Q & A
New resident’s Seniors Card
Q. Stanford
My wife and I hope to receive our visas as Australian Permanent Residents soon. We will then be migrating to Queensland from the UK. Will we be entitled to a Seniors Card (or a CSHC) as newly arrived residents?
A. You can find the requirements for obtaining a Seniors Card and CSHC by clicking here
In addition, here is a brief description of each card and the Queensland entitlements:
The Seniors Card is for retired Queenslanders over 65 and for those retired residents over 60 who already receive a specified Centrelink or Veterans’ payment or concession card. A Seniors Business Discount Card is available to all permanent Queensland residents who are 60 years of age or over, regardless of their income or assets who do not qualify for a Seniors Card. For more detailed information and to confirm whether new residents are eligible phone (07) 3224 2788. (Queensland rural residents Freecall 1800 175 500) or click here now
Although there is no national Seniors card, there is a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC), which gives discounts on prescription medicines. Card holders also receive the telephone allowance. This card is for people of Age Pension age who do not qualify for the Age Pension and have an income less than $50,000 per year for singles and $80,000 for couples. (See the @bout Seniors Centrelink page) Additionally, the card offers concessions on Great Southern Railways The Indian Pacific, The Ghan and The Overland trains).
Kevin’s rego rebate
Q. A friend informed me last night that he thought NSW Seniors Card holders were entitled to a rebate on their car registration and drivers licence. Is this actually the case and am I entitled to a refund for the past two years?
A. After a check of the RTA NSW website, there does not appear to be a concession on licensing or registration fees for Seniors Card holders. If you hold certain pensioners’ concession cards, however, there may be a discount. Try this link to the relevant page on the RTA, NSW website.
In addition, details of all discounts available on the NSW Seniors Card can be obtained by contacting your local Seniors Card office on 1300 364 758 or by clicking on the link below.
http://www.seniorscard.nsw.gov.au/utilities/contactus.asp
Lost Seniors Cards
Your seniors card entitles you to discounts on goods and services. It is administered by the government of the state in which you live, in participation with the private sector. What do you do and where do you go if you lose your card or need to find out specific information about how it works? Each state government has its own website, with information specific to what it offers seniors cardholders. If you lose your card, remember it’s a state matter, not national, so you will need to contact the relevant state office. Following is an example of how to go about replacing your card.
Question
I live in New South Wales and need to know how to replace a lost seniors card.
Answer
There are a number of ways you can replace your card.
Complete the online form.
Go there
Write to:
Seniors Card Office
Locked Bag 16
Kingsgrove, 2208
Telephone the Seniors Hotline on 1300 364 758
If you decide to use the web, you may have to go to your state’s seniors website and then follow the links to get to the seniors’ card page. You can also find out the contact details for the seniors card in your state on YOURLifeChoices.
Go there
Lost Senior’s Card
Q. Anne: Just wondering how I replace my Senior card. Somehow I cannot find it.
Would you forward me details re securing another please. I live in Brisbane and would appreciate a phone number or email address so that might follow up on a new Seniors card.
A. To organise your replacement Seniors card, you can telephone QLD Senior Card on the following numbers:
Telephone (07) 3224 2788
Queensland country residents can use Freecall 1800 175 500
Or you can apply for a replacement card online at Seniors Card
It may also be useful for you to know the home page of QLD Senior Card, this can be found at the Department of Communities: Seniors Card website, which contains lots of useful information to make the most of your card.
Further more, our Seniors Card page will provide the links to the other State’s “Senior Card”.
Senior’s Card
Pat is particularly annoyed by what appears to be an anomaly relating to the start date for a NSW seniors card. We have shared her concern with the relevant department and await a response. Meanwhile read Pat’s question here:
Q. Pat: I wish to make you aware of a discriminatory practice in relation to the issuing of the Seniors’ Card to NSW seniors.
Although eligible for a Seniors’ Card at 60 yrs of age, persons in this state cannot apply until the day of their 60th birthday and do not have access to the card for another 3/4 weeks.
They are eligible at 60 yrs for access this card.
This is especially difficult for self funded retirees who are managing on limited but fixed incomes without any other government assistance.
For all other government assistance based on age, a senior can apply previous to the age limit and have the assistance available from the gazetted birthday. (e.g. for the aged pension persons can apply up to 13 weeks before their eligible birth date) I have attempted to find out why Seniors’ Card applicants are discriminated against in this way, losing another month of card use and have been told it is necessary for the paperwork, always been this way, no ones fault etc. And that I ‘Can wait the same as everyone else’.
I request that [the relevant] department act to stop this delay to access the Seniors’ Card. Access should begin at 60 years not a month later.
Please let me know what is being done to address this anomaly and/or send me a copy of the gazetted law that states that discrimination can be built into this area of government assistance making persons wait another month to access assistance from the Seniors’ card.
