DATE OF ISSUE: 13 AUGUST 2002
ISSUE OF 2002/03 COMMONWEALTH SENIORS HEALTH CARD (CSHC)
PURPOSE
To provide information about the bulk issue of the 2002/03 Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC).
HISTORY & CONCESSIONS PROVIDED
The CSHC was introduced on 1 July 1994 and currently provides entitlement to Commonwealth Concessions for 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. However, certain States (WA & SA) are now offering additional state specific concessions to CSHC holders.
From 1 September 2001, CSHC holders, who are eligible telephone subscribers, became eligible for Telephone Allowance (TA) payable quarterly. CSHC holders can also access discounted rail travel (50% of the economy fare) on Great Southern Railway services: The Ghan, The Overland and The Indian Pacific.
ELIGIBILITY
The CSHC is intended to assist eligible veterans, and their partners, widows and widowers, 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 male veterans with QS and war widowers is 60 years of age (or greater), and for non-veterans and veterans without QS is 65 years of age (or greater).
Pension age for female veterans and war widows 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 sections 5QA and 5QB of the VEA.
THE CSHC INCOME TEST
The CSHC income test is based on adjusted taxable income. The current CSHC income limits are as follows:
- single - $50,000
- partnered - $80,000
- illness separated - $100,000
- plus an additional amount per year for each dependent child - $639.60.
PRODUCTION, TIMING AND CARD NUMBERS
The bulk printing of the 2002-03 cards will commence on 22 August 2002.
As at 9 August there are 7,427 cards to be printed (5,504 in 2001-02). 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.
State |
No. - Bulk issue |
Blank supply for daily issue |
NSW |
2671 |
1000 |
VIC |
1715 |
1000 |
QLD |
1152 |
500 |
WA |
1179 |
500 |
SA |
586 |
500 |
TAS |
124 |
500 |
TOTAL |
7427 |
4000 |
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 are 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 2003.
POST PRODUCTION REPORTS
IMU will forward all reports to the respective State Office contacts.
DAILY ISSUES & STATE OFFICE CONTACTS
The new templates for the daily issue are to be used from Monday 19 August. The new templates have the expiry date of 30 September 2003. This means States will only need to issue one card for any new grants after 19 August 2002. ie the card will show: “Valid from: 19 August 2002 to 30 September 2003.
STATE |
CONTACT |
PHONE |
FAX |
NSW |
William Berridge |
(02) 9213 7874 |
(02) 9212 7885 |
VIC |
David Price |
(03) 9284 6379 |
(03) 9284 6797 |
QLD |
Geraldine Howard |
(07) 3223 8842 |
(07) 3223 8533 |
WA |
John Gliddon |
(08) 9366 8417 |
(08) 9366 8239 |
SA |
Maria Lewandowski |
(08) 8290 0439 |
(08) 8290 0412 |
TAS |
Bryon Kelly |
(03) 6221 6684 |
(03) 6221 6601 |
FACT SHEETS WITH NEW GRANTS
States are required to insert a CSHC Fact Sheet with all new grants. This info is necessary to fully explain the nature of the income that is taken into account to determine whether a person meets the seniors health card income test.
REPORT DAILY ISSUE DIFFICULTIES
Any difficulties in relation to daily issues should be reported to the contact officers in National Office.
Robert Krajina
Tel: (02) 6289 6044
Fax: (02) 6289 6553
ROGER WINZENBERG
BRANCH HEAD
INCOME SUPPORT
12 August 2002