Extending
Seniors Concession
Allowance
to all Gold Card Holders
of Veteran Pension
Age
What
funding is the Government
committing to the
new initiative?
The
Government has committed
$27.7 million over
the next four years
to extend the seniors
concession allowance
to holders of the
Repatriation Health
Card – For
All Conditions (Gold
Card) who are over
veteran pension
age.
What
have we done in the
past?
The
seniors concession
allowance was introduced
in December 2004
as an election commitment
to assist Commonwealth
Seniors Health Card
holders in meeting
energy, rates, water
and sewerage and
motor registration
costs.
What
is new?
The
Government has extended
the allowance to
include Gold Card
holders over veteran
pension age, who
are not already
receiving the seniors
concession allowance
or the pensioners
utilities allowance.
How
will the initiative
benefit veterans?
Eligible
Gold Card holders
will receive a non-taxable
payment. The seniors
concession allowance
is currently $200
per year (indexed),
paid in two instalments
in June and December
each year.
Who
will benefit from
the new initiative?
More
than 44 000 veterans
and war widows will
benefit from the
initiative.
When
will the initiative
commence?
Eligible
Gold Card holders
will receive the
first payment as
soon as practical
after 1 December
2005.
