Purpose of the Grant
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing IEM Program states: “This initiative aims to help people with an IEM stick to their specialised diet and stay healthy. People with a protein metabolic disorder are unable to breakdown certain proteins. They must follow a specialised diet that is low in the protein they cannot metabolise properly to avoid build-up of waste products in the body that can lead to serious health problems. The foods required for these specialised diets are expensive. Monthly IEM Program personal benefit payments assist people with an IEM to stay on their specialised diet and maintain health. The IEM Program personal benefit payments are not intended to be used to purchase non-food items such as medications and supplements.”
As of 1 January 2025, the IEM Program personal benefit payment is $298.36 per month. The payment will released in the first full week of each month. 2025 Payments due to arrive by:
January 12th February 9th March 8th April 12th
May 9th June 7th July 11th August 8th
September 12th October 10th November 7th December 12th
Compliance
To receive the IEM Food Grant payment an applicant must:
- Be an Australian resident living in Australia and be Medicare enrolled;
- Be 6 months of age or over;
- Require a medically prescribed diet;
- Have been assessed by a metabolic specialist who is recognised by the department of Health, Disability and Ageing (the department) who confirms the IEM diagnosis and requirement for a medically prescribed diet; and
- Depending on the condition (Form A conditions), be re-assessed regularly (annually) by their metabolic specialist to confirm that the person continues to have special dietary requirements.
Form A Conditions
- dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) deficiency
- hyperphenylalaninemia
- phenylketonuria (PKU)
People diagnosed with DHPR, hyperphenylalaninemia and PKU must be reassessed and reapply for the program every 12 months.
It is the responsibility of all Form A recipients to schedule review appointments as required by their treating metabolic specialists, and to ensure that they provide us with any reapplications.
The monthly payments may cease if the IEM Program Office do not receive the reapplication documentation within 15 months from the last application.
Form B Conditions
People diagnosed with the following conditions are required to submit an application approved by a metabolic specialist recognised by the department for the IEM program and to notify the department of any changes to their circumstances and contact details.
- argininaemia (arginase deficiency)
- argininosuccinicaciduria (ASA lyase deficiency)
- carbamyl phosphate synthase (CPS)
- citrullinaemia (ASA synthase deficiency)
- cobalamin deficiencies (A, B, C and D)
- glutaric aciduria type I (glutaryl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency)
- guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT) deficiency
- HMG-CoA lyase deficiency
- homocystinuria, not pyridoxine responsive (cystathionine β synthase deficiency)
- isovaleric aciduria
- lysinic protein intolerance (LPI)
- maple syrup urine disease (MSUD)
- methylmalonic acidaemia
- N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS)
- ornithine amino transferase deficiency (hyperornithinaemia, gyrate atrophy of the retina)
- ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTC).
- propionic acidaemia
- tyrosinaemia: type I (hepatorenal tyrosinaemia, fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase deficiency), type II and type III
- 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency
IEM Program Recipient Responsibilities
Recipients or their parents/guardians/carers are required to notify the Department of any changes to the recipient’s:
- dietary compliance
- Australian residency status
- contact details, including
- current address
- email address
- telephone number
- bank account details
- custody or care arrangements (if applicable)
- name change.
The Department must receive the notification within 14 days from the date of such changes. Failure to notify them within this period may result in us suspending the benefit.
Contact Information
For any questions about the Inborn Errors of Metabolism program, the IEM program officer can be contacted on:
02 6289 8980
Postal address:
IEM Program, Technology Assessment and Access Division
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
MDP 900, GPO Box 9848
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Online Application Forms
All application forms can be found at: Inborn Errors of Metabolism program forms
Further Information
How to lodge an application, enquiries and FAQ’s visit the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing: