DATE OF ISSUE: 10 AUGUST 2001
ISSUE OF 2001/02 COMMONWEALTH SENIORS HEALTH CARD (CSHC)
PURPOSE
To provide information about the bulk issue of the 2001/02 Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC).
HISTORY & CONCESSIONS PROVIDED
The CSHC was introduced on 1 July 1994 and currently provides entitlement to Commonwealth Concessions only. This entitlement is currently limited to concessional pharmaceuticals listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Access to the Commonwealth Dental Program by the CSHC holders ceased on 1 January 1997 and eligibility for hearing services became unavailable from 1 July 1997.
The income test limits for the CSHC changed on 1 July 2001. As at 1 September 2001, all CSHC holders will be eligible for Telephone Allowance (TA) with payment occurring on 20 September. This will have a significant effect on the amount of CSHCs issued as many Gold Cardholders who were eligible for a CSHC but did not previously apply, may now apply in order to obtain the TA.
ELIGIBILITY
The CSHC is intended to assist those retirees and other eligible veterans of pension age who fail to qualify for pension due to assets or income in excess of the current limit.
To be eligible for the CSHC, a person must:
- be a veteran who has rendered qualifying service or the partner, non-illness separated spouse or widow(er) of such a veteran; and
- have reached pension age; and
- be an Australian resident living in Australia; and
- not be in receipt of service pension, income support supplement or a social security pension or benefit; and
- satisfy the CSHC income test.
Eligibility is determined manually by State Office staff.
PENSION AGE
Pension age for males is 60 years of age (or greater) with QS, and 65 years of age (or greater) without QS.
Pension age for female veterans is:
- 56.5 years of age for those born from 1 July 1943 and 31 December 1944
- 57 years for those born from 1 January 1945 to 30 June 1946.
Pension age for female non-veterans is:
- 61.5 years for those born from 1 July 1938 to 31 December 1939 and
- 62 years for those born from 1 January 1940 to 30 June 1941.
A detailed table of Pension Age can be found at section 5R and 5QB of the VEA.
THE CSHC INCOME TEST
The current CSHC taxable income test limits have been increased as a result of recent Budget changes and are as follows:
- single - $50,000
- partnered - $80,000
- illness separated - $100,000
- plus an additional amount per year for each dependant child - $639.60.
PRODUCTION, TIMING AND LOCATION
The bulk printing of the 2001-02 cards will commence on 22 August 2001. The amount of cards as at 3 August was 5,504, however this number is expected to increase prior to the bulk run with the introduction of the TA that is available to CSHC holders. The live data extract will be undertaken on 16 August and CSHC recipients should receive their cards no later than 14 September.
CARD NUMBERS
Following is the State by State breakdown of the expected numbers of CSHCs to be issued in the bulk run and the quantity of the blank stock to be supplied to the State Offices for daily card issue. You will notice the blank supply for daily issue is very high in relation to the bulk issue amounts, this is to allow for the anticipated increase in new grants.
State |
No. - Bulk issue |
Blank supply for daily issue |
NSW |
1945 |
800 |
VIC |
1309 |
800 |
QLD |
826 |
500 |
WA |
922 |
400 |
SA |
409 |
400 |
TAS |
93 |
300 |
TOTAL |
5504 |
3200 |
FORMAT OF CARDS/ CARRIER
The card has not changed from last year. The carrier will continue to be a single A4 cut sheet format stationery, printed on the front and back. The card and carrier is identical for each State. However, during the personalising process, slightly different information will be printed on the carrier for each State.
EXPIRY DATE
The expiry date for all CSHCs will be 30 September 2002.
POST PRODUCTION REPORTS
A copy of the post-production schedule reports will be sent to each office by National Office. IMU Branch will forward all reports to Business Operations & Support in National Office who will then forward them on to the respective State Office contacts.
DAILY ISSUES & SUPPLIES OF BLANK STOCK
The new templates for the daily issue are to be used from Friday 17 August. The new templates have the expiry date of 30 September 2002. This means States will only need to issue one card for any new grants after 17 August 2001. ie the card will show: “Valid from: 17 August 2001 to 30 September 2002.
The blank stock for the daily issue of CSHCs will be forwarded by SMS to the State Office's nominated officers by 15 August.
STATE |
QUANTITY |
CONTACT |
PHONE |
FAX |
NSW |
800 |
Sue Cooney |
(02) 9213 7874 |
(02) 9212 7885 |
VIC |
800 |
Peter Rogers |
(03) 9284 6379 |
(03) 9284 6797 |
QLD |
500 |
Carolyn Lindsay |
(07) 3223 8842 |
(07) 3223 8533 |
WA |
400 |
John Gliddon |
(08) 9366 8417 |
(08) 9366 8239 |
SA |
400 |
Maria Lewandowski |
(08) 8290 0439 |
(08) 8290 0412 |
TAS |
300 |
Bryon Kelly |
(03) 6221 6684 |
(03) 6221 6601 |
REPORT DAILY ISSUE DIFFICULTIES
Any difficulties in relation to daily issues should be reported to the contact officers in National Office.
Robert Krajina David Hollaway
Tel: (02) 6289 6044 OR Tel: (02) 6289 6347
Fax: (02) 6289 6553 Fax: (02) 6289 6553
JEANETTE RICKETS
BRANCH HEAD
INCOME SUPPORT BRANCH
August 2001