On this page:
Financial Counselling
No Interest Loan Scheme
Relief Assistance
Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) Vouchers
Financial counselling
Financial Counsellors assist people experiencing financial difficulty by providing information and support to help deal with their problems, manage their debts and alleviate the stress of financial hardship.
If you have any problems understanding your finances; or feel stressed because of overdue bills, please call us. This includes electricity and gas bills; rental arrears; mortgage payments; loans to banks, credit unions and payday lenders; as well as car or other personal loans.
Our financial counsellors can help guide you on saving money or sorting out problems with your bank. They can also advocate on your behalf with banks, lending institutions and creditors.
This is a FREE service provided by Metro Assist. Sessions can be held face-to-face or via telephone appointment.
Financial Counselling is available for anyone:
• Having difficulties managing and spending their money
• Behind on any rental or mortgage repayments
• Who has received legal notice regarding debts obtained
• Struggling to pay credit cards or short-term loans
• Who wants to manage their money better and set budget goals
How do I make an appointment to see a Financial Counsellor?
All referrals will be taken by our receptionists. Reception will complete the referral form on behalf of the clients and will book the client in to see a Financial Counsellor.
Please call our reception on (02) 9789 3744.
No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS)
The No Interest Loans Scheme offers access to borrow up to $2000 for essentials such as appliances or furniture, to help you get your car back on the road, pay for education fees and equipment or help you cover the cost of goods and services to support your wellbeing.
For housing-related expenses such as bond or rent in advance, or for recovery from a natural disaster a loan of up to $3000 can be borrowed.
The NIL’s loans are interest-free, and there are no fees – ever. NILS helps you manage your money and you only pay back what you borrow.
Eligibility
• Earn less than $70,000 annual income (before tax) as a single person or $100,000 annual income (before tax) if you have a partner or children.
• Or Have experienced family or domestic violence in the last 10 years.
• Or Have a Health Care Card / Pension Card
And you can show you can afford to repay the loan.
What can I use a NILs loan for?
Borrow up to $2000 for essential goods and services including:
• Household items like appliances, whitegoods & furniture
• Car repairs & registration
• Medical, dental, well-being and life event expenses
• Technology like a phone or laptop
• Education expenses like fees or uniforms
• Employment expenses like licenses or equipment
Borrow up to $3,000 for:
• Bond & rent in advance.
• Rates
• Costs associated with a natural disaster
What do I need to apply?
When you apply, you’ll need to provide
• 100 points of ID (such as a driver’s license, passport, Medicare card, Centrelink card, bank card or bills, including something to verify your address)
• Details about your financial situation (bank statements and/or banking details, payslips and/or current Centrelink statement, plus an estimate of your regular expenses)
• Information on existing debts (such as buy now pay later, payday loans or rent-to-buy)
• A quote or invoice that shows: the date, a description of the item/service, the supplier’s details (business name, ABN, address, phone or email), banking or payment details, and the payment amount with delivery included.
How do I make an appointment for NILS?
Please ring (02) 9789 3744 to make a booking with a Metro Assist NILS team member.
Relief Assistance
Metro Assist provides relief assistance to help people address immediate basic needs in times of financial distress or hardship. This assistance is a first point of contact for individuals with complex needs, allowing for referral to more intensive support from our financial counseling team. All financial support is made by vouchers, not in cash and is provided on a short-term, case-by-case basis.
Referral onto our financial counselling service provides clients with a wrap-around approach that can lead to better outcomes and assist individuals to avoid potential dependence on relief assistance.
Our service is only available to the residents of Canterbury Bankstown, Inner West, Canada Bay, Georges River, and Bayside.
If you live in other parts of Sydney you can find relief providers using the Department of Social Services directory or we can help you find relief providers in your area.
Who can access relief assistance?
• Low-income earners or those receiving no payments at all
• People experiencing domestic and family violence
• People experiencing homelessness
• People experiencing financial hardship
What we can provide:
• Food voucher (e-vouchers or vouchers can be sent via mail)
• Opal cards (online top-up or via mail)
• Chemist bill payments (directly paid to the supplier upon receipt of invoice)
• Part-payment of utility account (1/3 of the overall bill, provided online)
• Part payment of Telstra home phone and internet (sent via mail)
• Budgeting assistance
• Referrals to other services that help to address underlying causes of financial distress
What documents do I need to bring to be approved for relief assistance?
• Current ID that shows your address such as driver's licences, council rate, or utility bills
• Recent bank statement (three months minimum requirement)
• Current Centrelink statement if applicable
• If seeking medical assistance, you will need to provide the tax invoice, medical bill, or pharmaceutical invoice
• If seeking payment for a utility bill, you will need to provide original bill that matches the support amount you are requesting
How do I make an appointment for relief assistance?
All referrals will be taken at reception. Reception will complete the referral/ intake form on behalf of the clients and a support worker will contact the client.
Please call our reception on (02) 9789 3744.
If you are unable to get an appointment with us, you can access other relief support services. To find other service providers, click here.
Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) Vouchers
If you're having difficulty paying your current household energy bill due to short-term financial distress, Metro Assist may be able to provide EAPA vouchers to help. EAPA vouchers are sent electronically to your energy retailer to help pay your home electricity or gas account. Applying for EAPA vouchers involves an eligibility assessment by Metro Assist staff and is assessed on a case-by-case basis for approval. EAPA voucher limits apply and vouchers cannot be used to put your energy account into credit, on closed accounts, or if your account has already been paid.
Please note that EAPA assistance is a short-term support and reoccurring clients will be asked to see our financial counselling service to provide long-term financial budgeting support.
To be eligible for EAPA vouchers, you must:
• Have an electricity or natural gas account for a NSW residential address. This must be your primary place of residence and the account must be active at the time of your assessment
• Be the electricity or natural gas account holder (the account and bill must be in your name)
• Be experiencing a short-term financial distress that has caused you financial hardship and impacted your ability to pay your current residential energy bill (in part or in full).
You are not eligible if you:
• Use liquid petroleum gas (LPG) bottles for your gas supply; however, you may be eligible for a gas rebate
• Are residing in embedded networks (e.g. some strata plans, retirement villages and residential parks)
• Have already paid your energy bill
• Have a business account
• Have closed your energy account
What documents do I need to be approved for an EAPA voucher?
You need to provide two proof of identity documents – the names on the two documents must match and also match the name on the supply address on the electricity or natural gas account. You must also provide your personal and contact details (name, date of birth, address, email and phone number) and a copy of your current electricity and/or gas bill.
This bill must include your:
• First and last name (your account and bill must be in your name)
• Energy retailer's name
• Energy account number
• National Meter Identifier (NMI) number for electricity bills, or
• Delivery Point Identifier (DPI)/Meter Installation Registration Number (MIRN) for gas bills
• Confirmation that you are currently on a hardship plan with your retailer (if applicable)
• Evidence of financial distress, such as an employment termination notice or medical expenses (optional).
How do I make an appointment for EAPA assistance?
All referrals will be taken at reception. Reception will complete the referral/ intake form on behalf of the clients and a support worker will contact the client.
Please call our reception on (02) 9789 3744.
The No Interest Loans Scheme offers access to borrow up to $2000 for essentials such as appliances or furniture, to help you get your car back on the road, pay for education fees and equipment or help you cover the cost of goods and services to support your wellbeing.
For housing related expenses such as bond or rent in advance, or for recovery from a natural disaster a loan of up to $3000 can be borrowed.
The NIL’s loans are interest free, and there are no fees – ever. NILs help you manage your money and you only pay back what you borrow.
How do I make an appointment for NILS?
Please ring (02) 9789 3744 to make a booking with a Metro Assist NILS team member.