DATE OF ISSUE: 24 AUGUST 2010
2011 Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)
Replaced by DI No. |
Amends DI No. |
N/A |
Replaces DI No. |
Purpose |
To provide information about the annual bulk issue of the 2011 CSHC. |
Background |
The CSHC was introduced on 1 July 1994. The card is re-issued annually and entitles the 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 Railway. 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 pension due to assets or income in excess of the current limit. Eligibility is determined manually by location office staff. |
CSHC Carrier |
The 2011 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 as A — ttachment A. |
CSHC Income Test |
The CSHC income test is based on the annual adjusted taxable income. The CSHC income limit is as follows:
The above amounts are increased for each dependant child by $639.60. |
Income Test Changes |
From the 2009-10 tax year, two new income items have been added to the CSHC income test. The bulk issue of 2011 CSHCs will include an additional Important Information insert that will:
A copy of the insert is included as Attachment B. |
Sydney Office Team |
A team of Income Support staff in Sydney Office will deal with enquiries prompted by the Important Information insert and process returned forms. Any enquiries in relation to the bulk issue of 2011 CSHCs concerning the CSHC income test, or whether a CSHC holder is required to return the Income Details form, should be transferred to the Sydney team on extension 27111. CSHC Income Details forms that are received in other areas in DVA should be sent to the Sydney team by internal mail, to: Michele Dorsen, Income Support – Level 3, Sydney Office |
Valid |
The 2011 CSHC will be valid from 1 October 20 — 10 until 30 September 2011. |
Numbers |
The approximate number of cards to be produced from the bulk issue is 7,943. The breakdown for each state is: |
Numbers |
|
NSW (including ACT) |
2,628 |
VIC |
1,777 |
QLD |
1,442 |
WA |
1,124 |
SA (including NT) |
798 |
TAS |
174 |
Total |
7,943 |
Dates |
The following dates apply to the 2011 annual bulk issue: |
Task |
Date |
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P — roduction data extract |
28 August 2010 |
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Implement changes to daily template |
30 August 2010 |
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Produce reports for states |
30 August 2010 |
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Mailing house commence printing, enveloping and lodg — e — ment of cards |
30 August 2010 |
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Final lodgement date with Australia Post |
Before 11 September 2010 |
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Reports |
Summary and Non-Issued Reports for the Income Support contacts will print at the nominated printers on Monday, 30 August 2010. In addition, status reports will be provided to Income Support state contacts regarding the printing, enveloping and lodgement of cards. Status reports will also be provided to the Client Contact Performance Team and DVA VANQISH as appropriate. |
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Daily Template |
Changes to the daily template will be implemented on Friday, 27 August at 6pm. From this date a 2011 CSHC will be issued for grants and re-issues. This card can be used immediately. |
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Daily Stock |
Stock supplies for grants and re-issues have been sent to the Income Support contact officers. Please note t — he 2011 base carrier has been changed. The base carrier no longer presents text on the front page other than the headings. The text will now be printed during the daily generation of the cards. The benefit of this change is, if there are no changes to the text on the back of the carrier in 2012, the 2011 stock will not need to be discarded. The use of the new 2011 base carrier commences from Monday 30 August 2010. A stocktake of leftover base stock will be undertaken. This will assist in ordering the appropriate volumes of stock to minimise waste and the inconvenience of storage and disposal. Please advise the project co-ordinator of the numbers of left over 2010 base stock before disposal. |
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CSHC Contacts |
The CSHC Income Support contacts are as follows: |
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Location |
Contact |
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NSW/ACT |
Sue Cooney |
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QLD |
Mark Roughead |
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VIC |
Daniel Luba |
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SA/NT |
Terry Renella |
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WA |
Michelle Pauly |
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TAS |
Bryon Kelly |
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|
Please advise Sarah Paras, the project co-ordinator, and Sam Powell, of any changes to the contact officers as listed above. |
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Project Coordinator |
The project co-ordinator for the bulk issue of the 2011 CSHC is: Sarah Paras (Available Wednesday to Friday) Cards & Advices Income Support Phone: (02) 6289 6543 e-mail: sarah.paras@dva.gov.au Backup co-ordinator: Sam Powell Cards & Advices Income Support Phone: (02) 6289 6592 e-mail: sam.powell@dva.gov.au |
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John Sadeik
National Manager
Income Support
24 August 2010
ATTACHMENT A – COMMONWEALTH SENIORS HEALTH CARD CARRIER
Your Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
Your Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) is valid until 30 September 20 — 11. To remove the card, just peel it from the paper.
The CSHC is subject to an income test. You have been given your CSHC on the basis that, for Veterans' Affairs purposes, your annual adjusted taxable income is less than the following limits:
- $50,000.00 if you are single;
- $80,000.00 (combined), if you are a member of a couple; or
- $100,000.00 (combined), if you are accepted as being separated due to ill health or respite care.
The above amounts are increased for each depend — e — nt child by $639.60.
You must notify the Department if your annual adjusted taxable income is greater than the relevant limit. See the Your Obligations section on the back of this sheet for more information.
What benefits can I get with my CSHC?
Your CSHC entitles you to a quarterly payment from DVA of seniors supplement.
Your CSHC may also provide the following concessions:
- pharmaceuticals at concessional rate through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS);
- PBS Safety Net threshold at concession card holder rate;
- Medicare Safety Net threshold at concession card holder rate;
- bulk billed GP appointments may be available to you as a concession card holder (if your doctor bulk bills);
- Great Southern Rail offers concession fares to CSHC holders on The Indian Pacific, The Ghan and The Overland. Please contact Great Southern Rail on 132 147 for further details;
- additional concessions may be available from state and local government authorities (Please note these concessions are not determined by DVA). For more information contact the relevant department or authority.
By presenting this card to claim a concession you consent to your concession eligibility being confirmed by the concession provider with DVA. You must present both your CSHC and your Medicare card on each occasion to obtain pharmaceutical, PBS or Medicare concessions.
You must read and understand your obligations which are on the reverse side of this letter. If you or your partner have any questions, please contact the Department of Veterans' Affairs on 133 254 (1800 555 254 for non-metropolitan callers).
[signature]
[DC's name]
as Delegate for the Secretary
Your Obligations
You have an obligation under section 118ZI of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 to notify this Department within 14 days if any of the following events occur.
Your Income
- your annual adjusted taxable income, or the combined annual adjusted taxable income of you and your partner, exceeds the applicable limit listed on the front of this sheet.
Annual adjusted taxable income is the total of your:
- Taxable income as noted on your Australian Taxation Office Notice of Assessment; and
- Employer provided fringe benefits in addition to your salary that are over $1,000; and
- Foreign income that you do not pay tax on to the Australian Taxation Office; and
- Net loss from rental property; and
- Net loss from financial investments such as shares and managed investments; and
- Reportable superannuation contributions made by your employer as part of your salary package and personal superannuation contributions for which you can claim a tax deduction.
Your Personal Circumstances
- there is a change in your family circumstances, e.g. change in your relationship status, or a change in the number of your depend — e — nt children; or
- you and/or your partner are going overseas permanently or intend to go overseas for more than 13 weeks; or
- you and/or your partner are granted a pension, benefit or concession card from Centrelink.
You are also required under section 127 of the Veterans' Entitlement Act 1986 to inform this Department within 14 days if any events occur that may have an impact on your eligibility to receive seniors supplement. You must notify us if you and/or your partner receive a supplement payment from Centrelink.
Please be aware that there are penalties for failing to comply with this notice.
More Information
Will my CSHC have any affect on my Seniors' Card?
No. Your CSHC will not affect your state or territory Seniors' Card in any way or your entitlement to any concessions you can get with a state or territory Seniors' Card.
What if I have a Repatriation Health Card from Veterans' Affairs?
You should continue to use your Repatriation Health Card (Gold or White Card) from Veterans' Affairs.
Will I have to re-apply each year for a new CSHC?
No. While you remain eligible a new CSHC will be automatically posted to you each year.
What if I have dependants?
Your CSHC does not give concessions to dependants. If you have dependants you can ask Centrelink about a low income Health Care Card. The low income Health Care Card offers the same pharmaceutical concessions as the CSHC and also covers dependants.
For further information about your CSHC, you can contact any Veterans' Affairs Office for a fact sheet or visit our DVA website at http://www.dva.gov.au/factsheets
ATTACHMENT B – INFORMATION INSERT
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Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) - Income Test |
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Your Obligations Your new card is attached to a sheet which sets out the conditions of your eligibility for a CSHC. If your CSHC Annual adjusted taxable income for the 2009-10 tax year is greater than the relevant limit, you are obliged under section 118ZI of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 to notify the Department within 14 days of receiving your tax Notice of Assessment. If you are obliged to provide your income details to the Department, please us — e the form on the back of this sheet. See Over ►
Income Test Changes The CSHC income test has changed from the 2009-10 tax year to include two new items. You must take into account these additional income items when considering whether you are obliged to notify DVA because your income is above the relevant limit. The two new CSHC income test items are explained below.
The amount by which allowable tax deductions in respect of particular investments exceeds gross income from those investments. Financial investments include shares and managed investments. For example, a net financial investment loss is the amount by which deductible interest expenses on a loan taken out to buy shares exceeds the dividend income from those shares. Losses do not relate to changes in value of investment — s due to price movements or capital losses on the sale of investments.
The total of your:
Reportable employer superannuation contributions are contributions your employer makes on your behalf that are in addition to contributions they must make under the law such as the superannuation guarantee contribution. The most common example of reportable employer superannuation contributions is salary sacrifice contributions to a super fund. From the 2009-10 financial year your reportable employer superannuation contributions will be shown on your payment summary. Personal deductible superannuation contributions are voluntary individual contributions made to a super fund for which you can claim a deduction on the supplementary section of you — r individual tax return. Providing an Estimate of Your Income for 2010-2011 If your CSHC Annual adjusted taxable income for the 2009-10 tax year is greater than the relevant limit, but you believe that your income for the 2010-11 tax year will be less than this, you may provide the Department with an estimate of your 2010-11 income. If you choose to provide an estimate of your 2010-11 income you should tick the box in Part 3 of the form and attach a separate statement of your income for 2010-11, including the reason you expect your income to reduce. You still need to provide your actual 2009-10 income details on the form. See Over ►
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☐ Single / Widowed / Separated |
> |
Please disregard Your Partner column |
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Only return this form if your 2009-10 CSHC Annual adjusted taxable income is above the relevant limit shown on the sheet to which your new card is attached. |
DVA File Number: |
Only return this form if your 2009-10 CSHC Annual adjusted taxable income is above the relevant limit shown on the sheet to which your new card is attached. |
DVA File Number: |
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1. Your Relationship Status Please mark appropriate box |
☐ Married / De facto ☐ Married / De facto but living apart because of illness or infirmity |
} |
You must complete both columns below The couple only needs to return one form to DVA. |
☐ Single / Widowed / Separated |
> |
Please disregard Your Partner column |
|
2. Your Income Please provide details of your income for the 2009-2010 tax year. |
You |
Your Partner |
|
2.1. Taxable Income
|
$ |
$ |
|
2.2. Employer provided fringe benefits above $1,000
|
$ |
$ |
|
2.3. Foreign income you do not pay Australian income tax on
|
$ |
$ |
|
2.4. Loss from financial investments
|
$ |
$ |
|
2.5. Loss from rental property
|
$ |
$ |
|
2.6. Reportable super contributions
|
$ |
$ |
TOTAL |
$ |
+ |
$ |
COMBINED TOTAL CSHC ADJUSTED TAXABLE INCOME |
= |
$ |
3. If you are providing an income estimate for 2010-2011 |
|
☐ |
M — y/Our CSHC Adjusted taxable income for the 2010-2011 tax year will be less than the applicable limit. I/We have attached a statement of estimated Adjusted taxable income for 2010-2011. |
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Your Declaration I declare that the details about myself and my financial circumstances given on this form are complete and correct. |
Partner's Declaration I declare that the details about myself and my financial circumstances given on this form are complete and correct.
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Your full nameYour full name
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Your signatureYour signature
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