. This means that the court will order you to pay the money owed to the creditor.

If you don’t pay, the creditor may be able to take (repossess) some of your income or assets and sell them to get the money you owe.

Check that a statement of claim is genuine – Some debt collectors may give you documents that look like a statement of claim but haven’t actually been issued by a court. This is fraud and is against the law.

If you are not sure whether the statement of claim you have received is genuine, check with a lawyer.

When I got cancer, I was too sick to work. I thought I’d be able to go back to work once I was fixed up, so I kept using my credit card. That’s how I got caught in the credit trap.” VINCENT

Medical and pharmaceutical expenses

The Australian Government offers several benefits that can help you pay less for medical treatments, tests, prescription medicines and other medical supplies.

Register for the Medicare Safety Net

A cancer diagnosis often involves many medical appointments for tests and treatment. Medicare will usually cover part of these expenses, but you may need to pay the difference yourself.

The Medicare Safety Net applies to out-of-hospital costs. Once your out-of-pocket costs go over a certain amount (called the threshold), Medicare will pay you a higher benefit for many services until the end of the calendar year. This may mean you receive more money back from Medicare for your appointments and tests.

If you are an individual, you do not need to register for the Medicare Safety Net as Medicare automatically keeps a record of your expenses. A couple or family will need to register even if you are all listed on the same Medicare card. To download the registration form, visit Services Australia or call Medicare on 132 011.

Receive Medicare benefits for allied health services

If you have a chronic health condition – one that lasts for at least 6 months – you may be able to get Medicare benefits for allied health practitioners (e.g. physiotherapists, dietitians and psychologists) to help manage your condition.

If your GP refers you to any allied health professionals, you may receive a Medicare rebate for up to a total of 5 visits per calendar year.

Talk to your GP about whether seeing allied health practitioners would be helpful for your condition. If so, your GP will prepare a GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangement. They can then refer you to the allied health practitioners who are listed in the Team Care Arrangement.

Get a PBS Safety Net card

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidises the cost of many prescription medicines for people with a current Medicare card. The PBS Safety Net further reduces the cost of prescription medicines once you or your family have spent a certain amount on them each calendar year. This amount is known as the PBS Safety Net threshold.

There are 2 PBS Safety Net thresholds – one for general patients and one for concession card holders. Once you or your family reach the threshold, your pharmacist can give you a PBS Safety Net card. With this card, your prescription medicines for the rest of the year will be
discounted (or free if you have an eligible concession card). You will still need to pay full price for medicines not listed on the PBS.

To get a PBS Safety Net card, keep a record of any PBS medicines you or your family buy. You can use a Prescription Record Form, which you can get from your pharmacy. For more information, call the PBS Information Line on 1800 020 613, or visit Services Australia.

Medicines not on the PBS are usually expensive. You may be able to get them as part of a clinical trial or at a reduced cost through a compassionate access or cost-share program
offered by the pharmaceutical company. Talk to your health care team for more information.

Use a concession card

Centrelink provides concession and health care cards to help reduce the cost of medical expenses and medicines for eligible people. These include the Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, and Health Care Card.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs Veteran Card also helps with these costs. The benefits you receive with a Veteran Card depend on its colour.

These cards may also mean you can get cheaper medicines through the PBS; free medicines once you reach the PBS Safety Net threshold; and refunds for medical expenses through the Medicare Safety Net. If you have an eligible card, show your pharmacist when you get your prescription filled. Some doctors bulk-bill concession card holders, although this is up to the doctor. Talk to your GP about whether they bulk-bill.

Use the Pharmaceutical Allowance

The Pharmaceutical Allowance is a small amount that helps eligible people cover the cost of medicines. It is automatically included if you receive certain Centrelink payments. For people receiving the Disability Support Pension, Age Pension or Carer Payment, the allowance is included as part of their payment each fortnight.

You do not need to apply for the Pharmaceutical Allowance as Centrelink will automatically assess your eligibility and pay you with your regular fortnightly payments if you qualify. You may be able to get the Pharmaceutical Allowance as an advance payment. For more information, visit Services Australia.

Receive help with the cost of continence aids

The Australian Government’s Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) helps cover the cost of continence products. If cancer or its treatment has left you with permanent or severe incontinence (difficulty controlling your bladder or bowel movements), you may be eligible for CAPS.

For most cancers, this payment is available only if you also hold a Pensioner Concession Card. For a small number of neurological conditions, including brain and spinal tumours, you can receive the payment without a Pensioner Concession Card.

To find out more about CAPS, call the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66. To download the application form, visit the Department of Health and Aged Care. If you want help completing the form, call the CAPS team on 1800 239 309.

Be reimbursed for external breast prostheses

Medicare’s External Breast Prostheses Reimbursement Program helps with the cost of new or replacement breast prostheses. If you have a Medicare card and have had a full or partial mastectomy because of breast cancer, you can claim up to a set amount for a new prosthesis
every 2 years. If you’ve had a bilateral mastectomy, you can be reimbursed for 2 breast prostheses. You will need to pay the upfront cost of the prosthesis in full and get reimbursed later.

As policies can change, check what assistance is available before you buy a new prosthesis. Call Medicare on 132 011 or visit Services Australia to check if you’re eligible for the program
and to get a claim form. You will need to send the completed form with a copy of the original receipt for the prosthesis to Medicare.

Download our booklet ‘Breast Prostheses and Reconstruction’ 

Receive free stoma supplies

After surgery for bladder, bowel or anal cancer, you may need a temporary or permanent stoma. This is an opening in the abdomen that allows urine (wee) or faeces (poo) to be collected in a bag.

The Australian Government’s Stoma Appliance Scheme (SAS) provides free stoma supplies for people with a temporary or permanent stoma. To apply for the scheme, you must hold a
Medicare card and be a member of a stoma association. These associations usually charge a small annual membership fee that gives access to free stoma appliances and products. For more information visit the Department of Health and Aged Care, or visit the
Australian Council of Stoma Associations.

Rent

If you are worried about paying your rent, don’t wait until you have fallen behind. Talk to your landlord or real estate agent to see if you can negotiate a reduced rent, a temporary freeze on payments, or delay your rent payments for a set amount of time.

If you’re unable to work, check with Centrelink to see if you are eligible for any benefits. If you already receive Centrelink benefits such as the Age Pension, Carer Payment or Disability Support Pension, you may be able to get Rent Assistance. To check eligibility requirements,
visit Services Australia.

You can also contact your local housing office or tenants advice service for information about assistance that may be available. You may find it helpful to talk to a financial counsellor or contact a community legal centre.

Travel costs

Having cancer treatment can mean a lot of travel to and from your medical appointments. There are several ways to save on travel costs.

Make a patient transport claim

People who need to travel away from home for treatment may have extra expenses. There is financial help available for transport and accommodation costs.

Every state and territory has Patient Assisted Travel Schemes (PATS) for people who need to travel long distances for specialist medical treatment that is not available in their local area. Many schemes also help with the cost of accommodation, if it is needed. The eligibility rules are different for each state and territory. In general, you must be a permanent resident of the relevant state or territory and also need to travel a significant distance to the closest available specialist treatment.

Most patient transport assistance schemes are subsidy schemes – they pay a part of your travel and accommodation costs, but you need to pay the rest. Usually, you will need to cover the upfront costs in full and get reimbursed later. If you have a concession or health care card, you may be able to apply for assistance before you spend the money.

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you and your doctor will need to complete a form. You may also need to provide original tax receipts and medical certificates to support your application.

To find out about the transport support offered in your state or territory, visit Health Direct. Cancer Council can help you find transport to treatment. Call 13 11 20.

Use your Pensioner Concession Card

If you receive certain payments from Centrelink, you will automatically receive a Pensioner Concession Card. This will mean you can get lower fares or free travel on public transport and discounts on car registration.

Carry your card with you and ask for the concession fare when you use public transport. When renewing your car registration, claim the concession rate if you are eligible. To see what concessions are available, visit Services Australia.

Check if you’re eligible for the Mobility Allowance

If the type of cancer or treatment you have makes it hard for you to use public transport and you receive certain Centrelink payments, you may be eligible for the Mobility Allowance.

This allowance only applies if you are travelling to work (paid or voluntary), study or training, or travelling to look for work. It is a regular extra amount that is paid with your main Centrelink payment each fortnight. To check if you are eligible, or to submit an online claim, visit Services Australia.

Ask about parking concessions

Reduced parking fees are often available to help cover the cost of parking for people who are having ongoing cancer treatment, hold pension cards (e.g. Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card) or are in financial hardship. If you will be driving to treatment – or someone will be driving you – ask your treatment centre or the hospital social worker about whether discounted parking rates are available, and how to get them.