Payment plans & financial hardship

Pensioner Rate Assistance Scheme

If you hold a Pensioner Concession Card or Veteran Affairs Gold Card (marked WAR WID or TPI), you may be eligible for the following rebate:

• 50% rebate (to a maximum of $266.00) on your council rates
• $50 rebate on the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund
• $15 rebate on the recycling charge (if applicable).

To apply for a first-time rebate, you must:

• Fill in the Concession Application form(PDF, 143KB)
• Bring the form, your rates notice and concession card into the Wangaratta Government Centre, 62 - 28 Ovens Street, Wangaratta for verification.

If you received a rebate last year and your circumstances have not changed, you will automatically be granted a rebate this year.

Financial hardship assistance

If you are finding it difficult to pay your rates by the due date, please contact our Rates team as soon as possible on 5722 0838 to discuss your circumstances and options available. 

Alternatively, you can request a payment plan for your rates account below. Please note that interest will be charged at 10% per annum until the account is brought up to date.

Click here to view form.

Financial Advice

You can also access free, confidential and independent financial advice and assistance through:

• Financial Counselling Victoria Inc: Financial counsellors provide free, independent and non-judgemental information, advice, advocacy and support to people experiencing or at risk of financial difficulty.
• National Debt Helpline:  Free service that helps people tackle their debt problems
• Rural Financial Counselling Service: Free financial counselling for primary producers, fishing enterprises or small rural businesses experiencing hardship.