Concessions for Pensioners: Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
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Are you unsure of what you’re eligible for as an Australian senior? We’re here to help!
This guide details the benefits of Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) holders in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). With the card, you can get cheaper medicine, bulk-billed doctor visits, and help with hearing services.
If you want to know more about what a PCC is and how to avail of it, click here!
Read on to determine what concessions you're entitled to with your PCC!
Utilities
In the ACT, the utilities concession covers electricity, natural gas, water and sewerage and is worth up to $750 annually. You are eligible if you hold a Pensioner Concession Card from Centrelink or one of a number of veterans’ cards. Unfortunately, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders are not eligible.
Eligible residents of ACT caravan parks and retirement villages with embedded electricity networks can also get the concession, but it’s paid directly instead of being discounted on your bill. To claim this concession, contact your energy provider. You can find a list of provider contact details in this link.
If you’re a caravan park or retirement village resident, you’ll need to contact the ACT Revenue Office instead. Details are on the Revenue ACT website, along with a list of energy providers, contact details, sign-up forms and more information.
Home Energy Support: Rebates for Homeowners
Eligible Concession card holder homeowners can apply for rebates of up to $5,000 towards purchasing and installing rooftop solar systems, hot water heat pumps, reverse cycle heating and cooling systems, and electric stovetops. Find out more here.
Rates
The ACT pensioner rates rebate is available to homeowners in the ACT who receive a Commonwealth Government pension with entitlement to a Pensioner Concession Card, a Department of Veterans' Affairs Pension Card, or a Department of Veterans' Affairs Veteran Gold Card.
The pensioner rates rebate only applies to your principal place of residence.
From 2021-22, the rebate is a 50% reduction in your rates capped at $750, and there is also a rebate of $98 on the Fire and Emergency Services Levy.
To apply for a pensioner concession, you must complete an online application form.
You will need:
Motor vehicle registration
Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) & Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Pension Concession Card
Holders of a current card are entitled to a 100% discount on registration. This means that you do not pay for the registration component but must pay the full fee for Motor Accident Injuries insurance, road rescue fee, road safety contribution, lifetime care and support levy and short-term registration surcharge if applicable.
You must present a current and valid Pensioner Concession Card or Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Pension Concession Card displaying an ACT residential address.
If this is your first time claiming a concession, you will need to complete a Concession validation consent form (PDF 231.3 KB)
The concession can only be provided to the cardholder. A concession can only be applied to one light vehicle registration in the cardholder's name. This means you must remove the concession from one vehicle before placing it on another, e.g. when purchasing a new vehicle.
ACT Seniors Card
Holders of ACT Seniors Cards are entitled to a 10% discount on registration.
This means that you pay 10% less on the cost of the registration component but must pay the full fee for Motor Accident Injuries insurance, road rescue fee, road safety contribution and short-term registration surcharge if applicable.
Seniors with gas or electric-powered vehicles are entitled to a 28% discount on registration.
If the registered vehicle is gas or electric powered, this means that you pay 28% less on the cost of the registration component but must pay the full fee for Motor Accident Injuries insurance, road rescue fee, road safety contribution and short-term registration surcharge if applicable.
For all gas-powered vehicles, you must present a passed inspection report from an authorised gas fitter upon establishment of a used vehicle and renewal of registration for all vehicles (if the registration period exceeds 12 months from the date of the last gas inspection).
All electric-powered vehicles must be inspected at the Access Canberra Motor Vehicle Inspection Station at Hume before establishing initial registration. An electric-powered concession is not available on hybrid vehicles.
Public transport
Eligible seniors (ACT residents aged over 70) and concession MyWay card holders travel for free between 9am and 4.30pm and after 6pm on weekdays and all day Saturday, Sunday and on public holidays.
Remember to ensure your MyWay card has a positive balance and to tap on and tap off correctly to access free travel during off-peak times.
Both Pensioner Concession Card and Commonwealth Health Care Card Holders are eligible.
You must apply for a Concession MyWay card to receive this benefit.
You will need to present your concession card to a MyWay Recharge Agent. You must present your card to an agent each time your concession is renewed to maintain your concession fare entitlement.
Pensioner Travel Vouchers
If you hold an NSW or ACT Pensioner Concession Card or an NSW War Widow/er transport concession card, you are entitled to four Pensioner Travel Vouchers each calendar year for travel within regional NSW.
ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme
This scheme assists people who have a severe disability that prevents them from using public transport for a minimum period of 6 months. The scheme provides a subsidy towards the cost of taxi transport. For more information, contact the ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme at (02) 6207 0028 (Selection Option 5, Sub Option 1), or visit their website.
Courtesy Bus
Many RSLs offer a free courtesy bus to collect you from home. Speak to your local RSL for more information.
Other
ACT Spectacles Subsidy Scheme
ACT residents who hold a PCC are eligible for a subsidy of up to $200 once every two years under the ACT Spectacles Subsidy Scheme. Dependants of card holders are also entitled to assistance under the scheme if their name appears on the card. For more information, contact the ACT Revenue Office on 02 6207 0028 - select option 5, ACT Community Assistance Scheme or visit their website.
Australia Post
Australia Post offers a 40% discount on postage stamps, discounts on re-directing mail and free document certification for eligible concession card holders..
You can apply if you hold any of the following Australian Federal Government concession cards:
Telstra
Telstra offer a number of concessions to Pensioner Concession Card holders, including a discount on new telephone service connection fee and a reduction in your home line plan costs. For more information, contact Telstra at 1800 676 442 or visit their website.
This guide details the benefits of Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) holders in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). With the card, you can get cheaper medicine, bulk-billed doctor visits, and help with hearing services.
If you want to know more about what a PCC is and how to avail of it, click here!
Read on to determine what concessions you're entitled to with your PCC!
Image Credit: Unsplash
Utilities
In the ACT, the utilities concession covers electricity, natural gas, water and sewerage and is worth up to $750 annually. You are eligible if you hold a Pensioner Concession Card from Centrelink or one of a number of veterans’ cards. Unfortunately, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders are not eligible.
Eligible residents of ACT caravan parks and retirement villages with embedded electricity networks can also get the concession, but it’s paid directly instead of being discounted on your bill. To claim this concession, contact your energy provider. You can find a list of provider contact details in this link.
If you’re a caravan park or retirement village resident, you’ll need to contact the ACT Revenue Office instead. Details are on the Revenue ACT website, along with a list of energy providers, contact details, sign-up forms and more information.
Home Energy Support: Rebates for Homeowners
Eligible Concession card holder homeowners can apply for rebates of up to $5,000 towards purchasing and installing rooftop solar systems, hot water heat pumps, reverse cycle heating and cooling systems, and electric stovetops. Find out more here.
Rates
The ACT pensioner rates rebate is available to homeowners in the ACT who receive a Commonwealth Government pension with entitlement to a Pensioner Concession Card, a Department of Veterans' Affairs Pension Card, or a Department of Veterans' Affairs Veteran Gold Card.
The pensioner rates rebate only applies to your principal place of residence.
From 2021-22, the rebate is a 50% reduction in your rates capped at $750, and there is also a rebate of $98 on the Fire and Emergency Services Levy.
To apply for a pensioner concession, you must complete an online application form.
You will need:
- an ACT Digital account which has a proven identity. If you don't have an ACT Digital Account you will be able to create one as part of the application process.
- your rates account number which appears on your rates notice, and
- your Pensioner Concession Card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs Concession Card details
Motor vehicle registration
Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) & Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Pension Concession Card
Holders of a current card are entitled to a 100% discount on registration. This means that you do not pay for the registration component but must pay the full fee for Motor Accident Injuries insurance, road rescue fee, road safety contribution, lifetime care and support levy and short-term registration surcharge if applicable.
You must present a current and valid Pensioner Concession Card or Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Pension Concession Card displaying an ACT residential address.
If this is your first time claiming a concession, you will need to complete a Concession validation consent form (PDF 231.3 KB)
The concession can only be provided to the cardholder. A concession can only be applied to one light vehicle registration in the cardholder's name. This means you must remove the concession from one vehicle before placing it on another, e.g. when purchasing a new vehicle.
ACT Seniors Card
Holders of ACT Seniors Cards are entitled to a 10% discount on registration.
This means that you pay 10% less on the cost of the registration component but must pay the full fee for Motor Accident Injuries insurance, road rescue fee, road safety contribution and short-term registration surcharge if applicable.
Seniors with gas or electric-powered vehicles are entitled to a 28% discount on registration.
If the registered vehicle is gas or electric powered, this means that you pay 28% less on the cost of the registration component but must pay the full fee for Motor Accident Injuries insurance, road rescue fee, road safety contribution and short-term registration surcharge if applicable.
For all gas-powered vehicles, you must present a passed inspection report from an authorised gas fitter upon establishment of a used vehicle and renewal of registration for all vehicles (if the registration period exceeds 12 months from the date of the last gas inspection).
All electric-powered vehicles must be inspected at the Access Canberra Motor Vehicle Inspection Station at Hume before establishing initial registration. An electric-powered concession is not available on hybrid vehicles.
Public transport
Eligible seniors (ACT residents aged over 70) and concession MyWay card holders travel for free between 9am and 4.30pm and after 6pm on weekdays and all day Saturday, Sunday and on public holidays.
Remember to ensure your MyWay card has a positive balance and to tap on and tap off correctly to access free travel during off-peak times.
Both Pensioner Concession Card and Commonwealth Health Care Card Holders are eligible.
You must apply for a Concession MyWay card to receive this benefit.
You will need to present your concession card to a MyWay Recharge Agent. You must present your card to an agent each time your concession is renewed to maintain your concession fare entitlement.
Pensioner Travel Vouchers
If you hold an NSW or ACT Pensioner Concession Card or an NSW War Widow/er transport concession card, you are entitled to four Pensioner Travel Vouchers each calendar year for travel within regional NSW.
ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme
This scheme assists people who have a severe disability that prevents them from using public transport for a minimum period of 6 months. The scheme provides a subsidy towards the cost of taxi transport. For more information, contact the ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme at (02) 6207 0028 (Selection Option 5, Sub Option 1), or visit their website.
Courtesy Bus
Many RSLs offer a free courtesy bus to collect you from home. Speak to your local RSL for more information.
Other
ACT Spectacles Subsidy Scheme
ACT residents who hold a PCC are eligible for a subsidy of up to $200 once every two years under the ACT Spectacles Subsidy Scheme. Dependants of card holders are also entitled to assistance under the scheme if their name appears on the card. For more information, contact the ACT Revenue Office on 02 6207 0028 - select option 5, ACT Community Assistance Scheme or visit their website.
Australia Post
Australia Post offers a 40% discount on postage stamps, discounts on re-directing mail and free document certification for eligible concession card holders..
You can apply if you hold any of the following Australian Federal Government concession cards:
- Pensioner Concession Card
- Health Care Card
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
- Department of Veterans' Affairs Card
- Veterans' Repatriation Health Card
Telstra
Telstra offer a number of concessions to Pensioner Concession Card holders, including a discount on new telephone service connection fee and a reduction in your home line plan costs. For more information, contact Telstra at 1800 676 442 or visit their website.
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