More than 470,000 Western Australians have claimed the state’s $100 Fuel Support Payment less than a week after the scheme opened.
The uptake represents almost $46 million in cost-of-living support set to flow to WA households, with every eligible WA driver’s licence holder able to claim the one-off payment.
The scheme opened at 9 am on Wednesday, 1 July and is available to full, learner, provisional and extraordinary licence holders.
Who is eligible for the Fuel Support Payment?
The $100 Fuel Support Payment is available to eligible Western Australian driver’s licence holders.
That includes learner drivers and P-platers, with the Government reporting the strongest participation rate among novice drivers. About 26 per cent of novice drivers have already submitted a claim.
Minister Assisting the Transport Minister Jessica Stojkovski said the payment was designed to support a broad range of licence holders.
“We’re proud that this payment supports every eligible licence holder, including learners and P platers who sometimes feel cost-of-living pressures the most,” Stojkovski said. “Whether you’re driving to work, TAFE, university or your driving lesson, this payment is helping take some of the pressure off.”
How are drivers claiming the payment?
The WA Government says the fastest way to claim the payment is through the ServiceWA app.
Claims submitted through the app are expected to be paid within five to seven business days.
Manual claim options are available, but processing can take up to eight weeks.
Paper forms can be collected from about 200 locations across the state, including regional Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure service centres, ServiceWA kiosks and participating local Members of Parliament offices. They will also be available at participating public libraries from mid-July.
Science and Innovation Minister Stephen Dawson said the app had helped drive strong uptake.
“The strong uptake and high satisfaction results demonstrate that Western Australians are increasingly embracing secure and convenient digital services,” Dawson said. “The ServiceWA app is the quickest and easiest way to access the $100 fuel payment.”
How much has been donated to charity?
Western Australians can choose to donate their Fuel Support Payment to one of 15 participating charities across food and emergency relief, children’s charities and community support.
Since the scheme opened, more than 2,200 people have chosen to donate their payment, raising more than $220,000 for charity.
Premier Roger Cook said the result showed the payment was supporting households while also helping community organisations.
“I’m very proud to say that more than 2,200 of those claims have been donated to charity, raising more than $220,000 to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community,” Cook said.