Disability pensioners who receive service pension may benefit

Disability pensioners who also receive service pension may benefit from changes to the payment of rent assistance under the aged care reforms.

Under the disability pension rent test, service pensioners receiving high rates of disability pension currently receive a reduced rate of rent assistance or no rent assistance.

From 1 October 1997 these people may receive the full benefit of paying the lesser daily resident contribution applicable to income support pensioners ($21.10 or $21.52 from 2 April 1998).

Although these people do not receive rent assistance, or receive only partial rent assistance, aged care providers will still receive the full amount of pensioner supplement in respect of their places.

The exception to the above is where the person was in a pre 1 October 1997 variable fee arrangement.