Age Pension Means Test changes July 2019 by Christine Hopper Age Pension means test allowance increase July 2019 The Pension Allowances are the starting points for the Income Test and Assets Test that can reduce the amount of DSP or Age Pension actually payable. Pension Allowance amounts increased slightly on 1 July 2019. This means Read more about Age Pension Means Test changes July 2019[…]
Disability Support and Age Pension Increases September 2018 By Christine Hopper The Commonwealth has granted Centrelink Disability Support and Age Pension increases September 2018. DVA Pension and Income Support Supplement also increase from 20 September 2018. The full rates of income support Pension benefits increased by 1.0%. The Pension related daily care fees for Commonwealth Read more about Disability Support and Age Pension Increases September 2018[…]
Claiming Blind Pension by Christine Hopper Claiming the Blind Pension involves proving both that you are ‘blind’ and that you are an Australian resident eligible for Centrelink Income Support Benefits. The advantage of claiming the Blind Pension is that no financial means testing applies to the Blind Pension. The value of your assets and those Read more about Claiming Blind Pension[…]
Financial year end gifting By Christine Hopper Gifting can be a pleasure for both the donor and the gift recipient. Gifts generally reduce the asset base of the donor. Some gifts also reduce the ‘assets’ of a Centrelink or DVA Pensioner. The ATO allows for gifts to some charitable causes to be deducted from your Read more about Financial year end gifting[…]
Injury Compensation Payments impact Centrelink Benefits by Christine Hopper Any Injury Compensation Payments you receive could impact your Centrelink Benefits. Centrelink, DVA and Medicare can require you to pay back their costs as part of your personal injury claim. The Compensation Recovery Team at Centrelink can help calculate the actual impact on your personal situation. Read more about Injury Compensation Payments impact Centrelink Benefits[…]
Aged Care Asset Assessment Home Exemption by Christine Hopper Multi-generational households often ask if the Aged Care Asset Assessment has a home exemption. Families may be aware that the amount of Accommodation Bond, or Accommodation Charge, required of a permanent resident of Commonwealth regulated aged care facility depends on the amount of the new resident’s Read more about Aged Care Asset Assessment Home Exemption[…]
Centrelink Pensioners Personal Debt By Christine Hopper At Centrelink, your personal debt is not deducted from your financial assets for determining your means tested income support benefits. For Centrelink Age Pensioners personal debt is ignored for the Asset Test. The deemed financial income for the Income Test is based on the financial assets that you Read more about Centrelink Pensioners Personal Debt[…]
Centrelink Benefits for Seniors Absent from Australia by Christine Hopper Centrelink administers the Social Security benefit arrangements for Australian residents in constrained financial circumstances. Centrelink benefits continue for seniors absent from Australia temporarily but with some exceptions. Therefore you need to check your Centrelink entitlements as part of your travel plans. If you are moving Read more about Centrelink Benefits for Seniors Absent from Australia[…]
If I retire now could I get any Centrelink early retirement benefits? by Christine Hopper Your eligibility for Centrelink early retirement benefits depends on your age, your personal circumstances and your financial resources and other assets. Remember Centrelink administers the Social Security Act which is about providing support to long term Australian residents in constrained Read more about Centrelink early retirement benefits[…]
Centrelink Gifting by Christine Hopper At Centrelink gifting is transferring assets to another person or entity for less than the market value. Centrelink expects its Age Pensioner and DSP customers to report any substantial gifts of money or assets. What is a gift at Centrelink? The simple example of Centrelink gifting is the fifty dollar Read more about Centrelink Gifting[…]
Personal Circumstances at Centrelink or DVA by Christine Hopper The amounts of income support benefits available from Centrelink or DVA, depend on your Personal Circumstances at Centrelink or DVA. So what are “Personal Circumstances” at Centrelink and DVA? Your Personal Circumstances at Centrelink, or DVA, is based on your relationship with the people that you live Read more about Personal Circumstances at Centrelink or DVA[…]
Disability Support Pension by Christine Hopper Centrelink pay the Disability Support Pension to Australian residents whose disabilities prevent them from earning. Eligibility for Disability Support Pension The Disability Support Pension is available to Australian residents who have attained age 16 years but not their Age Pension Age. A Disability Support Pensioner normally transfers to the Age Read more about Disability Support Pension[…]
Pensioner Rent Assistance Pensioner Rent Assistance is available to Centrelink Age and Disability Support Pensioners. DVA pays Rent Assistance to eligible Service Pensioners. DVA also pays Rent Assistance to those veteran Disability Pensioners and War Widow Pensioners who are also recipients of the Income Support Supplement. To be eligible for Pensioner Rent Assistance you must Read more about Pensioner Rent Assistance[…]
Homeowner at Centrelink and DVA By Christine Hopper Avid readers of Commonwealth Pension means testing charts notice that the Asset Test Allowances have different amounts for ‘homeowners’ and ‘non-homeowners’. So who is a homeowner at Centrelink and DVA? Homeowner Suburban Examples Mary still owns the family home situated well inside a standard block in suburbia. Read more about Homeowner at Centrelink and DVA[…]
Supported Residential Service or SRS Private Aged Care Homes By Christine Hopper What is Supported Residential Service or SRS? A Supported Residential Service or SRS, is like a guest house or private hotel, offering short or long term accommodation, all meals in a dining room and communal activities together with some personal support. Each Supported Residential Service or Read more about Supported Residential Service or SRS[…]
Full Centrelink Pension for legally blind residents By Christine Hopper Centrelink pay the full Age or Disability Support Pension to residents who are ‘legally blind’. So who is legally blind and not just vision impaired? When we hear that someone is ‘blind’ we sometimes assume that the person has no vision. Sadly some people have Read more about Full Centrelink Pension for legally blind residents[…]
Age Pensions and Retirement Living Costs Who is eligible for the Pension? The Commonwealth provides a basic income to Australian residents who are considered unable to work full time on account of age or disability. The Age Pension for men aged 65 years and women aged 64 years and 6 months, and its financial equivalent: Read more about Age Pensions and Retirement Living Costs[…]