Pensioner Concession Card reinstates for 828 Wide Bay former part-pensioners

9/10/2017

Pensioner Concession Cards reinstated for 828 Wide Bay former part-pensioners

More than 800 former part-pensioners in Wide Bay will have their Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) reinstated from today.

These former part-pensioners lost the card in January as a consequence of reforms to the pension assets test, which were designed to make the pension system more affordable and sustainable for the future.

Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said the reforms provided an increased pension for people with lower asset levels, and some people lost their part-pensions if they had a high level of assets.

“The reforms meant that as a consequence, the people with higher levels of assets also lost their Pensioner Concession Cards and could no longer access a range of local government, state and private sector benefits like discounted property rates and public transport,” Mr O’Brien said.
 
“The Coalition Government is reinstating the PCC which will ensure that these 90,000 former part-pensioners, including 828 in Wide Bay will be able to access those benefits again in the future.”
 
The PCC will be automatically reinstated from today commencing Monday, October 9, and it’s expected that all those eligible will have their card within the next fortnight.
 
Those expecting a reissued card don’t need to do anything to receive it, it will be sent to them automatically. 
 
They will also retain the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, which continued to be provided after the January 2017 pension changes.  This means they will continue to be paid the energy supplement that they formerly received with their pension.
 
For more information about reinstatement of the pensioner concession card, go to www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/news/pensioner-concession-card-reinstatement
 
For more information on assets levels go to www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/enablers/assets.