Utilities Allowance, Seniors Concession Allowance and Telephone Allowance from 20 March 2008
From Thursday 20 March 2008:
Utilities Allowance:
- is a supplementary allowance to help certain income support recipients with utilities bills, such as electricity and gas;
- is paid to income support recipients over age pension age;
- is paid to recipients of Mature Age Allowance, Widow Allowance, Partner Allowance, Bereavement Allowance, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, Wife Pension and Widow B Pension regardless of age;
- is $500 a year for singles or $250 a year for each eligible member of a couple;
- is paid in quarterly instalments in March, June, September and December.
Seniors Concession Allowance:
- is a supplementary allowance to help certain seniors with household costs;
- is paid to Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders;
- is $500 a year for each card holder;
- is paid in quarterly instalments in March, June, September and December.
Telephone Allowance:
- is a supplementary allowance to help maintain a home phone;
- is available to pensioners, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders and certain income support recipients, who are telephone subscribers;
- standard rate is $88 a year for singles or $44 a year for each eligible member of a couple;
- is paid in quarterly instalments in March, July, September and January.
Higher rate of Telephone Allowance (for home internet connection):
- is available to certain Telephone Allowance recipients to help maintain a home internet service;
- is available to recipients of Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment; Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders or Department of Veterans' Affairs pensioners; and certain income support recipients who are of age pension age; who have a home internet connection;
- higher rate is $132 a year for singles or $66 a year for each eligible member of a couple;
- is paid in quarterly instalments in March, July, September and January.
To find out more about your eligibility for these payments:
- visit your nearest Centrelink Office
- telephone 13 2300, or
- visit the Centrelink website.