21 September, 2023
Farm Household Allowance (FHA) provides help to eligible farmers, and their partners, experiencing financial hardship. It offers planning and training for long-term financial improvements.
FHA is a package of assistance available to cash-strapped farming families, regardless of the source of the hardship. The assistance includes up to4 years of fortnightly income support in every 10-year period.
Several measures announced in the Budget 2023-24 will benefit FHA recipients. The changes start from 20 September 2023:
- An increase to the base rate of FHA by $40 per fortnight (further indexed for CPI)
- Higher rate of FHA to single recipients aged 55 to 59, who receive the payment for 9 or more continuous months. Currently the qualifying age for this higher rate is 60, and
- Increase to the maximum rate of Rent Assistance by 15 per cent.
- Energy Relief Payments from 1 July 2023 to provide support with rising energy prices. To find out more, visit Energy Bill Relief.
- As FHA recipients receive a Health Care Card, they can benefit from the increased bulk bill incentives for GP visits and telehealth consultations. To find out more visit the Department of Health and Aged Care.
- Increased dispensing limit of 2 months for some PBS medicines, rather than the current one-month supply limit. This change will mean fewer visits to the doctor and the pharmacy and lower out-of-pocket costs for some common medicines. To find out more visit the Department of Health and Aged Care.
