C17/2013 2014 Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)

Replaces DI No.

N/A

Purpose

To provide information about the annual bulk issue of the 2014 C — ommonwealth Seniors Health Card (C — SHC).

Background

The CSHC was introduced on 1 July 1994.  The card is re-issued annually and entitles the card holder to pharmaceuticals listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme at a concessional rate, the Medicare Safety Net threshold and concessional fare — s 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 o — f 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 state office staff.

Eligibility for residents of Norfolk Island

Residents of Norfolk Island are regarded as Australian residents for the purposes of determining eligibility for a CSHC.  This is due to changes to VEA section 5Q which includes Norfolk Island in the definition of Australia, allowing access to various income support payments and benefits including the CSHC.

Residents of Norfolk Island may therefore be issued with a CSHC if all of the eligibility criteria are met.

CSHC Carrier

The 2014 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:

• Taxable income as noted on the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Notice of Assessment; and
• Employer provided fringe benefits in addition to salary that are over $1,000; and
• Foreign income where tax is not paid to the ATO; and
• Net loss from rental property; and
• Net loss from financial investments such as shares and managed investments; and
• Reportable superannuation contributions made by an employer as part of a salary package and personal superannuation contributions for which one can claim a tax deduction.

CSHC Income Limit

The CSHC income limit is as follows:

• $50,000 if single;
• $80,000 (combined), if a member of a couple;
• $100,000 (combined), if accepted as being separated due to ill health or respite care.

The above amounts are increased for each dependent child by $639.60.

Valid

The 2014 CSHC will be valid from the date of receipt until 30 September 2014.

Numbers

T — he number of cards and carriers to be produced for the bulk issue is estimated to be around 6,000.  Below is a breakdown for each state base — d on last year's exercise:

State

Numbers

NSW (including ACT and 2 in Norfolk Island)

2,060

VIC

1,397

QLD

1,203

WA

954

SA (including NT)

598

TAS

1 — 28

Total

6,340

Dates

The following dates apply to the 2014 annual bulk issue:

Task

Date

P — roduction data extract

25 August 2013

Implement changes to daily template

6:00 pm

23 August 2013

Produce reports for states

26 August 2013

Mailing house commence printing, enveloping and lodg — e — ment of cards

26 August 2013

Final lodgement date with Australia Post

6 September 2013

Reports

Summary and Non-Issued Reports for the Income Support Contacts will print on Monday, 26 August 2013 at the nominated printers as listed below.

StatePrinter ID

NSW — N607P

QLD — VQSOPR02

SA — VSSOPR06

TAS — VTSOPR03

VIC — VVSOPR02

WA — VWSOPR01

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, 23 August 2013 at 6pm Eastern Standard Time.  From this date a 2014 CSHC will be issued for grants and re-issues.  This card can be used immediately.

Daily Stock

As dates are not pre-printed on the CSHC stock and there is no change to the text on the back of the carrier, each location should continue to use existing stock supply.

Unlike previous years, additional s — tock for daily use will be sent to the Income Support c — ontact — s in batches of one hundred as required, on request.  This will assist to minimise waste, the inconvenience of storage and the cost of disposal of excess stock.

Requests for replenishment of stock should be by e-mail to Advices Helpdesk – ACT mailbox.

As the adhesiveness of the card on the carrier may deteriorate over time, it is recommended that the existing stock should be used up before using the new stock.

Income Support Contacts

The CSHC Income Support contacts are as follows:

NSW/ACT — Sao Lou

QLD — Sharon Golden

VIC — Daniel Luba

SA/NT — Bee Measham

WA — Michelle Pauly

TAS — Daimeon Horne

Please advise the project co-ordinator of any changes to the contact officers as listed above.

Project Coordinator

The project coordinator for the bulk issue of the 2014 CSHC is:

Elis Lam

Cards & Advices

Income Support & Grants

Phone:  (02) 9213 7244

E-mail:  Elis.Lam@dva.gov.au