Financial hardship

What is Financial Hardship?
Financial hardship refers to a situation where you are unable, because of reasonable and unavoidable circumstances, to pay your rates without seriously affecting your ability to meet basic living needs (such as food, housing, medical care, or education).

Who is eligible?
You may apply for financial hardship assistance only for your sole or primary place of residence.

    What support may be available?
    If approved, you may be eligible for:

    • Temporary deferment of rates
    • Interest charges to be waived
    • Customised payment arrangements over a longer period

    Non-Primary Residence (e.g. Investment Properties, Vacant Land)

    Financial hardship assistance is not available for non-primary residences.

    However, you may still:

    • Make voluntary payments at a frequency that suits you
      (Note: These are not part of a formal plan)
    • Be subject to penalty interest on any unpaid balances
    • Have your account referred to debt collection if the debt remains unpaid

    How to apply:

    Email

    Step 1.Complete a Financial Hardship Application

    Download a financial hardship application form and complete all sections. 

    • This is a statutory declaration and must be witnessed by an authorised person (e.g. Police Officer, Pharmacist, GP, or Justice of the Peace)
    • Include information on a potential minimal payment plan arrangement that suits your current financial circumstances – please provide an amount you can afford to pay on a weekly/fortnightly or monthly basis. 

    Step 2.Submit your application

    Email your completed application form and any supporting documents to info@moorabool.vic.gov.au

    In person

    Step 1.Complete a Financial Hardship Application

    Download a financial hardship application form and complete all sections. 

    • This is a statutory declaration and must be witnessed by an authorised person (e.g. Police Officer, Pharmacist, GP, or Justice of the Peace)
    • Include information on a potential minimal payment plan arrangement that suits your current financial circumstances – please provide an amount you can afford to pay on a weekly/fortnightly or monthly basis. 

    Step 2.Submit your application

    Submit your application in person at any of the following locations:

    Ballan Office 
    15 Stead Street, Ballan
    Open: Monday-Friday 8.30am-5pm

    Darley Civic and Community Hub  
    182 Halletts Way, Darley
    Open: Monday to Friday 8.30am-5pm 

    Lerderderg Library 
    215 Main Street, Bacchus Marsh
    Open: Monday to Friday 8.30am-5pm
               Saturday 9am-2pm

    Mail

    Step 1.Complete a Financial Hardship Application

    Download a financial hardship application form and complete all sections. 

    • This is a statutory declaration and must be witnessed by an authorised person (e.g. Police Officer, Pharmacist, GP, or Justice of the Peace)
    • Include information on a potential minimal payment plan arrangement that suits your current financial circumstances – please provide an amount you can afford to pay on a weekly/fortnightly or monthly basis. 

    Step 2.Submit your application

    Mail your completed application form to PO Box 18, Ballan, 3342

    What happens next?

    • Once submitted, Council will assess your application in accordance with its Property Rate Debt Management Policy (PDF, 317KB)
    • You will be contacted to confirm the outcome, or to discuss alternative options
    • While under a hardship arrangement, you must maintain agreed payments

    Note:
    Financial hardship assistance is not a waiver of rates. It is designed to provide flexible solutions that allow you to meet your rate obligations gradually, without undue stress.