Rates financial assistance (including hardship)

If you are experiencing hardship but can afford to pay your rate arrears within 12 months, payment plans provide a flexible payment option that suits your individual circumstances.

Payment plans provide a flexible, interest free, payment option that suits your individual circumstances by making weekly or fortnightly payments. It is important that you agree to a payment plan that you can commit to. Failing to make agreed payments can result in legal action and further penalties.

Payment plans are made for arrears only and do not include future rates and charges. When entering into a payment plan you must pay all future instalments as they fall due in addition to your payment plan payments.

Apply for Payment Plan

What happens next?

We will review your application and send you the outcome within 10 business days. Please note that if you previously had a payment plan that was cancelled, you will not be eligible for a new agreement.

You should begin making payments according to your commencement date and not wait for your payment plan confirmation letter, as mail delivery can sometimes be delayed.

Approved payment plan applicants must set up regular payments. Please refer to a recent rates notice to select the payment method that best suits your needs. We recommend setting up a BPAY schedule or using Flexipay Direct Debit.

Failing to make planned payments

If, for any reason, you can't make a scheduled payment, please contact us as early as possible. Failing to make your rates payments could result in the cancellation of your payment plan, further penalties and potential legal action.

• If you default on three planned payments in a 12 month period, we will cancel your payment plan and you will not be able to enter into a new agreement.
• Penalty interest will be charged until arrears are paid in full.
• Legal action will commence two years after the agreement.

If you are experiencing financial hardship and you cannot pay your rate arrears within a 12-month period, you can apply for a weekly, or fortnightly hardship payment plan, with special consideration of a smaller payment amount. Please complete the Financial hardship application form below.

Financial hardship application

In cases of extreme financial hardship we will consider a short-term deferral of your rates.

Please contact the rates team to discuss on 1300 179 944.

If you are suffering severe financial hardship and can provide documented evidence, you may be eligible for a 25 per cent reduction for rates in 2025/26.

Eligibility

For owner-occupiers of residential properties to be eligible for the financial assistance, the combined current income of all registered owners must have dropped by 30 per cent or more in the current financial year compared to the previous year and your total combined household income must currently be less than $80,000 per annum.

For businesses to be eligible for the financial assistance, your business must operate from the property address and turnover must have reduced by 20 per cent or more in the current financial year compared to the previous year.

Apply for Financial Hardship

Council’s Financial Hardship Policy (PDF, 363KB) aims to support Hobsons Bay residents and businesses. Council is committed to ensuring all members of the Hobsons Bay community have access to the same information.

To support members of our community from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds the financial hardship flier has been translated into 15 different languages, please view the PDF documents below. To support members of the community with cognitive impairments or English speakers with low literacy, Council has translated the financial hardship flyer into Easy English, please view the word document below.

Financial Support

Financial & Consumer Rights Council of Victoria (FCRC) is the peak body for Financial Counsellors in Victoria and can help you find a financial counsellor – visit www.fcrc.org.au for more information.  

The National Debt Helpline provides free, confidential counselling for people experiencing financial difficulty - visit www.ndh.org.au or call 1800 007 007 for more information.

Hardship support services in Hobsons Bay and other referral points

There are many organisations in the Hobsons Bay community to support you during challenging situations including financial counselling help, emergency relief, utility relief and support, mental health, older people support services, LGBTIQA+ services, alcohol and other drug support, and legal help. Please visit the Community Services page.