Free Rates Help Tasmania: Support Services for Pensioners

Struggling with council rates in Tasmania and not sure where to turn? Several organisations provide free, confidential help — from general concession enquiries to crisis debt counselling. The problem is that each one covers a specific slice of the issue, so knowing which to call first saves time.

Service Tasmania: The Starting Point

Service Tasmania (1300 13 55 13) is the Tasmanian Government's general concessions gateway. They publish the official Concessions and Discounts Guide and can direct you to the right council or agency for your situation. If you are unsure whether you qualify for a pensioner rates remission, or cannot find your council's application form online, Service Tasmania is the fastest way to get pointed in the right direction.

They do not process applications themselves — that happens through your local council — but they can confirm which concession card types qualify and explain the general eligibility rules.

COTA Tasmania: Seniors Advocacy

COTA Tasmania (Council on the Ageing) provides systemic advocacy and general information about senior concessions. You can reach them at (03) 6231 3265 or through cotatas.org.au.

COTA is useful when you need someone to explain the broader concession landscape — what is available for property rates, water, electricity, and transport. They advocate at the policy level for changes like converting flat-rate concessions to percentage-based ones that keep pace with rising charges.

One important boundary: COTA does not fill out individual council rates forms or manage document submissions on your behalf. Their role is information and advocacy, not casework.

Anglicare Tasmania and the National Debt Helpline

If your rates situation has moved beyond a missed concession and into genuine financial distress — arrears, enforcement notices, or difficulty paying even after the remission — free accredited financial counsellors are available through Anglicare Tasmania and the National Debt Helpline at 1800 007 007.

These counsellors can help you negotiate emergency payment arrangements with your council, prepare the documentation needed for a formal hardship application under section 129 of the Local Government Act 1993, and assess whether a rate postponement under sections 126–127 (which defers payment but creates a secured debt on your property) is appropriate for your circumstances.

Financial counselling through the National Debt Helpline is free, independent, and confidential. The counsellors are accredited professionals who work for community organisations — they do not sell financial products.

Tasmania Legal Aid

Tasmania Legal Aid (1300 366 611) provides free legal advice on statutory appeals and property law disputes. They are relevant in two specific rates scenarios:

First, if your pensioner rates remission application has been rejected and you believe the decision is wrong, Legal Aid can advise on the formal objection process — from writing to the Commissioner of State Revenue through to a Magistrates Court appeal.

Second, if your council has progressed from rates arrears to enforcement action under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1993 — where outstanding rates become a statutory charge on the property — Legal Aid can explain your rights and options.

Legal Aid does not fill out concession application forms, but they provide critical support when a rates issue becomes a legal dispute.

TasWater Customer Team and TasWater Assist

For water and sewerage concession questions specifically, TasWater's customer team (13 69 92) handles applications and enquiries. Remember that your council's rates remission does not automatically extend to TasWater — a separate application is required, and TasWater does not backdate concessions.

TasWater also runs TasWater Assist, a financial hardship program that offers confidential payment plans, bill freezing during assessment, and potential debt relief without interest charges or fees. If you are behind on water bills, contact them directly rather than waiting.

Ombudsman Tasmania

If you believe a council or TasWater has handled your concession application unfairly — unreasonable delays, lost paperwork, or contradictory decisions — Ombudsman Tasmania (1800 001 170) investigates complaints about public authorities under the Ombudsman Act 1978. The service is free and independent of government.

Which Service to Call First

If you need to apply for or renew a pensioner rates remission, your local council is the direct point of contact. If you are unsure about eligibility or cannot find the right form, start with Service Tasmania. If rates debt is causing financial stress, the National Debt Helpline should be your first call — they can coordinate across council and TasWater issues simultaneously.

For a complete walkthrough of the application process across both your council and TasWater, including all the deadlines and documents you need, see the Tasmania Pensioner Rates Remission Claim Guide.

See more Tasmania guides →