One-off power help coming soon: Xenophon

Key crossbench senator Nick Xenophon expects pensioners will receive a one-off payment he negotiated with the government to help with power bills soon.

Senator Xenophon was on Monday defending the deal he did with the coalition in exchange for his support for tax cuts for small and medium businesses, which included a $75 payment for single people receiving the aged pension, disability pension or parenting payment and $125 for couples.

"It's at least a tangible measure. It will mean that those households doing it the toughest will get a bit of relief this coming winter," he told ABC radio, expecting the finer details to be announced in next month's budget.