People struggling to pay household bills and small businesses could be in line for more help with their energy bills under an expanded NSW government program.
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From next month, the NSW government will increase temporary hardship assistance to $2000 per financial year from $1600 through the Energy Accounts Payment Assistance Scheme.
The program helps households and businesses experiencing hardships - such as loss of income, unexpected medical costs and natural disasters - avoid being disconnected by their energy retailer.
About 49,000 people accessed the scheme in the year to June 2021.
Those eligible can apply for two $500 vouchers for gas bills and two $500 vouchers for electricity bills a year.
Energy Minister Penny Sharpe said the increased payment would make a real difference to those facing unexpected challenges.
"We understand many people are doing it tough as cost of living pressures make it difficult for families to get by and businesses to keep their doors open," she said on Wednesday.
The help will be available from August 1.
NSW Council of Social Service chief executive Joanna Quilty said the change would make a huge difference to households in dire circumstances.
"But there's more to do to streamline and speed up eligibility and application processes, and to make sure people know this assistance is available," she said.
Broader energy bill relief will also be available for roughly 1.6 million households and 320,000 small businesses through a joint state and federal government initiative.
Those who don't automatically receive a rebate on their bills by July 31 are being urged to apply from August.
"I want every household and small business that is eligible, to get the support they are entitled to," Ms Sharpe said.
But opposition health spokesman Matt Kean noted the broader relief applied to only those on federal income support and not to all of the 3.4 million households in NSW.
The coalition had expected about two in three households to apply for its planned one-off $250 scheme if it had been returned to government in March.
"The millions of families who miss out on the $250 bill relief should write to their local Labor MP and ask them where their $250 is," Mr Kean said.
He also attacked Premier Chris Minns for going on a family holiday when health workers were threatening industrial action next week as part of a bid for more pay.
The Health Services Union wants a six-per-cent rise or a flat increase of $3500 per worker for this financial year but the government says four per cent is all that's affordable.
Brushing off examples of coalition leaders taking leave, Mr Kean said it was incumbent on a premier who had promised "huge" increases to immediately step in.
"Leaders don't go on holidays during a crisis," he said.
He was however unaware his own leader, Mark Speakman, was also on leave until the middle of next week.
NSW Parliament is on winter break, with the next sitting day scheduled for August 1.
Australian Associated Press
