❓ Question on Notice regarding the number and total cost of Hardship Utility Grant Scheme (HUGS) payments made in Western Australia from 2017-18 to 2023-24. The answer provides a breakdown of grants approved and paid, along with notes on eligibility criteria changes and data quality assurance.
AnsweredQoN 1861Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Hardship Utility Grant Scheme, and I ask: (a) for each of the following financial years, how many grant payments were made, and at what total cost: (i) 2017-18; (ii) 2018-19; (iii) 2019-20; (iv) 2020-21; (v) 2021-22; (vi) 2022-23; and (vii) 2023-24 (to date)?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 April 2024
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Community Services
Response time
9 days
The Department of Communities (Communities) advises:
(a) Total number of Hardship Utility Grant Scheme (HUGS) grants approved and paid and total cost of HUGS grants approved and paid for each of the following financial years:
(i) 55,038 grants were approved totalling $21,231,813.
(ii) 14,096 grants were approved totalling $7,483,730.
(iii) 8,936 grants were approved totalling $4,968,270.
(iv) 5,208 grants were approved totalling $3,007,936.
(v) 10,482 grants were approved totalling $6,065,558.
(vi) 10,404 grants were approved totalling $6,031,397.
(vii) As at 29 February 2024, a total of 9,343 grants were approved totalling $5,813,086.
Notes:
- The eligibility criteria for HUGS has changed throughout the reporting period to ensure the scheme is viable and more targeted to those experiencing financial hardship.
- Every effort is made to ensure data is correct. As a result of continual data quality assurance processes, Communities updates records to remove duplicate approvals or incorrect original processing dates, to ensure data is accurately recorded.
(a) Total number of Hardship Utility Grant Scheme (HUGS) grants approved and paid and total cost of HUGS grants approved and paid for each of the following financial years:
(i) 55,038 grants were approved totalling $21,231,813.
(ii) 14,096 grants were approved totalling $7,483,730.
(iii) 8,936 grants were approved totalling $4,968,270.
(iv) 5,208 grants were approved totalling $3,007,936.
(v) 10,482 grants were approved totalling $6,065,558.
(vi) 10,404 grants were approved totalling $6,031,397.
(vii) As at 29 February 2024, a total of 9,343 grants were approved totalling $5,813,086.
Notes:
- The eligibility criteria for HUGS has changed throughout the reporting period to ensure the scheme is viable and more targeted to those experiencing financial hardship.
- Every effort is made to ensure data is correct. As a result of continual data quality assurance processes, Communities updates records to remove duplicate approvals or incorrect original processing dates, to ensure data is accurately recorded.
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