The No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) is a community credit program as one loan is repaid another loan can be given out.

The NILS scheme will  lend up to $2000, to low income earners.  This is for the purchase of essential goods and services, such as whitegoods (refrigerators, washing machines), medical/dental services, car registration (six months) and other household items.  However you may be eligible to borrow up to $3,000, to pay for specific things such as:  rent advance and bond (paid to a real estate agent, not a private landlord),rent arrears (if caused by exceptional circumstances such as hospitalisation), Council rates, Utility bills (only if you have or are experiencing family and domestic violence)     

NILs for Vehicles, offers loans of $2,000 to $5,000 for people and families on low incomes to purchase an essential vehicle for day-to-day use including cars, scooters, mobility scooters, motorcycles and boats.  The vehicle being purchased must be road worthy and if it is a car, it must be registered.

*NOTE, NILS cannot be used for cash, rental arrears, bond, car repairs, holidays, bills or debt consolidation. The loan funds are paid directly to the store or service provider.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for NILs if you:

• are 17 years or over;

• are an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a visa that expires after the loan term;

• meet one of the low-income eligibility criteria below;

• • • have a Centrelink healthcare or pension card; or

    • earn less than $70,000 a year (before tax) for singles; or

    • earn less than $100,000 a year (before tax) for couples or people with dependents; or

    • there is a no upper income threshold if you have experienced family and domestic violence (within the last 10 years).

• you have lived at your current address for at least 3 months (however, this criteria can be waived under exceptional circumstances); and

• you can, and are willing to, repay the loan within the timeframe required.