DATE OF ISSUE:  7 OCTOBER 2003

OBLIGATION AND INCOME / ASSET INFORMATION ISSUED WITH AUTOMATIC ADVICES

Purpose

The purpose of this  Departmental Instruction is to amend DI C09/2003, Guidelines for the Issuing of Obligation and Income / Asset Information with Daily Advices in respect of: grants to age pensioners all grants of income support pensions.

Reason for amendment to DI

This instruction provides new instructions in respect of the provision of obligations to age pensioners on grant; and provides information about revised wording for all income support grant advices. The first dot point refers to a change in the status of the publication You and Your Pension in respect of age pensioners. The second dot point is a response to the recent Assessment Errors Stateline.

Background -Age pension grants and You and Your Pension

Since 1998, You and Your Pension has been issued to pensioners granted service pension and income support supplement.  Issued with the grant advice, the booklet is a legal notification of obligations for these DVA pensioners. Since the 2001 edition, Y&YP has contained information relevant to social security age pensioners (paid by DVA) and age pensioners have been sent Y&YP as though it were a legal notice of obligations for them as well.  This was on the basis of the MOU with the Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS) that allowed the same administrative arrangements for age pensioners in respect of advices and obligations as are applied for SP and ISS recipients.

FaCS decision

The Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS) has recently indicated that full obligations for age pensioners are to be included in the grant advice.  While they are happy for Y&YP to be issued as an information product, the notice of obligations is the advice, not Y&YP.

Impact of this decision

The FaCS decision means that full obligations are not to be suppressed when granting age pensions.  Full obligations must be included in the grant advice. Y&YP should still be sent to these pensioners however the advices have been changed to reflect the booklet's status as an information product. This change refers to age pension grants only.  For all other income support pension grants, Y&YP remains a legal notice of obligations. The effective date of this change will be the date the 2003 edition of Y&YP becomes available for distribution or from whenever the new edition of Y&YP is sent with the advices.  The new edition will be available in the warehouse from Monday 6 October.

Age pension advices

The age pension grant advices have been amended and a sample is at Attachment A.  The new wording is contained in the paragraph headed Events You Need to Tell Us About.

Background – revised grant advices for all income support pensioners

A recent Stateline 0353977E ASSESSMENT ERRORS referred to errors detected through a special data match between ComSuper and DVA.  The errors indicated that in some instances, superannuation was not included in the assessment although information had been presented with the claim form.  When contacted, some of the overpaid pensioners indicated that they were unaware that their assessments were incorrect. A review of the grant advices has been undertaken and the sequence of the paragraphs has been changed in an effort to give greater emphasis to obligations.  In addition, wording changes have been made to reduce the possibility that advices will be misunderstood.  The importance of checking the attached income and assets statement has been stressed as have the consequences (recoverable overpayment) of non-compliance with obligations.

Impact of changes to wording

It is expected that You and Your Pension will be issued with all grants of service pension, partner service pension and income support supplement as a notice of obligations and full obligations should be suppressed in these cases. The Y&YP wording will appear in these advices whether or not full obligations are suppressed.

SP and ISS grant advices

The wording in these advices is similar.  A sample SP grant advice is at Attachment B – note wording and sequence changes mentioned above.

Contact officer

Any questions about this DI should be referred to Jill de Vaus, Business Improvement & Monitoring on (07) 3223 8516 or Stuart Kennedy, Compliance & Review (02) 6289 4716.

Jeanette Ricketts

Branch Head

Income Support

7 October 2003

EXAMPLE 1: ATTACHMENT A

• GRANT AGE PENSION
• PARTNERED ASSESSMENT (Partner's advice will look the same)
• MAX RATE
• INCOME TESTED
• FULL OBLIGATIONS
• GIS

GPO Box 651, Brisbane  QLD  4001

Contact:State Office

Telephone:

AMP Place

10 Eagle Street

Brisbane Qld 4000

1!!11 IIIll l 111 1I!! Postal Address:

JOHN SMITH — GPO Box 651 Brisbane Qld 4001

29 MARGARGET STREET — Telephone:

IPSWICH   QLD   4010 — General inquiries: 133 254

Non-metropolitan callers: 1800 555 254

Dialling from interstate: 1800 13 1945

Facsimile: (07) 32238585

30 September 2003

YOUR FILE NUMBER IS QX123456

Dear Mr SMITH,

I am writing to advise you that your claim for payment of age pension through the Department of Veterans' Affairs has been accepted from 15 September 2003.

Payment Information

Details of your payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

The age pension is an income and assets tested payment.  Your disability/dependant's pension is regarded as income in the assessment of this payment.

Your Income and Assets

Your age pension is assessed under the income test using your income and assets as shown in the attached list.  It is important that you check that this list is a full and accurate statement of your income and assets.

Obligations - Financial

You currently receive the maximum rate of age pension.  You will continue to receive the maximum rate as long as your combined gross income from all sources is less than $XXX.XX per fortnight and your combined assets are less than $XXXX.XX.  You need to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas) if your combined income or assets increase above these amounts.

It is not necessary to advise us of any changes to your income or assets unless your combined gross income from all sources increases above $XXX.XX per fortnight or your combined assets increase above $XXXX.XX as it will have no effect on your rate of age pension.

Events You Need To Tell Us About

You must notify us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas):

• if the attached list of income and assets is not a full and accurate statement of your income and assets; or
• of changes to your circumstances which might affect the rate of your pension.

Please note that failure to fulfil these obligations may lead to your age pension being overpaid.  Such overpayments are recoverable.

Details of your obligations to notify us of changes to your circumstances are included in the attachment 'Statement of Obligations – Important Information You Should Retain'.  If you do not tell us of any of these changes within the required time, you may be overpaid.  We are entitled under social security law to recover any overpayments.

The attached booklet, You and Your Pension, contains the following information:

• things you do not need to tell us about;
• additional allowances and benefits;
• the income and assets tests, and how different types of income and assets are counted for pension purposes;
• your obligations and rights as an age pension recipient; and
• other services available from Veterans' Affairs.

Fringe Benefits

As an age pensioner, you are eligible for a Pensioner Concession Card.  This card entitles you to various fringe benefits, including a range of Commonwealth, State and local government concessions.  You can also receive limited free rail travel, as detailed on the carrier holding your Pensioner Concession Card.

If your Pensioner Concession Card is not enclosed with this letter, it will be forwarded separately in the near future.  Instructions on the use of the card, together with further information on the range of benefits is included with the Pensioner Concession Card.

Free Rail Travel & Additional Benefits

You can also get free rail travel as detailed on the vouchers attached to your Pensioner Concession Card letter.  Other concessions that may be available to you from State and Local authorities and other organisations are shown in the enclosed brochure.

Release and Use of Information

The income and asset information you give to this Department is used to work out your eligibility for pension and other benefits.  Some information that you have supplied may be released to other agencies or bodies such as the Department of Family and Community Services; the Australian Taxation Office, the Health Insurance Commission; various state and local government authorities; and superannuation funds.

The reason for supplying information to such agencies or bodies is to verify income/asset details; matching of information payment of accounts for treatment and to verify eligibility for rebates or concessions.

Your Right of Review

If you do not agree with this decision, you should discuss it with the original decision maker, who will explain the reasons for the decision.  If you remain dissatisfied, you may apply to have the decision reviewed by an Authorised Review Officer, with no prior involvement in the case.  If you decide to apply for a review more than 13 weeks from the day this notice is given to you, arrears can only be paid from the date we receive your application.  Requests for review may be made in person, by telephone or in writing.

If you have any questions about any of the above matters please contact this office at the address or telephone number shown at the top of this letter.

Yours sincerely,

PAULA GREEN

As Delegate of the Secretary

PAYMENT INFORMATION ATTACHMENT

The Department now calculates age pension payments on a daily basis.  This means that your fortnightly pension payment is now made up of 14 days of entitlement of pension.  Therefore, when there is a change to your circumstances on any particular day in the fortnight - your pension will be adjusted from that day.  For that reason your pension payment may be different for one or two paydays after a reassessment.

Payment for 2 OCTOBER 2003

Payment for 16 OCTOBER 2003

Payment Destination

The following table shows where your pension payments are going.

Date	Name	Payment Destination	Amount Deposited
02/10/03	J SMITH	BSA 574286330	$xxx.xx
		TOTAL	$xxx.xx
16/10/03	J SMITH	BSA 574286330	$xxx.xx
		TOTAL	$xxx.xx

INCOME AND ASSETS ATTACHMENT

(Information current as at 30 September 2003 )

The following is a complete list of your Income and Assets as recorded by the Department. If any details are incorrect or have been omitted you should notify the Department within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas). Please note that failure to fulfil this obligation may lead to your pension being overpaid.  Such overpayments are recoverable.

If you become aware that you have received or are to receive a compensation payment you must tell us within 7 days (28 days if you are living overseas).

FINANCIAL ASSETS

Savings and Cheque Accounts

Description	Account Number	Asset Amount
XXXXXXXX	XXXXXXXXXXX	$  XX.XX
@@@@@@@@@@	XXXXXXXX	$XXX.XX

Term Deposits and Other Accounts

Description	Account Number	Asset Amount
XXXXXX	X,XXX	$XX,XXX.XX

Managed Investments

Description	Units	Asset Amount
VVVVVVVVVV	XX	$XXXX.XX
CCCCCCCCCCCCC	XXX	$XXXX.XX

Total Financial Assets

FINANCIAL ASSETS VALUE	DEEMED INTEREST RATE	DEEMED INCOME PER FORTNIGHT
$XX,XXX.XX	3.5%	$X.XX
$         XX.XX	5.5%	$X.XX
$XX,XXX.XX		$XX.XX

Note: Income from financial assets is deemed.

What is Deemed Income?

For pension purposes, income from financial assets such as accounts with banks, building societies and credit unions, loans, bonds, debentures, gifts, shares, managed investments and bullion is deemed.  The value of all your financial assets is added together, and deemed interest rates are applied to calculate the income.

At present, deemed income is calculated as follows, regardless of the actual interest rates, on the total of all your financial assets:

$0 to $57,400 – at 2.5%

$57,400 + - at 4%

If your investments are earning more than the 2.5% or 4% deeming rates, this additional income will not affect the rate of your age pension.

IMPORTANT:  You only need to notify the department if there are any changes to the value of your financial assets, as shown above.  You do not need to advise of any changes to the interest rates for these investments.

OTHER INCOME AND ASSETS

The following assets are those, which do not have deeming, applied to them but are still used to determine your rate of pension.

Home Assets

The asset and/or income values shown below are the amounts used for pension purposes.

• Market value of household contents - $XXXXX.XX

Disability Pension

• Disability Pension of $XXX.XX

Miscellaneous Assets

• Car – 1999 MERCEDES with a net market value of $XXXXX.XX

Direct Income

• Estate Payment AUNT'S ESTATE - $XXX.XX per fortnight

Total of Income and Assets

The total of your fortnightly income in your assessment is $XXX.XX.  The total of all your assets in your assessment is $XXXXXX.XX

STATEMENT OF OBLIGATIONS

IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU SHOULD RETAIN

(Information current as at 30 September 2003 )

Events You Must Tell Us About

You must tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas) if any of the events listed below occur.  If you become aware that you have received or are to receive a compensation payment you must tell us within 7 days (28 days if you are living overseas).  These events may affect the amount of pension you receive.  If you do not tell us of any of these changes you may be overpaid.  We are entitled under the social security law to recover this overpayment.

You will also need to tell us the date any changes to your circumstances occur.

When you are telling us of changes to your circumstances you should do this by writing to or telephoning or visiting any Department of Veterans' Affairs Office.

Obligations - Financial

You presently receive the maximum rate of age pension.  You will continue to receive the maximum rate as long as your combined gross income from all sources is less than $XXX.XX per fortnight and your combined assets are less than $XXXXXX.XX.  You are obliged by law to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas) if your income or assets increase above these amounts.

It is not necessary to advise us of any changes to your income or assets unless your combined gross income from all sources increases above $XXX.XX per fortnight or your combined assets increase above $XXXXXX.XX as it will have no affect on your rate of age pension.

Superannuation

If you are eligible for Commonwealth Superannuation or Defence Forces Retirement Benefits, you must tell us full details within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas) of when these payments are granted.  You must also tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas) if you receive any lump sum or special payments.  You do not need to tell us of indexation changes to your regular fortnightly payments because your pension will be adjusted automatically.

Obligations - Domestic Situation

You must tell us if:

• You live apart because of age, ill health or any other reasons

• You get divorced

• Your spouse passes away.

Obligations - Homeowner

As a homeowner, you must tell us full details if:

• You sell your home

• You leave your home because of age or ill health

• You rent or sublet your home
• You leave your home for any period in excess of twelve months

Obligations - General

• You change your postal and/or residential address,

• You leave Australia,

• You are granted any pension or benefit from an overseas authority,

• You (or your partner) make a claim or receive workers compensation, sickness or accident insurance other than a payment of disability or war widow's or war widower's pension from this department (you must tell us within 7 days),

• You are imprisoned after conviction for an offence,

• You are the beneficiary, trustee or controller of a private trust, including a testamentary trust.

Conclusion

The above are your full obligations to the Department.  If you have any queries about any of the above matters please contact this office at the address or telephone number shown at the top of this letter.

GENERAL INFORMATION ON AGE PENSION RATES AND LIMITS

(Information current as at 30 September 2003 )

MAXIMUM RATES OF AGE PENSION (excludes pharmaceutical allowance)

Singles Rate$452.80 (per fortnight)

Couples Rate (each)$378.00 (per fortnight)

INCOME LIMIT (per fortnight)

Before Age Pension ReducesCut Off*

Singles Rate$120.00$1,252.00

Couples Rate (combined)$212.00$2,102.00

These limits may increase for every dependent child or student up to the age of 22, or if rent assistance is payable.

ASSETS LIMIT

Before Age Pension ReducesCut Off*

Home Owner

Singles Rate$149,500$300,500

Couples Rate (combined)$212,500$464,500

Non Home Owner

Singles Rate$257,500$408,500

Couples Rate (combined)$320,500$572,500

These limits may increase for every dependent child or student up to the age of 22, or if rent assistance is payable.

ILLNESS SEPARATED COUPLES

Couples separated due to ill health are paid the single rate of age pension but have their income and assets assessed as a couple.

GIFTING

A gift is an asset which is given away or disposed of without receiving the market value of that gift in return.  A gift may be either a cash amount or non cash assets such as a car or other property.

You must notify us if you give away a total of $10,000 or more in a tax year or $30,000 over a rolling five-year period.

The amount above either limit will continue to be counted as if it were still your asset for a period of 5 years and may therefore continue to affect your pension.  We will also deem income on the value of any gift above either limit for 5 years.

RENT ASSISTANCE

You may be eligible for rent assistance if you pay rent to a non-government body or landlord.  The amount of rent assistance you receive depends on the amount of rent you pay and your family circumstances.  Rent assistance is paid at the rate of 75 cents in the dollar for every dollar you pay over the set rent limits.

Maximum Amount of Rent Assistance Payable (per fortnight)

No children1-2 children3 or more children

Singles Rate$94.40$110.88$125.30

Couples Rate (combined)$89.20$110.88$125.30

Rent Limits (per fortnight)

No children1-2 children3 or more children

Singles Rate$  83.80$110.46$110.46

Couples Rate (combined)$136.60$163.52$163.52

TELEPHONE ALLOWANCE

If you have a telephone account in your name and receive an age pension, then you are eligible to receive a telephone allowance.  It is paid quarterly with your age pension.

Singles Rate$19.20

Couples Rate (each)$  9.60

World War I Veterans$70.50

You need to tell us if you cancel your telephone account.

HOW DISABILITY PENSION AFFECTS AGE PENSION

Disability pension is counted in the assessment of your age pension.

EXAMPLE 6: ATTACHMENT B

• GRANT SERVICE PENSION
• MARRIED ASSESSMENT
• LESS THAN MAX RATE
• ASSET TESTED
• SUPPRESS OBLIGATIONS
• GIS

GPO Box 651, Brisbane  QLD  4001

Contact:State Office

Telephone:

AMP Place

10 Eagle Street

Brisbane Qld 4000

1!!11 IIIll l 111 1I!! Postal Address:

BALFOUR F FLEUR

DELIA A FLEUR — GPO Box 651 Brisbane Qld 4001

46 GUY PLACE — Telephone:

IPSWICH   QLD   4010 — General inquiries: 133 254

Non-metropolitan callers: 1800 555 254

Dialling from interstate: 1800 13 1945

Facsimile: (07) 32238585

30 September 2003

YOUR FILE NUMBER IS QX999999

Dear Mr and Mrs FLEUR,

I am writing to advise you that your claim for payment of service pension through the Department of Veterans' Affairs has been accepted from 15 September 2003.

Payment Information

Details of your payments are provided in the Payment Information Attachment.

Your Income and Assets

Your service pension is assessed under the assets test using your income and assets as shown in the attached list.  It is important that you check that this list is a full and accurate statement of your income and assets.

Obligations - Financial

You currently receive service pension at less than the maximum rate because your assets are above the current threshold.

You are obliged by law to tell us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance) if you gain or dispose of any assets.  You must also notify this Department if your combined gross income from all sources increases above $XXX.XX per fortnight.  This will ensure that your service pension continues to be paid at the correct rate.

If your combined assets are reduced, any increase in pension can only be made from the day your new details are received by us.

Events You Need To Tell Us About

You must notify us within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas or receive remote area allowance):

• if the attached list of income and assets is not a full and accurate statement of your income and assets; or
• of changes to your circumstances which might affect the rate of your pension.

Please note that failure to fulfil these obligations may lead to your service pension being overpaid.  Such overpayments are recoverable.

The attached booklet, You and Your Pension, is a notice under section 54 of the Veterans' Entitlements Act and sets out your obligations to ensure that your pension is paid at the right rate.  If you do not tell us of any of these changes within the required time, you may be overpaid.  We are entitled under the above Act to recover any overpayments.

The booklet also includes information about:

• things you do not need to tell us about;
• additional allowances and benefits;
• the income and assets tests, and how different types of income and assets are counted for pension purposes;
• your obligations and rights as a service pension recipient; and

• other services available from Veterans' Affairs.

Fringe Benefits

As service pensioners, you are eligible for Pensioner Concession Cards.  These cards entitle you to various fringe benefits, including a range of Commonwealth, State and local government concessions.  You can also receive limited free rail travel, as detailed on the carrier holding your Pensioner Concession Cards.

If your Pensioner Concession Cards are not enclosed with this letter, they will be forwarded separately in the near future.  Instructions on the use of the cards, together with further information on the range of benefits is included with the Pensioner Concession Cards.

Free Rail Travel & Additional Benefits

You can also get free rail travel as detailed on the vouchers attached to your Pensioner Concession Card letter.  Other concessions that may be available to you from State and Local authorities and other organisations are shown in the enclosed brochure.

Release and Use of Information

The income and asset information you give to this Department is used to work out your eligibility for pension and other benefits.  Some information that you have supplied may be released to other agencies or bodies such as the Department of Family and Community Services; the Australian Taxation Office, the Health Insurance Commission; various state and local government authorities; and superannuation funds.

The reason for supplying information to such agencies or bodies is to verify income/asset details; matching of information payment of accounts for treatment and to verify eligibility for rebates or concessions.

Your Right Of Review

If you do not agree with this decision, you may apply to have it reviewed by a Review Officer at this office.  If you decide to apply for a review, you must do so within three months of being advised of this decision.  A request for review must be in writing and set out your reasons for seeking this review.

If you have any questions about any of the above matters please contact this office at the address or telephone number shown at the top of this letter.

Yours sincerely,

PAULA GREEN

As Delegate of the Secretary and Repatriation Commission

PAYMENT INFORMATION ATTACHMENT

The Department now calculates service pension payments on a daily basis.  This means that your fortnightly pension payment is now made up of 14 days of entitlement of pension.  Therefore, when there is a change to your circumstances on any particular day in the fortnight - your pension will be adjusted from that day.  For that reason your pension payment may be different for one or two paydays after a reassessment.

Payment for 2 OCTOBER 2003 VeteranPartner

Payment for 16 OCTOBER 2003VeteranPartner

Payment Destination

Date	Name	Payment Destination	Amount Deposited
02/10/03	B F FLEUR	123456	xxx.xx
	D A FLEUR	123456	xxx.xx
		TOTAL	xxx.xx
16/10/03	B F FLEUR	123456	xxx.xx
	D A FLEUR	123456	xxx.xx
		TOTAL	xxx.xx

INCOME AND ASSETS ATTACHMENT

(Information current as at 30 September 2003 )

The following is a complete list of your Income and Assets as recorded by the Department.  If any details are incorrect or have been omitted you must notify the Department within 14 days (28 days if you are living overseas).  Please note that failure to fulfil this obligation may lead to your pension being overpaid.  Such overpayments are recoverable.

If you become aware that you have received or are to receive a compensation payment you must tell us within 7 days (28 days if you are living overseas).

FINANCIAL ASSETS

Savings and Cheque Accounts

Description	Account Number	Asset Amount
XXXXXXXX	XXXXXXXXXXX	$  XX.XX
@@@@@@@@@@	XXXXXXXX	$XXX.XX

Term Deposits and Other Accounts

Description	Account Number	Asset Amount
XXXXXX	X,XXX	$XX,XXX.XX

Managed Investments

Description	Units	Asset Amount
VVVVVVVVVV	XX	$XXXX.XX
CCCCCCCCCCCCC	XXX	$XXXX.XX

Total Financial Assets

FINANCIAL ASSETS VALUE	DEEMED INTEREST RATE	DEEMED INCOME PER FORTNIGHT
$XX,XXX.XX	3.5%	$X.XX
$         XX.XX	5.5%	$X.XX
$XX,XXX.XX		$XX.XX

Note: Income from financial assets is deemed.

What is Deemed Income?

For pension purposes, income from financial assets such as accounts with banks, building societies and credit unions, loans, bonds, debentures, gifts, shares, managed investments and bullion is deemed.  The value of all your financial assets is added together, and deemed interest rates are applied to calculate the income.

At present, deemed income is calculated as follows, regardless of the actual interest rates, on the total of all your financial assets:

$0 to $57,400 – at 2.5%

$57,400 + - at 4%

If your investments are earning more than the 2.5% or 4% deeming rates, this additional income will not affect the rate of your age pension.

IMPORTANT:  You only need to notify the department if there are any changes to the value of your financial assets, as shown above.  You do not need to advise of any changes to the interest rates for these investments.

OTHER INCOME AND ASSETS

The following assets are those, which do not have deeming, applied to them but are still used to determine your rate of pension.

Home Assets

The asset and/or income values shown below are the amounts used for pension purposes.

• Market value of household contents - $XXXXX.XX

Miscellaneous Assets

• Car – 1999 MERCEDES with a net market value of $XXXXX.XX

Total of Income and Assets

The total of your fortnightly income in your assessment is $XXX.XX.  The total of all your assets in your assessment is $XXXXXX.XX

GENERAL INFORMATION ON SERVICE PENSION RATES AND LIMITS (Information current as at T-ADVICE-PRINT-DATE )

MAXIMUM RATES OF SERVICE PENSION (excludes pharmaceutical allowance)

Singles Rate $452.80 (per fortnight)

Couples Rate (each) $378.00 (per fortnight)

PENSION INCOME LIMIT (per fortnight)

Before Service Pension ReducesCut Off*

Singles Limit$120.00$1,266.50

Couples Limit (combined)$212.00$2,116.50

These limits may increase for each dependent child or student up to the age of T-CHILD-AGE, or if rent assistance is payable.

PENSION ASSETS LIMIT

Before Service Pension ReducesCut Off*

Home Owner

Singles Limit$149,500$302,500

Couples Limit (combined)$212,500$466,500

Non Home Owner

Singles Limit$257,500$410,500

Couples Limit (combined)$320,500$574,500

These limits may increase for each dependent child or student up to the age of T-CHILD-AGE, or if rent assistance is payable.

NOTE: *Income and assets limits do not apply to blinded service pensioners.

GOLD CARD INCOME AND ASSETS CUT OFF LIMITS

The treatment benefits income and assets limits apply to you if you are an Australian veteran or mariner whose eligibility for the Gold Card is dependent solely on your service pension payment.

INCOME

Singles Limit$341.25 (per fortnight)

Couples Limit (combined)$594.00 (per fortnight)

Add approximately $73.10 per fortnight for each dependent child or student up to the age of T-CHILD-AGE.

ASSETS

HomeownerNon Home Owner

Singles Limit$179,250$287,250

Couples Limit (Combined)$263,500$371,500

Add approximately $6,500 for each dependent child or student up to the age of 22.

GOLD CARD INFORMATION

The Gold Card income and assets limits apply if you receive a disability pension below 50% of the general rate and you also receive an amount of service pension.  Should your assessed income or assets exceed these limits you will no longer be eligible for the Gold Card.

The Gold Card income and assets limits do not apply if:

• Your disability pension is above 50% of the general rate and you also receive an amount of service pension. Should your service pension cease due to excess income and assets, you will no longer be eligible for a Gold Card;
• You receive a disability pension at 100% of the general rate, Intermediate rate, EDA or TPI; or
• You are aged 70 years or over and you are a veteran who served in Australia's Defence Force and have qualifying service from any conflict or you are an Australian Mariner with qualifying service from World War II.

ILLNESS SEPARATED COUPLES

Couples separated due to ill health are paid the single rate of service pension but have their income and assets assessed as a couple.

RENT ASSISTANCE

You may be eligible for rent assistance if you pay rent to a non-government body or landlord.  The amount of rent assistance you receive depends on the amount of rent you pay and your family circumstances.  Rent assistance is paid at the rate of 75 cents in the dollar for every dollar you pay over the set rent limits.

Maximum Amount of Rent Assistance Payable (per fortnight)

No children1-2 children3 or more children

Singles Rate$  94.40$ 110.88$ 125.30

Couples Rate(combined)$  89.20$ 110.88$ 125.30

Rent Limit (per fortnight)

No children1-2 children3 or more children

Singles Limit$ 83.80$110.46$110.88

Couples Limit (combined)$136.60$163.52$163.52

TELEPHONE ALLOWANCE

If you have a telephone account in your name and receive a service pension, then you are eligible to receive a telephone allowance.  It is paid quarterly with your service pension.

Singles Rate $19.20

Couples Rate (each)$  9.60

World War I Veterans$70.50

You need to tell us if you cancel your telephone account.

GIFTING

A gift is an asset which is given away or disposed of without receiving the market value of that gift in return.  A gift may be either a cash amount or non cash assets such as a car or other property.

You must notify us if you give away a total of $10,000 or more in a tax year or $30,000 over a rolling five-year period.

The amount above either limit will continue to be counted as if it were still your asset for a period of 5 years and may therefore continue to affect your pension.  We will also deem income on the value of any gift above either limit for 5 years.