Maximum combined value — if you qualify for everything
$1,300
Energy utility grants (VIC) per 2-year period
$2,688
Family Tax Benefit A per child per year
90%
Childcare subsidy for families earning under $80k
$536
Annual tax cut per person from July 2027
$7.70
Max PBS prescription with concession card (until 2030)
$285
Annual electricity rebate NSW (Low Income)
⚡ The key insight
Up to 41% of eligible Australians are not claiming concessions they're entitled to — according to a 2025 ACCC analysis. Every dollar freed up from energy bills, healthcare and childcare is a dollar that can go toward your deposit. Across all categories, an eligible household could be leaving $3,000–$8,000 per year on the table.
Category 1
⚡ Energy grants and rebates
Energy bills are one of the biggest drains on deposit savings. The federal Energy Bill Relief Fund ended December 2025, but state-level concessions and hardship grants remain active across all 8 states and territories — and are significantly more valuable for eligible households than the old federal rebate. Up to 41% of eligible Australians are not claiming what they're entitled to.
VIC only
Must apply
Up to $650 per utility type (electricity, gas, water) per 2-year period. If you only use electricity, you can claim up to $1,300 over two years. Paid directly to your utility provider to reduce your outstanding balance — prevents disconnection and frees up cash. You do not need a concession card, but must demonstrate temporary hardship from a recent unexpected event.
Key conditions
- Must be experiencing temporary financial hardship due to job loss, illness, family violence, natural disaster or other unexpected event
- No concession card required — low income is sufficient
- Only available once every 2 years per utility type
- Apply through your energy retailer's hardship team or a community organisation
- Grant paid directly to your utility provider — not cash in hand
VIC only
Auto-applied
Victoria offers some of the most generous ongoing energy concessions in Australia. The Annual Electricity Concession, Mains Gas Concession, Controlled Load Electricity Concession and Life Support Concession combine to over $600/year for eligible concession card holders. Applied automatically to your bill once you register.
Key conditions
- Must hold a valid Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card or DVA Gold Card
- Register with your energy retailer — most apply it automatically once card is verified
- Must be the account holder or a member of the account holder's household
- Victorian Energy Upgrades program also subsidises efficient appliances (heat pump hot water, reverse-cycle AC) — additional savings
NSW only
Must apply
Retail customers receive up to $285 per financial year. Embedded network customers (apartments, residential communities) receive $313.50/year. Apply via Service NSW or contact your electricity retailer. Applications open until 30 June 2026.
Key conditions
- Must be named on the electricity account
- Must hold Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card or Veteran Gold Card
- One rebate per household per financial year
- May also be eligible for NSW Gas Rebate and Medical Energy Rebate simultaneously
NSW only
Must apply
Emergency energy vouchers for NSW households experiencing hardship. Vouchers are generally $50 each and multiple may be issued depending on circumstances. Apply via Service NSW or through a community welfare organisation. Available for both retail and embedded network customers.
Key conditions
- Must be experiencing temporary energy hardship
- Apply through Service NSW or a community organisation such as St Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army or Wesley Mission
- Vouchers applied directly to your energy account
QLD only
Must apply via retailer
$386.34 per year for electricity and $92.12 per year for gas for eligible Queensland concession card holders. Contact your electricity or gas provider directly to apply. Retail and embedded network customers both eligible.
Key conditions
- Must hold Queensland Seniors Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or DVA Gold Card
- Contact your retailer to apply — embedded network customers contact your site operator
- Electricity and gas rebates are separate — apply for both if you have both utilities
SA only
Must apply
Up to $281.78 per year (daily rate of $0.772 GST exclusive) for eligible SA concession card holders. Note: there is currently no gas concession in South Australia. Reviewed each financial year. Apply through your electricity retailer or the SA Government concessions portal.
Key conditions
- Must be on a low or fixed income with a valid concession card
- Must be the electricity account holder
- Amount reviewed annually — $281.78 for 2025-26
- No gas concession currently available in SA
WA only
Must apply
Western Australia's HUGS assists customers unable to pay utility bills. Up to $633 per application for eligible WA households. WA concession card holders also receive an automatic $700 credit through the Energy Concession Extension Scheme (ECES), and the Energy Assistance Payment provides ongoing support for vulnerable households ($305.25/year).
Key conditions
- HUGS: must be a Synergy or Horizon Power customer experiencing hardship — apply through a financial counsellor or community organisation
- ECES: $700 credit for eligible concession card holders — automatically applied by Synergy or Horizon Power
- Energy Assistance Payment ($305.25/year): for concession card holders — contact your retailer
- Check eligibility at energy.gov.au/rebates
TAS only
Apply via Aurora Energy
Tasmania offers an Annual Electricity Concession for eligible concession card holders, plus a Heating Allowance of $597/year for eligible pensioners to help with heating costs — particularly important given Tasmania's colder climate. Aurora Energy's Customer Support Fund also provides emergency assistance for residential customers in hardship.
Key conditions
- Must hold a valid concession card — Pensioner Concession, Health Care Card or DVA Gold Card
- Heating Allowance: $597/year for eligible pensioners — contact Aurora Energy to apply
- Aurora Customer Support Fund: emergency hardship assistance — apply through Aurora Energy directly
- Energy Saver Loans: up to $10,000 at 0% interest for energy-efficient home upgrades
- Contact Aurora Energy (aurora.com.au) or Service Tasmania for current rates and application
ACT only
Apply via ACT Government
ACT concession card holders receive energy bill rebates and concessions through their electricity retailer. The ACT's Sustainable Household Scheme offers low-interest loans up to $15,000 for energy-efficient upgrades (reverse-cycle AC, EV chargers, insulation, induction cooktops) — reducing long-term energy costs. The heating and cooling upgrade rebate also helps households switch from gas to efficient electric heating.
Key conditions
- Energy concessions: must hold a valid concession card — contact your electricity retailer to register
- Sustainable Household Scheme loans: available to all ACT homeowners — apply at sustainability.act.gov.au
- Heating/cooling upgrade rebate: for ACT residents switching from gas to reverse-cycle AC
- EnergyMadeEasy.gov.au covers ACT — use it to compare electricity plans and switch to a cheaper rate
NT only
Apply via Power and Water
NT eligible households receive energy concessions through Power and Water Corporation. Concession card holders qualify for reduced tariffs and bill assistance. NT also offers the HomeGrown Territory Grant of up to $50,000 for first home buyers — the highest state FHB grant in Australia — and HomeBuild Access with as little as 2.5% deposit.
Key conditions
- Energy concessions: contact Power and Water Corporation (powerwater.com.au) to register your concession card
- HomeGrown Territory Grant: up to $50,000 for new homes — no income or property price cap
- Free EV registration and stamp duty concession until 30 June 2027 for electric vehicles
- National Debt Helpline (1800 007 007) — free financial counselling available in all states and territories
✓ Pro tip — switch retailers
The ACCC warned in 2025 that households on the same electricity plan for more than a year are very likely paying more than they need to. Use EnergyMadeEasy.gov.au (NSW, QLD, SA, ACT, TAS) or Victorian Energy Compare (VIC) to compare all plans — free, government tools. Switching can save $200–$500/year with no interruption to supply.
Category 2
🏥 Healthcare savings
Two major changes took effect from January 2026 that save every Australian with a Medicare card money on prescriptions. Combined with bulk billing expansion, healthcare costs should be significantly lower for most Australians in 2026.
Federal
Automatic
From 1 January 2026, the maximum cost of any PBS-listed prescription dropped from $31.60 to $25 for all Medicare card holders. That's a $6.60 saving per prescription — for someone on two regular medications monthly that's $158/year saved automatically with no application required.
Key conditions
- Applies automatically — no application required
- Must have a valid Medicare card
- Applies to all 900+ medicines listed on the PBS
- Concession card holders pay just $7.70 per prescription — frozen until 2030
- 60-day prescriptions available for many chronic conditions — halves the number of pharmacy visits and co-payments
Federal
Automatic
Concession card holders pay a maximum of $7.70 per PBS prescription, frozen until at least January 2030. After reaching the Safety Net threshold ($277.20 in 2026), PBS medicines are free for the rest of the year. For a household with multiple prescriptions, this can mean hundreds of dollars in annual savings.
Key conditions
- Must hold a valid Commonwealth concession card — Pensioner Concession, Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card or DVA Gold Card
- Automatic at the pharmacy — show your card
- Safety Net threshold: $277.20 in 2026 — after that, PBS medicines are free for the rest of the calendar year
- Keep your PBS receipts to track progress toward the Safety Net
Federal
Automatic where available
The federal government invested $8.4 billion to expand bulk billing eligibility to all Australians from 2025–26. The new Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program incentivises GP practices that bulk bill every visit. Not all practices bulk bill — use the healthdirect.gov.au GP finder to find bulk billing doctors near you.
Key conditions
- Must have a valid Medicare card
- Not all GP practices bulk bill — check before your appointment
- Use healthdirect.gov.au/australian-health-services to find bulk billing GPs near you
- Medicare Urgent Care Clinics provide free urgent care — 50 new clinics added in 2026
- Child Dental Benefits Schedule — free dental check-ups and basic treatment for children 0–17 under Medicare
Federal
Apply via Centrelink
If you're working but on a low income (under $681/week for singles), you may qualify for a Low Income Health Care Card — even without receiving Centrelink payments. This unlocks PBS concessional prescriptions at $7.70, bulk billing priority, state energy concessions, and public transport discounts.
Key conditions
- Income must be under $681/week for singles (higher thresholds for couples and families)
- Apply via your myGov account linked to Centrelink — or visit a Services Australia centre
- Does not require you to be on any Centrelink payment
- Unlocks state energy concessions, reduced transport fares and PBS concessional rates simultaneously
- Worth checking even if you think you earn too much — thresholds are higher than many people assume
Category 3
👶 Childcare subsidies
Childcare is often the single largest household expense for young families — frequently more than rent. The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) was significantly expanded in 2024 and again in January 2026. Many families are under-claiming.
Federal
Apply via Centrelink
The Child Care Subsidy covers 90% of childcare fees for families earning under $80,000 and scales down from there. From January 5 2026, the activity test was scrapped — all families previously eligible now receive at least 72 hours (3 days) of subsidised childcare per fortnight regardless of work activity. This is a major change that benefits many more families.
Key conditions
- Child must be enrolled at an approved childcare service
- Apply through myGov linked to Centrelink
- 90% subsidy for families earning under $80,000/year
- From January 2026 — activity test scrapped — all eligible families get at least 72 hours/fortnight
- Subsidy paid directly to the childcare provider — you pay the gap only
- Combined family income determines your subsidy percentage — reassessed annually
Federal
Apply via Centrelink
Family Tax Benefit Part A provides up to $222.04 per fortnight per child under 13 ($5,773/year). Part B provides up to $183.58 per fortnight for single-income or one-lower-income families. These payments directly increase take-home income — every dollar received is a dollar that can go toward your deposit.
Key conditions
- Part A: income-tested — available to families up to ~$100,000 adjusted taxable income (Part A base rate available up to ~$112,000)
- Part B: for families with one main income — full rate if primary earner is under $100,900
- Apply via myGov linked to Centrelink at the birth of your child or when you become eligible
- Paid fortnightly or as a lump sum after tax return
- Family Tax Benefit Part A also unlocks the NSW Family Energy Rebate ($180/year) for electricity
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Category 4
💰 Tax savings and offsets
Tax cuts and offsets directly increase your take-home pay — which directly increases your monthly savings capacity and shortens your deposit timeline.
Federal
Automatic via PAYG
The lowest income tax rate drops from 16% to 15% from 1 July 2026, and to 14% from 1 July 2027. For an average taxpayer, this means an additional annual saving of $268 from 2026 and $536 from 2027 — applied automatically through your employer's PAYG withholding. No application required.
Key conditions
- Automatic — applied through PAYG tax withholding from 1 July 2026
- Applies to taxable income between $18,201 and $45,000
- Combined with Stage 3 cuts already in effect — average annual tax cut reaches $2,229 in 2026-27
- Check your take-home pay from July 2026 — your employer should adjust withholding automatically
Federal
Applied via tax return
The Low Income Tax Offset reduces the amount of tax you pay — up to $700 for incomes up to $37,500, scaling down to zero at $66,668. Applied automatically when you lodge your tax return. If you're saving for a deposit and on a lower income, this offset can meaningfully reduce your annual tax liability.
Key conditions
- Automatic — applied when you lodge your annual tax return
- Full $700 offset for taxable income up to $37,500
- Phases out between $37,500 and $66,668 — partial offset applies
- Cannot result in a refund on its own — reduces tax payable only
Federal
Must set up via ATO
Make voluntary contributions into your super fund — taxed at 15% instead of your marginal rate — then withdraw up to $50,000 (plus earnings) for your first home deposit. For someone on a 32.5% marginal rate, that's a 17.5% tax saving on every dollar contributed. Must set up before contributing — you cannot backfill existing savings.
Key conditions
- Contribute up to $15,000 per financial year in voluntary super contributions
- Maximum total withdrawal of $50,000 across all years
- Must be a first home buyer — never previously owned residential property in Australia
- Request determination from the ATO before withdrawing — cannot be used if you've already exchanged contracts
- Start NOW — you cannot backfill. Every month you delay is a month of tax-advantaged savings lost
Category 5
🚌 Transport concessions
Transport concessions are often overlooked but can save $1,000–$2,000 per year for eligible commuters. Most are linked to holding a valid concession card.
All states
Automatic with card
Concession card holders across all states receive significant discounts on public transport — typically 50% off adult fares. In Victoria, concession Myki cards are loaded with the discounted rate automatically. In NSW, Opal cards link to your concession eligibility. For a daily commuter in a capital city, this saves $800–$2,000 per year.
Key conditions
- Must hold a valid concession card — Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Low Income Health Care Card
- Register your card with your state's transport authority (Myki in VIC, Opal in NSW, go card in QLD, MetroCard in SA)
- VIC: apply at ptv.vic.gov.au · NSW: opal.com.au · QLD: translink.com.au · SA: adelaidemetro.com.au
- Low Income Health Care Card qualifies — worth getting even if you're working
Category 6
🏛️ Centrelink payments relevant to FHBs
If you're between jobs, studying, or caring for someone while saving for your first home, several Centrelink payments may apply. Every dollar of Centrelink income is a dollar that doesn't need to come from your savings.
Federal
Via Centrelink
Commonwealth Rent Assistance is paid on top of eligible Centrelink payments for recipients in private rental. Up to $188.20/fortnight for singles and $177.20/fortnight for couples. Increased 10% in September 2024. Reduces your rental burden directly — freeing up more of your income for deposit savings.
Key conditions
- Must be receiving an eligible Centrelink payment (JobSeeker, Parenting Payment, Youth Allowance, etc.)
- Must be renting in the private market (not public housing)
- Automatically assessed when you apply for your base Centrelink payment
- Amount depends on how much rent you pay — partial CRA applies at lower rent levels
Federal
Apply via Centrelink
$762.70 per fortnight for single adults with no children. If you're between jobs while saving for your first home, JobSeeker provides income support. Importantly, it also unlocks the Health Care Card — which cascades into PBS concessions, energy rebates and transport discounts simultaneously.
Key conditions
- Must be between 22 and Age Pension age
- Must be looking for work or temporarily unable to work
- Income and assets tests apply
- Apply via myGov linked to Centrelink — online or in person at a Services Australia centre
- Receiving JobSeeker automatically issues a Health Care Card — unlocking multiple other concessions
✓ The Health Care Card cascade
Getting a Low Income Health Care Card or Health Care Card (via JobSeeker, Youth Allowance etc.) unlocks a cascade of savings: PBS prescriptions at $7.70 · bulk billing priority · state energy concessions worth $285–$600/year · public transport at half price. Together these can save $1,500–$3,000 per year for an eligible household. Check your eligibility at servicesaustralia.gov.au.
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