Discounts and Concessions
Do you know what discounts and concessions you are entitled to? I thought it might be valuable to compile a summary of discounts and concessions and build that list over time.
Electricity and gas rebates (Qld Govt)
· Eligibility:
Queensland Seniors Card holder (age 65)
Pension Concession Card holder
· Account must be in the name of the eligible individual
· Electricity rebate of $372.20 per year (GST inclusive)
· Reticulated Natural Gas Rebate $80.77 per year (GST inclusive)
· Discount is spread throughout the year across monthly or quarterly accounts
· Contact your electricity and gas supplier to access
For more information
Vehicle Registration (QLD Govt)
· Eligibility (limited to one vehicle and one recreational boat):
o Queensland Seniors Card holder (age 65)
o Pension Concession Card holder
· The concession amount is dependent on the type or number of cylinders.
· The QLD Govt website lists the cost of full registration and the cost of concessional registration on vehicles. On an 8-cylinder vehicle the discount is $386.60 for registration after 1 July 2022. The amount is different where the registration was paid before this date.
· Registration must be in the name of the eligible individual
· A registration concessional application (F3937) needs to be submitted to the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
· The discount is applied to current registration (a refund is provided) and to all future registrations
For more information and a link to the form
https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/registration/fees/concession/senior
South East Queensland Water and Sewerage Concessions
If you have a pension concession card, you can register to reduce the amount you need to pay. In 2022-23, you could receive a discount of up to $354.10 for water and sewerage services and up to $177.05 for a single service (e.g. water only).
To be eligible:
· The property you’re applying for must be your main place of residence,
· The property must be connected to South East Water’s water and/or sewerage system,
· The address on your concession card must match the address of the property,
· If the concession cardholder’s name isn't on the South East Water account, you’ll have to provide evidence that the cardholder contributes to the account.
For more information
Queensland Rates subsidy
Pensioner Concession Card holders can receive a subsidy of 20 per cent (up to a maximum amount of $200 each year) of the gross rates and charges levied by your local council.
You must be the owner or life tenant of the property, which is your principal place of residence and located in Queensland and be legally responsible for the payment of local council rates and charges levied on that property.
In addition to the state subsidy, a local council may also offer other remissions on rates and charges. Contact your local council for more information.
Each council has its own application process. Contact your local council to apply. Below are two examples of rate subsidies offered by different councils.
Moreton Bay Regional Council Rates Subsidy
Qualifying pensioners receiving the maximum rate of pension (maximum rate) under Commonwealth law will receive the pensioner rate concession per property of 50% off gross rates and charges to a maximum of $62.50 per quarter ($250 per annum).
Qualifying pensioners receiving a pension under Commonwealth law at a rate other than the maximum rate (part-pension) will receive the pensioner rate concession per property of $25 per quarter ($100 per annum).
Eligibility can only be assessed by completing the Pension concession application.
For more information:
https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/Services/Property-Ownership/Rates/Pensioner-Rebates
Brisbane City Council Rates Subsidy
Pensioners are entitled to a discount on the rate account for their principal place of residence.
There are two types of Council rebates available to pensioners:
Maximum rebate (valid from 1 July 2022)
The maximum rebate is available to people on a full pension. Under this scheme Council grants a 40% rebate on rates up to a maximum of $290.25 per quarter ($1161 per year).
Partial rebate (valid from 1 July 2022)
A partial rebate is available to people on an allowance/benefit or a part pension. Under this scheme Council grants a 20% rebate on rates up to a maximum of $145.25 per quarter ($581 per year).
For more informaton
South East Queensland Public Transport Concessions
Concessional fares of 50% off on TransLink and qconnect, and regional ferry services for pensioner and seniors.
For more information
https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/concessions
Queensland Rail Travel
Queensland Resident Pension Card holders are entitled to four (4) Queensland Pension rail entitlements each calendar year. To use your entitlements you will need to have a valid Queensland Pension Concession Card (PCC) at the time of ticketing.
For more information and a link to a useful fact sheet
https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/PolicyCentre/Pages/Eligibleforconcessions.aspx
On presentation of a current Australian state or territory Government Seniors Card, customers will receive a discount of up to 50% off the full adult rail fare on Queensland Rail Travel network services. Meals and upgrades to sleeping berths are additional costs.
For more information
https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Pages/Seniors.aspx
Queensland Fishing Permits
You may be entitled to a discount on an annual fishing permit if you hold a Queensland Seniors Card or a Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card. Permits cost $42.03 per year if you are entitled to a discount compared to $58.43 without the discount.
For more information
https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/boating-fishing/rec-fishing/dams
Public Dental Services
Public dental services are delivered via a range of facilities including mobile dental clinics, school dental clinics and community dental clinics.
For adults and their dependants to be eligible for free public dental care they must be a Queensland resident and, where applicable, receive benefits from any of the following concession cards:
· Pensioner Concession Card
· Pensioner Concession Card
· Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
· Queensland Seniors Card
For more information
https://www.qld.gov.au/health/services/oral-eye-ear/dental-services
Spectacles
Under the Spectacle Supply Scheme (SSS), you may be eligible to receive a pair of basic prescription spectacles, once every 2 years.
Extras such as transitions, tinting, anti-reflective coating, UV guard and/or hard coat are not covered. If you would like these, you will need to pay for them yourself. You can have SSS lenses fitted to your own existing or privately purchased frames.
Eligibility
To apply for assistance under MASS, you must:
· be a permanent resident of Queensland
· have held a pensioner concession card, health care card or Queensland Government Seniors Card for at least 6 months.
https://www.qld.gov.au/health/support/equipment/types/spectacles