Apply for the Life Support Equipment Energy Subsidy

Fact sheet
Subsidy to help with life support equipment energy costs.
Last updated:

The life support equipment energy subsidy is provided to assist eligible persons to meet the energy costs associated with operating life support equipment in their home under specialist medical advice. 

Subsidy payments are made directly into a bank account nominated by the applicant.

Change of bank details

Complete the change of bank details form to update the account nominated for receiving the subsidy. 

If the nominated bank account details provided are incorrect resulting in payment to an incorrect account, RevenueWA will attempt to recover the funds. If recovery is unsuccessful, you will not be entitled to a duplicate payment.

Change of address

You must keep your postal, email and residential address up to date to ensure you receive notifications about the subsidy, including annual renewal letters. 

Contact us to update your details.

Eligibility

The patient must be dependent on specified life support equipment used in their home under specialist medical advice.

To apply, you must:

  • be either the patient who requires the equipment for their own use, or be the guardian or primary caregiver of a person who uses the energy for life support equipment in their own home, and
  • hold one of the following means-tested concession cards:
    • Pensioner Concession Card (issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs)
    • Health Care Card (not including the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) or
    • Health Care Interim Voucher.

Medical authorisation

When you first apply for this subsidy the medical authorisation must be provided by an authorised medical practitioner.

If you live within the Perth metropolitan area, an authorised medical practitioner is a:

  • specialist medical practitioner in the relevant field
  • medical practitioner working in a specialist department of a hospital
  • hospice doctor.

If you live outside of the Perth metropolitan area, an authorised medical practitioner can be a doctor/general practitioner who also works on an occasional basis from a local hospital or rural health service.

For the purposes of this scheme, LGAs within the Perth metropolitan area are:

City of ArmadaleCity of MelvilleCity of SwanTown of Cambridge
City of BayswaterCity of NedlandsCity of VincentTown of Claremont
City of BelmontCity of PerthCity of WannerooTown of Cottesloe
City of CanningCity of RockinghamShire of KalamundaTown of East Fremantle
City of CockburnCity of South PerthShire of MundaringTown of Kwinana
City of FremantleCity of StirlingShire of Peppermint GroveTown of Mosman Park
City of GosnellsCity of SubiacoTown of BassendeanTown of Victoria Park
City of Joondalup   

Specified equipment

Specified equipment must be prescribed by an authorised medical practitioner (see ‘Medical authorisation’ above) and must be operated at the applicant’s home address.

The following table lists the specified equipment and the amount of the annual subsidy per item. Equipment not listed in this table is not covered under this scheme.

Specified equipmentAnnual subsidy
Apnoea monitor (child only)$282
CPAP machine
Adult - only when clinically prescribed for adults with obesity hypoventilation syndrome, tracheomalacia, obstructive sleep apnoea with sleep hypoventilation, or other life threatening disease as determined by a specialist with usage over four hours per night
Child - only when prescribed for severe obstructive sleep apnoea, tracheomalacia or other life threatening disease as determined by the treating specialist
$491
Feeding pump$168
Heart pump$443
Machine assisted peritoneal dialysis equipment$103
Nebuliser
Adult - only when a tracheostomy is expected to be in place for more than 6 months and nebulised therapy is required for life support purposes
Child - only when used every day for 1-2 hours per day
$54
Oxygen concentrator (adult - standard capacity)$937
Oxygen concentrator (adult - high capacity ‘New Life Intensity’)$1,352
Oxygen concentrator (child)$1,405
Suction pump$222
Ventilator - VPAP or BPAP machines$491

How to apply

It’s fastest and easiest to use the online application form. 

If you already have an Online Services Portal account, apply online

For information about applying online or setting up an account, see the Energy Subsidy Schemes Portal Guide

The doctor or specialist will be emailed to complete the medical authorisation form. Once completed, the application will be automatically submitted to RevenueWA. 

If you’re unable to apply online, apply using the paper-based application form. The doctor or specialist must complete the medical authorisation section of the application form before it can be submitted. 

If the application is approved, payment will be made to the nominated bank account within 10 working days of approval. 

Our right to decline

RevenueWA has the right to decline an application (or require repayment of any subsidy already paid) if the Commissioner is of the reasonable opinion that false or misleading information has been provided, or if the eligibility criteria have not been met. Applicants may request a review of the decision.

Renewing your application

You must renew the application each year before your anniversary date, which is the same date the initial application was lodged. 

If you applied through the Online Services Portal or have subscribed to receive renewals by email, we will send an email to let you know your application is due for renewal. You can then log in to your account to renew the application. 

If you are not subscribed, we will send a renewal letter to the nominated postal address. Subscribe via the online services portal to receive renewal and recertification letters by email. If you receive a paper notice, you can attach the completed form to a web enquiry or send it to us by post. 

If your application is not renewed by your anniversary date, the subsidy will automatically be cancelled and you will need to re-apply.

Changes to equipment 

If the patient has been prescribed additional or upgraded equipment, a recertification form must be completed by an authorised medical practitioner and submitted so we can assess your eligibility for the new subsidy amount. Contact us to request a recertification form.

Recertifying your application

Every three years, the patient’s specified equipment must be recertified to confirm ongoing eligibility for the subsidy. 

If the condition is temporary or not considered enduring, the recertification must be completed by an authorised medical practitioner (as currently required under the Scheme). 

The recertification can be completed by a general practitioner if:

  • an authorised medical practitioner has confirmed that the person’s condition is enduring and that the person will have an enduring need for life support equipment to manage the condition and
  • the GP confirms they have sighted the specialist report certifying the enduring need for life support equipment. 

These conditions only apply to recertification. Patients will still need to complete their initial certification with an authorised medical practitioner.

Energy supply outages - special needs customers

Keeping you safely connected to the electricity supply at all times is vital. If you have not already done so, it is essential that you contact your electricity retailer to register as a Life Support customer as soon as possible.

Details can be found on your electricity retailer’s website or by phoning them directly: