nsw travel allowance for pensioners

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How to claim Pensioner Travel Vouchers in NSW

If you’re a local senior thinking of a trip anywhere around NSW, then you should be aware of an 85% discount to travel First Class, or, free travel in Economy Class.

NSW and ACT Pensioner Concession Card and NSW War Widow/er transport concession card holders are entitled to four one-way vouchers every year that offer a huge range of benefits for travel not only on the vast rail and coach network within regional NSW but beyond State borders as well.

The vouchers – to be used whenever you choose to travel within a calendar year – enable cardholders to travel free in Economy in regional NSW and to upgrade to First Class, you’ll only need to pay 15% of the full adult peak season fare (minimum $10 trip fee applies).

If your journey requires you to cross the NSW border, having a voucher means you’ll pay just 50% of the relevant Economy or First Class fare for that interstate portion of your trip.

It’s also worth noting that if your voucher-trip involves destinations or departures from Greater Sydney stations (see the boundary distinctions below ), there will be no charge on Sydney Trains nor NSW TrainLink Intercity services – you just have to make sure those stops are part of your overall one-way connected journey and are part of the one booking.

For example, a one-way trip utilising a voucher concession might look like this:

From Hornsby to Broken Hill in First Class

• Your first sector from Hornsby to Strathfield suburban station to catch the weekly Xplorer service would be $0 because it’s on a suburban train as part of your connecting journey to Broken Hill.
• The First Class adult peak season fare to Broken Hill on the Xplorer is $183.29. With a one-way Pensioner Travel Voucher, you pay just 15% of that as a ‘First Class booking fee’.
• So, your total fare to get from Hornsby to Broken Hill would be just $27.49.

If you travelled in Economy (the normal Economy adult fare to Broken Hill is $130.26), you would travel free using one of your four annual one-way Pensioner Travel Vouchers.

If you are thinking about using your voucher to claim concessions on a sleeping berth, please note:

• Sleeping cars are only available in First Class
• They carry an extra charge of $88 for a berth.
• You would still pay just 15% of the full fare, plus the berth charge, but remember, if you cross State borders, you would pay 50% of the fare for that interstate portion of the trip.

Firstly, make sure your Pensioner Concession Card is registered with NSW TrainLink. You can do this simply by calling 13 22 32.

There is no need to go into a station or agent to have your Pension Card sighted for registration.

To redeem vouchers, enter your Pension Card number when you book online or quote it if you book by phone, and please remember to keep that card with you when you travel as onboard crew may use it to verify your voucher.

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Finally, you don’t need to worry about keeping track of when you have used your vouchers to travel. NSW TrainLink will do that for you and you can call to verify as needed.

Naturally, any unused vouchers are forfeited but if you do travel on more than four one-way journeys in a calendar year, your Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card or government-issued Seniors Card still entitles you to a 50% concession on the full adult peak season fare until the annual rollover date restarts your entitlement to four more vouchers.

And if that’s not exciting enough – you can still use the $2.50 Country Pensioner Excursion fare anywhere in the ‘CPE Zone’ on the Regional Train and Coach network.

Click the map to enlarge, click again to return.

For a full list of all entitlements and concessions on NSW Regional trains, click here.

If you have any further questions regarding travel throughout the Regional network, call NSW TrainLink on 13 22 32 or visit nswtrainlink.info

With a career spanning news journalism, travel documentary-making and general wanderlust, I have been fortunate to venture far & wide to experience some amazing things ... and I still get excited packing my bags every time!

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Pensioners to benefit from Regional Seniors Travel Card

Applications opened this week for a new state government travel scheme set to benefit aged pensioners in regional NSW.

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The Regional Senior Travel Card comes pre-loaded with $250 for eligible seniors to use on taxis, fuel, Opal cards and pre-booked NSW TrainLink regional train and bus services.

Minister for regional transport Paul Toole said the card will help ease the cost of travel for eligible regional seniors.

• READ ALSO: Westcastle Partnership among region's growers gearing up for harvest

"For aged pensioners who live in regional areas, this travel card could be the difference between making or missing a medical appointment," Mr Toole said.

"This is the first time such a scheme has been rolled out in NSW, and it was one of the Coalition government's key commitments at the 2019 state election."

The scheme is eligible to seniors with a valid Pensioner Concession Card or a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card issued by either the Department of Human Services or Department of Veterans' Affairs.

• READ ALSO: Drought funding snub not politically motivated according to mayor Reg Kidd

Eligible seniors must live outside of the greater Sydney, Newcastle and Woolongong areas, and will have a minimum of 12 months to use their card from the time of activation.

"The scheme allows pensioners to stay connected with friends and family without the burden of significant transport costs," Mr Toole said.

"Service NSW received over 100 applications for the scheme within the first half hour of opening, which highlights the strong demand for affordable transport in regional areas."

The scheme was recently piloted recently over three weeks at Coffs Harbour.

• READ ALSO: Extinction Rebellion Central West to host three climate events in coming days

"Following this trial, the card will be posted to seniors, with a PIN to follow a few days later with an explanation on how to activate the card," Mr Toole said.

To be eligible to receive the $250 Regional Seniors Travel Card you must be an age pensioner with a valid Pensioner Concession Card or hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card issued by either the Department of Human Services or Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Eligible seniors can apply through service.nsw.gov.au , by calling 137788 or visiting a Service NSW centre.

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The Peak Body of the NSW Taxi Industry

• Jun 18, 2021

$250 Regional Seniors Travel Card for Taxis, Trainlink, and Fuel extended for additional two years

Source: NSW Government

More than 300,000 seniors in the regions will benefit from reduced travel costs with the NSW Government committing $246 million to extend the Regional Seniors Travel Card for an additional two years.

The Regional Seniors Travel Card is a $250 prepaid Visa card designed to ease the burden of travel costs for eligible seniors in rural, regional and remote areas.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said seniors across NSW have benefited from the initial two-year travel card trial, with 337,500 cards issued in 2020 and more than 330,000 cards issued to regional seniors in 2021 so far.

“Living in regional NSW is rewarding in so many ways, but every day we struggle with the tyranny of distance,” Mr Barilaro said.

“This card has made a huge difference to the lives of seniors living in the bush who have fewer transport options than those living in the city and we’re excited to announce it will be offered again in 2022 and 2023.”

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the extension and expansion of the Regional Seniors Travel Card is part of several cost saving measures aimed at seniors in the upcoming State Budget. “We know the cost of living is a big issue facing seniors and households, which is why the Regional Seniors Travel Card is being offered to even more people,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Increased funding will allow us to extend the card from 2022 to more seniors in the regions, including those eligible for the Age Pension and receiving either a Disability Support Pension or a Carer Payment from Services Australia.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the Regional Seniors Travel Card has provided a significant boost to businesses across our regions. “Having an extra $250 in their pocket has made it easier for regional seniors to get to the shops and medical appointments and stay connected locally and with friends and family living in other parts of the State. It’s also injected more than $108 million into regional economies, benefitting local taxi operators and fuel stations,” Mr Toole said.

“We’ve been reviewing the schemes that support people with disability and carers to ensure they meet the needs of those in the regions, including investing in community transport and a new smart card for the Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme. We know these groups would also like to be eligible for the Regional Seniors Travel Card and we’re pleased to be able to make that happen as part of the next phase of this program.”

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh said it was great to see the program continue to expand, after first being trialed in Coffs Harbour.

“Coffs Harbour seniors were the first to try the Regional Seniors Travel Card a year and a half ago and it’s wonderful to see how far the scheme has come since. It’s made a huge impact on our community and I’m glad it is set to continue for two more years,” Mr Singh said.

The Regional Seniors Travel Card can be used for pre-booked NSW Trainlink Regional trains and coaches, fuel and Taxis.

From 2022, eligible applicants will include seniors who have reached the Age Pension age and are receiving:

the Age Pension through Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs

a Disability Support Pension or a Carer Payment from Services Australia

a Service Pension issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs

a Disability Pension through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

a War Widow(er)’s Pension issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

People who hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card issued by Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs are also eligible.

The regional boundaries for applicants will remain the same in 2022.

More information about which regional areas are included in this initiative can be found at Service NSW www.service.nsw.gov.au.

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InsureandGo Seniors Card discount

Save 15% on Travel Insurance policies

Seniors can save 15% of on Travel Insurance with InsureAndGo including Covid19 coverage on Single trip and Cruise policies (Gold and Silver.) 

Use the promo code: seniors15 over the phone on 1300 401 177 or online . .

InsureandGo understands that Seniors love to travel, so they've created a travel insurance product that suits the needs of the senior traveller. With unlimited overseas medical expenses coverage, all pre-existing medical conditions considered, and coverage up to the age of 100 (Cruise policies covered up to the age of 80), InsureandGo might have the right policy for your next trip.

Why should you travel with InsureandGo Travel Insurance?

• InsureandGo is the Canstar 2022 Award Winner for Outstanding Value – Seniors Travel Insurance^.
• Cruise Policies now available for travellers up to the age of 79.
• Unlimited Overseas Medical Expenses.
• Silver and Gold policies include Covid-19 coverage*.
• Unlimited cancellation cover in their Gold International and Cruise policy (Covid-19 cancellation limit up to $5,000).
• 24/7 emergency assistance in case of the unpredictable.

InsureandGo is fully owned by Europ Assistance, a global assistance company with presence in more than 200 countries and a network of more than 750,000 assistance providers. In 2019 alone, Europ Assistance helped 1.2 million travellers worldwide.

To take advantage of this offer, simply enter the promocode “SENIORS15” on the  InsureandGo website  or quote the code when phoning 1300 401 177 to speak to one of their call centre agents about travel insurance for seniors.

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited, ABN 49 000 525 637, AFSL 240816, issues InsureandGo Travel Insurance (the insurance). For full details of the benefits, terms and conditions and exclusions that may apply please read the  Product Disclosure Statement ,  Target Market Determination (TMD)  and Financial Services Guide  available here  to decide if the insurance is right for you. Mitsui Sumitomo has appointed Europ Assistance Australia Pty Ltd, ACN 140 219 594 as its Authorised Representative (AR Number 424825) to deal with this insurance product.

*Check full Covid-19 Benefits here

^InsureandGo is Canstar 2022 Award Winner for Outstanding Value – Seniors Travel Insurance. More info here

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More seniors to benefit from regional travel card

• More seniors to benefit from…

More than 300,000 seniors in the regions will benefit from reduced travel costs with the NSW Nationals in the state government committing $246 million to extend the Regional Seniors Travel Card for another two years.

The Regional Seniors Travel Card is a $250 prepaid Visa card designed to ease the burden of travel costs for eligible seniors in rural, regional, and remote areas.

It can be used for pre-booked NSW Trainlink Regional trains and coaches as well as fuel and taxis, making travel more accessible and convenient for seniors who often have fewer transport options than those living in the city.

Increased funding will allow the card to be extended from 2022 to additional seniors in the regions, including people of Age Pension age who receive either a Disability Pension or a Carers Payment from Services Australia.

NSW Nationals Upper House MP Sam Farraway said seniors across regional NSW have benefited from the initial two-year travel card trial, with 337,500 cards issued in 2020 and more than 330,000 cards issued so far in 2021.

“We knew the positive impact it would make on the Central West which is why the NSW Nationals in the state government made it an election commitment in 2019 and I’m glad it is set to continue for two more years,” Mr Farraway said.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said the card had been an overwhelming success.

“This card has made a big difference to the lives of seniors living in the bush who often have fewer transport options than those living in big cities like Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong – and we’re excited to announce it will be offered again in 2022 and 2023,” Mr Barilaro said.

NSW Nationals Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the Regional Seniors Travel card had provided a significant boost to businesses across the regions.

“Having an extra $250 in their pocket has made it easier for regional seniors to get to the shops and medical appointments and stay connected locally and with friends and family living in other parts of the State. It’s also injected more than $108 million into regional economies, benefitting local taxi operators and fuel stations,” Mr Toole said.

Applications for the card can be made online at www.service.nsw.gov.au, by calling 13 77 88 or by visiting a Service NSW Service Centre.

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Centrelink customers

Check eligibility

Find out if you are eligible to apply as a job seeker or approved Centrelink customer

Apply for a Transport Concession Entitlement Card

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Apply for a Concession Opal card on Opal website

about Transport Concession Entitlement Card

The Transport Concession Entitlement Card gives approved Centrelink customers proof of entitlement for concession fares on public transport in NSW.

Terms and conditions

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Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for a Transport Concession Entitlement Card you must:

• reside in NSW, and
• receive the maximum rate of Centrelink benefit.

You must also be either:

Registered as looking for work and receiving one of the following Centrelink benefits:

• JobSeeker Payment
• Youth Allowance (job seekers only)
• Parenting Payment (partnered)
• Partner Allowance
• Widow Allowance
• Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment
• Farm Household Allowance

Or receiving one of the following Centrelink benefits:

• JobSeeker Payment (incapacitated)
• Youth Allowance (incapacitated)
• Special Benefit
• Sickness Allowance

Or registered for employment services and receiving one of the following Centrelink benefits:

Your Transport Concession Entitlement Card is only valid while you remain eligible. If you are no longer eligible (e.g. if you take up employment), your Concession Opal card (if you have one) will be cancelled. Your entitlement to concession fares will cease and you must no longer use your Transport Concession Entitlement Card or Concession Opal card.

To apply for your Transport Concession Entitlement Card, you can apply online.

Check if you are eligible

Please make sure that you meet the eligibility criteria first before applying.  

How to apply

• Select the 'Apply online' button.
• Select the entitlement type and enter your Centrelink Reference Number (CRN).
• Complete the online application.

When your eligibility is confirmed, your card will be mailed to you within 8-10 working days. If you are found to be ineligible, you will be advised when applying.

Apply online

Renew your Transport Concession Entitlement Card

The Transport Concession Entitlement Card for Centrelink customers is valid for up to 90 days, as long as you remain eligible. 

How to renew

• Select the 'Renew online' button.

Please note:

• You can renew your Transport Concession Entitlement Card online up to 21 days before it expires, or after it has expired, provided you still meet the eligibility criteria . 
• If your card expires before you receive your new card, you'll need to pay a full adult fare when travelling until your new card arrives. Fines may apply for concession travel without valid proof of entitlement.
• The renewal process is not automatic - you have to request a new card.

Renew online

Replace a lost or stolen card

If your Transport Concession Entitlement Card has been lost or stolen, you can apply for a replacement card online. A card replacement fee may apply.

How to replace

• Select the 'Replace online' button
• Select the entitlement type and enter your CRN. 
• Your card will be mailed to you within 8 to 10 working days. While you wait for your new card to arrive you will need to pay an adult travel fare.
• If the lost or stolen card is due to expire within 21 days, you need to renew online and be reassessed for eligibility .

Replace online

Change or update your details

If you have changed your name, address, email address, phone number or title, you can update your details for your Transport Concession Entitlement Card online.

Update your details

• Select the 'Update my details' button
• Complete the online form to update your details

Update my details

booking Ticket options

You must carry your Transport Concession Entitlement Card when travelling on a concession fare as proof of entitlement or you may be fined.

Concession fares are not available on private ferries, event shuttle buses, chartered bus services or Great Southern Rail services.

opal Sydney and surrounds

In the Opal network, if you are an eligible job seeker or someone receiving other approved Centrelink benefits you are entitled to travel with a Concession Opal card.

If you are an eligible pensioner , you are eligible for a Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal card instead.

If you do not have your proof of entitlement card, you are required to pay for and travel with an Adult fare, or you may be fined for  travelling on an invalid ticket .

How to get your Concession Opal card

• To apply, visit the Opal website .
• For a replacement Concession Opal card, visit the  Opal website . A replacement fee may apply.

Using an Opal card provides you with a range of  travel benefits .

Find out more about Opal terms of use .

Sydney Airport train station access fee

Eligible job seekers and those receiving approved Centrelink benefits pay the Concession Sydney Airport station access fee when travelling with a Concession Opal card to or from the airport train stations.

regional-train coach Regional NSW

Eligible job seekers and those receiving approved Centrelink benefits are entitled to concessions fares on NSW TrainLink Regional trains and coaches .

Some privately owned and operated services in regional NSW may offer a range of different concession fares at their own discretion. Check with local transport operators before you travel.

Transport Concession Entitlement Card for eligible job seeker or approved Centrelink customers

• A Transport Concession Entitlement Card is not a ticket for travel. A valid Transport Concession Entitlement Card entitles you to purchase concession fares on public transport within NSW.
• When travelling on Opal services, you must use your Concession Opal card issued to you by Transport for NSW to pay for your journey and carry your valid Transport Concession Entitlement Card to demonstrate your entitlement to the concession fare.
• When travelling on other services, you must show your valid Transport Concession Entitlement Card to purchase a ticket at the concession fare.
• You must continue to carry your valid Transport Concession Entitlement Card at all times when travelling on a concession fare and produce it upon request by a driver, Revenue Protection Officer or Police. Failure to produce your Transport Concession Entitlement Card upon request may result in a fine being issued to you.
• reside in NSW
• be receiving the maximum rate of benefit and be either:
• Sickness Allowance, or
• The Transport Concession Entitlement Card is not transferable and must only be used by you. You must not allow other people to use your Transport Concession Entitlement Card.
• Your Transport Concession Entitlement Card is valid for up to 90 days after it is issued, subject to you continuing to meet the eligibility criteria. The expiry date is printed on the back of your Transport Concession Entitlement Card.
• If you still meet the eligibility criteria you can renew your Transport Concession Entitlement Card up to 21 days before expiry. Applications for new cards can be made online . It is your responsibility to renew your Transport Concession Entitlement Card and you may be fined if you travel without having a valid Transport Concession Entitlement Card.
• If you no longer meet the eligibility criteria you will no longer be entitled to concession fares, and will no longer be able to use your Concession Opal card (if you have one), and must no longer use your Transport Concession Entitlement Card.
• If your Transport Concession Entitlement Card is lost or stolen you can apply for a replacement card which, subject to you still being eligible, will have the same expiry date as your previous card. Applications for replacement cards can be made online . A card replacement fee may apply.
• The Transport Concession Entitlement Card remains the property of Transport for NSW.
• You must pay a full adult fare if you do not hold a valid Transport Concession Entitlement Card. This includes if you are waiting for a replacement card or a new card.

Privacy Notice

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information, in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW).

We collect, hold and use personal information for specific purposes relevant to our functions. Personal information you provide in relation to your application is collected for the purpose of administering and managing your Transport Concession Entitlement Card and Concession Opal card, and for directly related purposes such as audit, management and operational activities for concession travel.

You may choose not to provide your personal information or health information. However this may mean that it is not possible or practicable for us to deal with your application for concession travel. Refusal to provide your information may mean that we cannot issue you with a Transport Concession Entitlement Card.

If you have provided your CRN number on this application, you authorise:

• TfNSW to use Centrelink Confirmation eServices to perform an enquiry of your Centrelink customer details and concession card status in order to enable TfNSW to determine if you qualify for a concession; and
• The Australian Government Department of Human Services (the Department) to provide the results of that enquiry to TfNSW.

In applying for a Transport Concession Entitlement Card you declare that you understand that:

• TfNSW may disclose your personal and health information to the Department, and that the Department will use information you provide to TfNSW to confirm your eligibility for concession travel.
• This consent, once signed or affirmed, remains valid while you are a customer of TfNSW, unless you withdraw it by contacting TfNSW or the Department.
• You can obtain proof of your details from the Department and provide it to TfNSW so that your eligibility for concession travel can be determined.
• If you withdraw your consent, or do not provide proof of your details, you may not be eligible for concession travel.

TfNSW will not otherwise disclose your personal or health information unless you consent, or we are permitted or required to by law.

Where TfNSW engages contractors to assist us in providing our services to you, we generally engage them under contract terms that ensure that they use personal information solely for the purpose of fulfilling their contract with us. We also generally require them to manage the personal and health information that they hold on our behalf in a way that complies with the NSW privacy laws.

For information about how your personal information is collected, used and disclosed by us please see our Privacy Policy at  www.transport.nsw.gov.au/about/privacy  .

For information about how your personal information is collected, used and disclosed in the Opal ticketing system, read our Opal Privacy Policy at transportnsw.info/opal-privacy-policy

TfNSW will keep your information at  110 George Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150. You can ask to access or amend your personal information held by us by contacting [email protected] or PO Box K659 Haymarket NSW 1240 .

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NSW Budget: rebates up – Regional Seniors Travel Card axed

Article published 20 september 2023.

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NSW Budget: rebates up - Regional Seniors Travel Card axed

Regional seniors travel card axed.

WITH the suspension of new applications for the Regional Seniors Travel Card on 7 July this year, it was pretty clear that the card would not survive the budget process, in its current form and maybe not at all.

The presentation of the NSW Budget yesterday confirmed this, or rather, the fine print did. Buried deep in the budget papers (Budget Paper 1, p138) the Regional Seniors Travel Card was allocated a budget of $36 million for the 2023-2024 financial year.

While $36 million is a lot of money, it’s not enough to run the Regional Seniors Travel Card for a year. In 2022–2023, when the card ran without restrictions, it cost the budget $102 million. In its first year of operation in 2021-2022, the card cost $98 million.

The NSW Government told CPSA in a letter that applications for the card had been suspended while Service NSW reviewed it. Cards in circulation were not affected. The reason for the review, the NSW Government told CPSA, was that the card was being used for purchases which had nothing to do with transport, “including tobacco and gambling products”.

Technically, this is where the card is still at. It’s under review and no new applications will be received.

However, CPSA wonders if this is a softly-softly way of axing the card.

The Regional Seniors Travel Card operates like a credit or debit card. This means that all the card management features available to credit and debit cards are available. These include the facility to record what types of purchases are made and the facility to block the card from being used to buy, let’s say, cigarettes and scratchies.

$36 million would be about one-third of the full annual cost of the card to the NSW Budget. Enough to cover purchases made using cards in circulation until they run out, mostly at some point during 2023-2024.

There might be optimists who will assume that the Regional Seniors Travel Card will be started up again in 2024–2025 as part of the 2024-2025 budget process. Their optimism is to be admired.

For all practical purposes, the Regional Seniors Transport Card has been axed, certainly for those people who became newly eligible for one, or whose old card expired on or after 7 July 2023, when applications were suspended.

The NSW Regional Seniors Travel Card has helped older people in regional, rural and remote areas of NSW to stay connected. The loss of this card will be felt keenly by regional seniors who are already struggling to make ends meet as living costs continue to climb.

Energy rebates up

While the Regional Seniors Card is all but gone, CPSA does welcome increases in NSW energy rebates. The Low-Income Household Rebate as well as the Medical Energy Rebate will go from $285 to $350. The Seniors Energy Rebate for self-funded retirees will rise from $200 to $250 and the Life Support Energy Rebate has also received a significant boost from $1,343 to $1,639.

It is currently unclear whether eligible customers living in places which have private ‘embedded’ energy networks will receive a similar increase, or how much that might be.

1,500 more social housing units

Also welcome is the NSW Government’s commitment to providing 1,500 additional social housing dwellings under the $610 million Commonwealth Social Housing Accelerator program.

This number will go nowhere near solving the social housing shortage, but it is more than has been achieved in recent years. A year ago, housing advocacy group Everybody’s Home calculated that constructing 25,000 social homes needed now would cost $12.9 billion.

The percentage of older people who own their own homes is declining and due to an undersupply of social housing, more people over 65 are experiencing housing insecurity in the private rental market.

Rates of homelessness amongst older people, particularly older women, continue to rise. Like many other advocacy organisations and charities, CPSA calls on the NSW Government to commit to resolving the housing crisis in NSW and to commit to building the social and affordable housing needed. This would also enable it to lower the eligibility age for the social housing priority list from 80 to 65.

Read CPSA’s 2023-24 NSW Budget media release here.

For more information please email our media contact at [email protected]

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Travel outside Australia

The travel rules of your main payment affect if you get Pension Supplement when you travel outside Australia.

We have information in different languages about Travel outside Australia

• العربية / Arabic
• ܐܵܬܘܿܪܵܝܵܐ / Assyrian
• မြန်မာ / Burmese
• سورث / Chaldean
• 简体中文 / Chinese
• 한국어 / Korean
• नेपाली / Nepali
• فارسی / Persian (Farsi)
• ภาษาไทย / Thai
• Türkçe / Turkish
• Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese

For Centrelink payments and services, you can call our multilingual phone service .

Check the travel rules for your main payment while outside Australia to find out:

• if you can get your payment when you depart
• when and how to tell us about your travel plans.

If you’re eligible, you’ll get the Pension Supplement for up to 6 weeks at your current rate.

If you travel for more than 6 weeks, your Pension Supplement rate will reduce to the basic amount either:

• after 6 weeks if your travel is short term
• when you depart if you’re leaving to live in another country.

Learn about pension rates payable if you’re living outside Australia for more than 6 weeks.

Australia’s immigration department will tell us when you leave. They will also tell us when you return.

We’ll pay your pension differently if you live outside Australia on a permanent or long term basis.

To get your payment or concession card while outside Australia, you must continue to meet the qualification rules at all times.

This information was printed 11 April 2024 from https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/travel-outside-australia-rules-for-pension-supplement . It may not include all of the relevant information on this topic. Please consider any relevant site notices at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/site-notices when using this material.

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