C12/2011 2012 Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)
DATE OF ISSUE: 24 August 2011
2012 Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)
Amends DI No. |
N/A |
Replaces DI No. |
Purpose |
To provide information about the annual bulk issue of the 2012 Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC). |
Background |
The CSHC was introduced on 1 July 1994. The card is re-issued annually and entitles the holder to pharmaceuticals listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme at a concessional rate, the Medicare Safety Net threshold and concessional fares on the Great Southern Rail service. In addition, CSHC holders may be entitled to further state/territory concessions on presentation of their card to the relevant department or authority. CSHC holders also receive a quarterly payment of Seniors Supplement from DVA. |
Eligibility |
The CSHC is intended to assist eligible veterans and their partners (including widow/widowers, and war widow/widowers) of pension age who fail to qualify for income support due to assets or income in excess of the current limit. Eligibility is determined manually by Income Support state office staff. |
CSHC Carrier |
The 2012 CSHC will be issued on a CSHC Carrier sheet which sets out information about the card and the cardholder's obligations. A copy of the CSHC Carrier is included at Attachment A. |
CSHC Adjusted Taxable Income |
The CSHC income test is based on the annual adjusted taxable income. Annual adjusted taxable income is the total of:
|
CSHC Income Limit |
The CSHC income limit is as follows:
The above amounts are increased for each dependant child by $639.60. |
Valid |
The 2012 CSHC will be valid from 1 October 2011 until 30 September 2012. |
Numbers |
The number of cards and carriers to be produced for the bulk issue is estimated to be around 7,000. Below is a breakdown for each state based on last year's exercise: |
State |
Numbers |
NSW (including ACT) |
2,233 |
VIC |
1,561 |
QLD |
1,321 |
WA |
1,049 |
SA (including NT) |
663 |
TAS |
141 |
Total |
6,968 |
Dates |
The following dates apply to the 2012 annual bulk issue: |
Task |
Date |
P — roduction data extract |
27 August 2011 |
Implement changes to daily template |
6:00 pm |
Produce reports for states |
29 August 2011 |
Mailing house commence printing, enveloping and lodg — e — ment of cards |
29 August 2011 |
Final lodgement date with Australia Post |
2 September 2011 |
Reports |
Summary and Non-Issued Reports for the Income Support Contacts will print on Monday 29 August 2011 at the nominated printers as listed below. |
State |
Printer ID |
NSW |
N613P |
QLD |
Q401P |
SA |
S115P |
TAS |
T003P |
VIC |
V009P |
WA |
W10BLX |
|
In addition, status reports regarding the progress of the printing, enveloping and lodgement of cards will be provided to the Income Support Contacts, the Client Contact Performance Team and DVA VANQISH as appropriate. |
|
Daily Template |
Changes to the daily template will be implemented on Friday 26 August at 6pm Eastern Standard Time. From this date a 2012 CSHC will be issued for grants and re-issues. This card can be used immediately. |
Daily Stock |
New s — tock supplies for grants and reissues will be sent to the Income Support Contacts. As dates are not pre-printed on the stock and there is no change to the text on the back of the carrier, each location should continue using existing stock supply. The old stock should be finished before using the new stock as the adhesiveness of the card on the carrier may deteriorate over time. To assist in the appropriate ordering of stock for future years, Income Support Contacts will report to the project co-ordinators the amount of stock on hand at the time of the new daily template update. The aim is to minimise waste, the inconvenience of storage and the cost of disposal of excess stock. |
Income Support Contacts |
The CSHC Income Support C — ontacts are as follows: |
Location |
Contact |
NSW/ACT |
John Eden |
QLD |
Sharon Golden |
VIC |
Daniel Luba |
SA/NT |
Marion Colliver |
WA |
Michelle Pauly |
TAS |
Bryon Kelly |
|
Please advise the project co-ordinators of any changes to the contact officers as listed above. |
|
Project Coordinator |
The project co-ordinators for the bulk issue of the 2012 CSHC are: Vasu Sarpeshkar Cards & Advices Income Support Phone: (02) 9213 7234 e-mail: vasu.sarpeshkar@dva.gov.au |
John Sadeik
National Manager
Income Support
24 August 2011
ATTACHMENT A – COMMONWEALTH SENIORS HEALTH CARD CARRIER
Your Commonwealth Seniors Health Card |
Your Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) is valid until 30 September 2012. To remove the card, just peel it from the paper.
The CSHC is subject to an income test. You have been given your CSHC on the basis that, for Veterans' Affairs purposes, your annual adjusted taxable income is less than the following limits:
- $50,000.00 if you are single;
- $80,000.00 (combined), if you are a member of a couple; or
- $100,000.00 (combined), if you are accepted as being separated due to ill health or respite care.
The above amounts are increased for each dependent child by $639.60.
You must notify the Department if your annual adjusted taxable income is greater than the relevant limit. See the Your Obligations section on the back of this sheet for more information.
What benefits can I get with my CSHC? |
Your CSHC entitles you to a quarterly payment from DVA of seniors supplement.
Your CSHC may also provide the following concessions:
- pharmaceuticals at concessional rate through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS);
- PBS Safety Net threshold at concession card holder rate;
- Medicare Safety Net threshold at concession card holder rate;
- bulk billed GP appointments may be available to you as a concession card holder (if your doctor bulk bills);
- Great Southern Rail offers concession fares to CSHC holders on The Indian Pacific, The Ghan, The Overland and The Southern Spirit. Please contact Great Southern Rail on
132 147 or visit their website at www.greatsouthernrail.com.au for further details;
- additional concessions may be available from state and local government authorities (Please note these concessions are not determined by DVA). For more information contact the relevant department or authority.
By presenting this card to claim a concession you consent to your concession eligibility being confirmed by the concession provider with DVA. You must present both your CSHC and your Medicare card on each occasion to obtain pharmaceutical, PBS or Medicare concessions.
You must read and understand your obligations which are on the reverse side of this letter. If you or your partner have any questions, please contact the Department of Veterans' Affairs on 133 254 (1800 555 254 for non-metropolitan callers).
[signature]
[DC's name]
as Delegate for the Secretary
In
formation
Your Obligations |
You have an obligation under section 118ZI of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 to notify this Department within 14 days if any of the following events occur.
Your Income
- your annual adjusted taxable income, or the combined annual adjusted taxable income of you and your partner, exceeds the applicable limit listed on the front of this sheet.
Annual adjusted taxable income is the total of your:
- Taxable income as noted on your Australian Taxation Office Notice of Assessment; and
- Employer provided fringe benefits in addition to your salary that are over $1,000; and
- Foreign income that you do not pay tax on to the Australian Taxation Office; and
- Net loss from rental property; and
- Net loss from financial investments such as shares and managed investments; and
- Reportable superannuation contributions made by your employer as part of your salary package and personal superannuation contributions for which you can claim a tax deduction.
Your Personal Circumstances
- there is a change in your family circumstances, e.g. change in your relationship status, or a change in the number of your dependent children; or
- you and/or your partner are going overseas permanently or intend to go overseas for more than 13 weeks; or
- you and/or your partner are granted a pension, benefit or concession card from Centrelink.
You are also required under section 127 of the Veterans' Entitlement Act 1986 to inform this Department within 14 days if any events occur that may have an impact on your eligibility to receive seniors supplement. You must notify us if you and/or your partner receive a supplement payment from Centrelink.
Please be aware that there are penalties for failing to comply with this notice.
More Information |
Will my CSHC have any affect on my Seniors' Card?
No. Your CSHC will not affect your state or territory Seniors' Card in any way or your entitlement to any concessions you can get with a state or territory Seniors' Card.
What if I have a Repatriation Health Card from Veterans' Affairs?
You should continue to use your Repatriation Health Card (Gold or White Card) from Veterans' Affairs.
Will I have to re-apply each year for a new CSHC?
No. While you remain eligible a new CSHC will be automatically posted to you each year.
What if I have dependants?
Your CSHC does not give concessions to dependants. If you have dependants you can ask Centrelink about a low income Health Care Card. The low income Health Care Card offers the same pharmaceutical concessions as the CSHC and also covers dependants.
For further information about your CSHC, you can contact any Veterans' Affairs Office for
a fact sheet or visit our DVA website at http://www.dva.gov.au/factsheets
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-reference-library/departmental-instructions/2011/c122011-2012-commonwealth-seniors-health-card-cshc