Expansion of hardship program to assist Western Australians in need

• Hardship Utility Grant Scheme to be expanded to include water bill assistance for social housing tenants
• WA Labor has increased support available through the program by almost 20 per cent since coming into Government
• Reflects WA Labor’s commitment to helping Western Australian families doing it tough and providing cost of living support

WA Labor has committed to expanding the Hardship Utility Grant Scheme (HUGS) to provide more support for social housing tenants doing it tough.

HUGS provides financial assistance to Western Australian utility customers who are in hardship and unable to pay their bills.

Currently, support is available for property owners with their energy and water bills, and social housing tenants with their energy bills.

If re-elected, HUGS eligibility will be extended to include water bill assistance for social housing tenants, further reflecting WA Labor’s commitment to supporting Western Australian families doing it tough.

Since coming into Government, WA Labor has increased the maximum available through HUGS by almost 20 per cent, to $640 per year and $1,060 per year for those living north of 26th parallel.

Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:

“WA Labor will always do what’s right by Western Australians and support those doing it tough."

“My Government has a strong track record of providing important cost of living relief to Western Australian households, including over $1 billion in the past financial year alone."

“This commitment further highlights WA Labor's resolve to keep easing cost of living pressures, if re-elected."

“Importantly, it’s the latest in a range of measures we’ve implemented to support the most vulnerable in our community, including the WA Rent Relief Program which supports struggling tenants to stay in their homes, as well as boosts to targeted assistance programs like the Energy Assistance Payment, Regional Pensioner Travel Card and Patient Assisted Travel Program.”