Concessions for Pensioners: Northern Territory (NT)
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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 Northern Territory (NT). 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 it, click here!
Read on to determine what concessions you're entitled to with your PCC!
Utilities
An electricity concession of up to $1,200 per household per financial year is available to members of the NT concession scheme.
Concession scheme members can also get a concession of up to $800 a year for water and $486.12 a year for sewerage.
You can apply for this concession through the forms and prompts on the Northern Territory (NT) government concessions website or call your provider and ask them to talk you through it.
Rates
Members of the NT Concession Scheme can receive a concession on local council rates and garbage services.
Your claim for concession must be made within:
Concession caps and household limits may apply.
To be eligible for the NT Concession Scheme, you must be a permanent resident of the NT and receive an eligible Centrelink or Department of Veterans Affairs benefit.
For more information about the NT Concession Scheme, how to become a member, and available concessions refer to their website or phone 1800 777 704.
Motor vehicle registration
The NT driver’s licence concession covers the cost of the driver’s licence renewal.
You can use the concession when registering one of the following vehicles:
Read more about concession cards you can use at MVR.
You must register your card with MVR.
Transport
If you have a NT Seniors Card, you are entitled to free bus travel on public buses in Darwin and Alice Springs.
Simply show the driver your NT Seniors Card before stating your destination to get free travel.
You are entitled to concession fares if you hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or Pensioner Concession Card.
You can find the fares below:
Travel on the Territory’s urban public bus network is free for the following:
Seniors, Pensioners and Carers card, Health Care Card, Companion Card, VET Card holders: entitled to unlimited bus travel for three hours on any scheduled public bus service from the time validation.
Disability taxi assistance
The following provides information on using taxis in the Northern Territory (NT) with a disability.
There are two financial assistance schemes you can apply for:
Transport Subsidy Scheme (TSS)
To access the Transport Subsidy Scheme, you must be:
You then pay the remainder with cash, credit or debit card.
There are four levels of entitlement for the TSS - A, B, C and D.
Your circumstances will determine which one you're eligible for.
For more information, check out the NT TSS and Lift Incentive Scheme (LIS) information bulletin.
If you meet the eligibility for the TSS, you may also be eligible for the Lift incentive scheme (LIS).
Lift Incentive Scheme (LIS):
To access the Lift Incentive Scheme, you must meet the same eligibility for the TSS and be reliant on a wheelchair.
For every journey you complete travelling in a wheelchair using a wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAVs) such as a taxi or minibus, the LIS will provide a $20 incentive to the driver.
This payment is in recognition of the:
The lift incentive is not transferable or redeemable for cash and is not to be used as part of the fare.
How to apply
To apply, you must follow these steps:
Step 1. Fill in the transport subsidy scheme application or call the TSS office on 08 8924 7229 to get one mailed to you.
Step 2. Complete part A.
Step 3. Attach two passport-size photographs (one must be certified).
Step 4. Provide proof of NT residency, for example:
Step 6. Submit the application and supporting documents by mail or email to:
Transport subsidy scheme office
GPO Box 2520
Darwin NT 0801
[email protected]
Free bus for Palmerston seniors and mobility impaired
There is a free service for seniors and mobility-impaired Palmerston residents.
It runs to and from the medical facilities three times per day, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
The shuttle bus is subject to availability, and 24 hours prior notice is essential.
Before you book
You must have a medical appointment at one of the following:
To be eligible, you must have one of the following:
To book, you need to provide all of the following:
Call 1300 978 995 and ask for the Palmerston Hospital bus.
Retirement Facilities (Free Transport)
Free transport is provided to and from the retirement facilities providing shopping and hospital transport for Leanyer Seniors Village, Fannie Bay and Tiwi Village Village Seniors. See the City of Darwin Seniors Directory for timetable information.
Courtesy Bus
Many RSLs offer a free courtesy bus that will collect you from your home. Speak to your local RSL for more information.
Other
Australia Post
Australia Post offers a 40% discount on postage stamps, discounts on redirecting 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 offers 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 on 1800 676 442 or visit their website.
Glasses
Members of the Northern Territory Concession Scheme and their dependents under the age of 16 can receive a concession on prescription spectacles.
You can get up to $502.20 every two years for you and your registered dependents for spectacles. The value of concession depends on the spectacle combination.
For more information about the NT Seniors Recognition Scheme, how to become a member, and available concessions refer to their website or phone 1800 777 704.
This guide details the benefits of Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) holders in the Northern Territory (NT). 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 it, click here!
Read on to determine what concessions you're entitled to with your PCC!
Image Credit: Flickr
Utilities
An electricity concession of up to $1,200 per household per financial year is available to members of the NT concession scheme.
Concession scheme members can also get a concession of up to $800 a year for water and $486.12 a year for sewerage.
You can apply for this concession through the forms and prompts on the Northern Territory (NT) government concessions website or call your provider and ask them to talk you through it.
Rates
Members of the NT Concession Scheme can receive a concession on local council rates and garbage services.
Your claim for concession must be made within:
- 6 months of you incurring the cost or
- the financial year - whichever is greater.
Concession caps and household limits may apply.
To be eligible for the NT Concession Scheme, you must be a permanent resident of the NT and receive an eligible Centrelink or Department of Veterans Affairs benefit.
For more information about the NT Concession Scheme, how to become a member, and available concessions refer to their website or phone 1800 777 704.
Motor vehicle registration
The NT driver’s licence concession covers the cost of the driver’s licence renewal.
Registering a vehicle
The motor vehicle registration concession is $154 per 12-month period, based on your concession anniversary.You can use the concession when registering one of the following vehicles:
- non-commercial motor vehicle
- motorcycle
- motorised wheelchair
- motorised trike.
What's not covered
The concession is not available for registering either of the following:- vehicles registered in a company name
- caravans
- trailers.
How to claim
To receive the concession, you must provide your membership number to a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) office when renewing either your:- vehicle registration
- NT driver licence.
Read more about concession cards you can use at MVR.
Senior's discount - over 60
If you are over the age of 60, you can also receive a further discount on your motor vehicle registration through the Seniors Discount Card. This card is issued by the Council on the Ageing NT (COTA NT).You must register your card with MVR.
Transport
If you have a NT Seniors Card, you are entitled to free bus travel on public buses in Darwin and Alice Springs.
Simply show the driver your NT Seniors Card before stating your destination to get free travel.
You are entitled to concession fares if you hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or Pensioner Concession Card.
You can find the fares below:
Travel on the Territory’s urban public bus network is free for the following:
- Veterans with a Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card
- People with a Vision Impaired Travel Pass
- A Companion Card holder’s card
Seniors, Pensioners and Carers card, Health Care Card, Companion Card, VET Card holders: entitled to unlimited bus travel for three hours on any scheduled public bus service from the time validation.
Disability taxi assistance
The following provides information on using taxis in the Northern Territory (NT) with a disability.
There are two financial assistance schemes you can apply for:
- Taxi subsidy scheme.
- Lift incentive scheme.
Transport Subsidy Scheme (TSS)
To access the Transport Subsidy Scheme, you must be:
- a Northern Territory (NT) resident
- assessed by a health professional as having a permanent or long-term disability (longer than six months)
- unable to safely use public transport due to your disability.
You then pay the remainder with cash, credit or debit card.
There are four levels of entitlement for the TSS - A, B, C and D.
Your circumstances will determine which one you're eligible for.
For more information, check out the NT TSS and Lift Incentive Scheme (LIS) information bulletin.
If you meet the eligibility for the TSS, you may also be eligible for the Lift incentive scheme (LIS).
Lift Incentive Scheme (LIS):
To access the Lift Incentive Scheme, you must meet the same eligibility for the TSS and be reliant on a wheelchair.
For every journey you complete travelling in a wheelchair using a wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAVs) such as a taxi or minibus, the LIS will provide a $20 incentive to the driver.
This payment is in recognition of the:
- additional time taken to secure the wheelchair and passenger into the vehicle
- potential travel time taken to commence the journey.
The lift incentive is not transferable or redeemable for cash and is not to be used as part of the fare.
How to apply
To apply, you must follow these steps:
Step 1. Fill in the transport subsidy scheme application or call the TSS office on 08 8924 7229 to get one mailed to you.
Step 2. Complete part A.
Step 3. Attach two passport-size photographs (one must be certified).
Step 4. Provide proof of NT residency, for example:
- proof of residency at a care facility
- electricity bill or council rates notice less than six months old
- a photocopy of both sides of a current concession or health care card showing your residential address.
Step 6. Submit the application and supporting documents by mail or email to:
Transport subsidy scheme office
GPO Box 2520
Darwin NT 0801
[email protected]
Free bus for Palmerston seniors and mobility impaired
There is a free service for seniors and mobility-impaired Palmerston residents.
It runs to and from the medical facilities three times per day, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
The shuttle bus is subject to availability, and 24 hours prior notice is essential.
Before you book
You must have a medical appointment at one of the following:
- Royal Darwin Hospital
- Darwin Private Hospital
- Palmerston Regional Hospital
- Healthy Living NT
- Farrar Medical Centre.
To be eligible, you must have one of the following:
- NT pensioner and carer concession card
- NT Seniors card
- vision impaired travel pass
- a disability preventing you from using the regular bus services.
To book, you need to provide all of the following:
- 24 hours notice
- your name
- pick up location
- drop off location
- appointment time
- appointment number, hospital registration number or your doctor's name
- if wheelchair transport is required.
Call 1300 978 995 and ask for the Palmerston Hospital bus.
Retirement Facilities (Free Transport)
Free transport is provided to and from the retirement facilities providing shopping and hospital transport for Leanyer Seniors Village, Fannie Bay and Tiwi Village Village Seniors. See the City of Darwin Seniors Directory for timetable information.
Courtesy Bus
Many RSLs offer a free courtesy bus that will collect you from your home. Speak to your local RSL for more information.
Other
Australia Post
Australia Post offers a 40% discount on postage stamps, discounts on redirecting 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 offers 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 on 1800 676 442 or visit their website.
Glasses
Members of the Northern Territory Concession Scheme and their dependents under the age of 16 can receive a concession on prescription spectacles.
You can get up to $502.20 every two years for you and your registered dependents for spectacles. The value of concession depends on the spectacle combination.
The NT Seniors Recognition Scheme
The NT Seniors Recognition Scheme provides eligible residents who are 65 years or older a $500 prepaid card each financial year to spend on:- travel and accommodation
- fuel
- phone and internet bills
- utility bills – electricity, water, sewage and gas
For more information about the NT Seniors Recognition Scheme, how to become a member, and available concessions refer to their website or phone 1800 777 704.
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