Who is eligible for a pensioner concession?

Under State legislation some pensioners are eligible for mandatory concessions. The amounts of the concessions available on an annual basis are:

• Up to $250 on all ordinary rates and charges for domestic waste management services
• Up to $87.50 on water rates or charges
• Up to $87.50 on sewerage rates or charges

1. You must be an eligible pensioner. The legislation explains eligible pensioners as:

• people who receive a pension, benefit or allowance under Chapter 2 of the Social Security Act 1991 of the Commonwealth and hold a pensioner concession card issued by or on behalf of the Commonwealth Government;
• people who receive a service pension under Part III of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 of the Commonwealth and hold a pensioner concession card issued by or on behalf of the Commonwealth Government;
• people who receive a pension from the Commonwealth Department of Veterans' Affairs as:

• the widow or widower of a member of the Australian Defence or Peacekeeping Forces, or
• the unmarried or widowed mother of a deceased unmarried member of either of those Forces. People in both of the above categories are eligible only if they would also be eligible for a pensioner concession card from Centrelink.

• people who receive a general rate of pension adjusted for extreme disablement under Section 22(4) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 of the Commonwealth, or a special rate of pension under Section 24 of that Act.

2. You must occupy the dwelling for which a concession is sought as your sole or principal place of living.
3. The amount of concession will be determined on the basis that:

• you own the property (or are liable for the rates) on your own; or,
• you own the property (or are liable for the rates) with one or more eligible occupiers (an eligible occupier can be your spouse, another eligible pensioner and his or her spouse if they use the property as their sole or principal home); or,
• you own the property (or are liable for the rates) with someone who is not an eligible occupier; or,
• a company owns the property (it is a 'company title' property) and because you have shares in the company you are liable to pay rates or charges either
  • on your own; or
  • with one or more eligible occupiers, or
  • with someone who is not an eligible occupier.

  If you own the property with someone else or own shares in a company which owns the property you will have to give some evidence of this to the council. Council's rates section staff can suggest how you can do this (The Secretary of your company may have already supplied this inforamtion to the Council as required under a separate part of the legislation).

4. People who become, or cease to be, eligible pensioners during the year will receive a concession proportionate to the number of full quarters in which they are an eligible pensioner.

NOTE: If you are not an eligible pensioner you may still be eligible for special hardship rate relief. Ask the Council's rates section for more information.

Contact Details
N Bennett
Ph: (02) 6368 2104
Fax: (02) 6368 3290
council@blayney.nsw.gov.au

© 2008 Blayney Shire Council
This page: http://www.blayney.local-e.nsw.gov.au/faqs/pages/2354.html