Latest news with #JustinBott
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$265 Medicare cash boost waiting to be claimed by nearly one million Aussies
Hundreds of thousands of Aussies are being urged to check if they are eligible for a cash boost from the government. There is more than $260 million in Medicare refunds sitting untouched and waiting to be claimed. The average payout is about $265 per person, but Services Australia said there were a few people who were owed more than $10,000 in cash. The oversight is due to people's bank details not being up to date with Medicare, which could happen if you've changed banks or closed an account. There are about 960,000 people who are owed cash, including $81 million owed in New South Wales, $64 million in Victoria, $51 million in Queensland, $30 million in Western Australia and $19 million in South Australia. RELATED Little-known Centrelink benefit gets Aussie single mum $800 cash boost $1,831 Centrelink payment change coming within weeks: 'You'll get more' ATO warning ahead of $1,288 cost-of-living cash boost: 'Shooting yourself in the foot' Services Australia community information officer Justin Bott has urged people to check whether they are owed money. 'I really encourage everybody to just check, look at their Medicare online account though myGov or the myGov app and make sure those bank details are there,' he told 9News. 'It will only take a couple of minutes.' You'll need to sign into myGov, select the 'Task and notifications' menu, select 'Update your bank details', enter your bank details and then select 'Save bank details'. Once you've updated your bank details, the update will automatically register with Medicare. If you are owed money, it will show up in your account within three days. 'It might not be you, but maybe it's your child, your grandchild that has that money owing,' Bott said. 'Get them to check as well because what a great present to find that money being paid to them.' While you are checking for lost cash, it can also be worth seeing if you have any unclaimed money from the state or federal government. That could include uncashed cheques, refunds, dividends, bill overpayments, superannuation or other money owed to you. It could have gotten lost if you've moved address, changed your name, lost important documents or forgotten about the money. Here's a list of where to check if you have unclaimed money across the country. Federal: search 'ASIC unclaimed money' ACT: Public Trustee and Guardian NSW: Revenue NSW NT: Northern Territory Treasury Qld: Public Trustee of Queensland SA: South Australian Department of Treasury and Finance TAS: Tasmanian Department of Treasury and Finance VIC: State Revenue Office of Victoria WA: WA Department of Treasury
9 News
27-05-2025
- Health
- 9 News
How to claim your slice of $260 million in unpaid Medicare refunds
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here More than a quarter of a billion dollars in Medicare refunds are sitting untouched, ready for Australians to claim. Fortunately, there's an easy fix for the cash to land back in your pocket much sooner than you might think. If you've ever been to a GP or specialist's clinic and used your Medicare card you could be owed money from the government. Nationally, there's more than $260 million owed to 960,000 patients. More than a quarter of a billion dollars in Medicare refunds are sitting untouched, ready for Australians to claim. (9News) Even on a state-by-state basis, the numbers are staggering, with $81 million owed in NSW, $64 million to Victorians, $51 million to Queenslanders, $30 million in Western Australia and $19 million in South Australia. "You go to the doctor, you hand over your card and then you might not check what happens next," Services Australia community information officer Justin Bott said. Failing to follow-up is what could be costing patients refunds they're entitled to. "The average is about $265 or so … there are a few people that are over $10,000," Bott said. The oversight happens when you don't make sure Medicare has your most up-to-date bank details, for instance when you've changed banks or closed an account. Australians aged 18 to 25 are the biggest group missing out so it pays to check. Services Australia community information officer Justin Bott is urging people to update their bank details with Medicare. (9News) "It's definitely not something I would think about when I'm rushing around," student Rosie Gallagher said. All it takes is logging in to MyGov and heading to your Medicare account to check everything is correct. Once you've changed your bank details, the update will register with Medicare automatically and if you're owed money, the cash should show up in your account within three days. "It might not be you, but maybe it's your child, your grandchild that has that money owing, get them to check as well, because again, what a great present to find that money being paid to them," Bott said. health Health Services hip pocket Australia national doctors medical CONTACT US Auto news: Google Gemini AI assistant coming to new cars in 2025.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Centrelink $4,000 boost Aussies can get now: ‘Keep more of your payment'
Aussies claiming the Age Pension can get a 'one-off boost' of $4,000 through the Work Bonus scheme. The Work Bonus allows older Aussies to earn more income from working without it reducing their Centrelink payments, with Aussies able to start work 'straight away' if they want. Services Australia has issued a reminder about the scheme and how it could help you 'keep more of your payment'. You would be eligible if you're over the age of 67 and collecting the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension or Carer Payment. 'The Work Bonus automatically exempts $300 per fortnight you earn from work. Every fortnight you aren't working or have been paid less than $300 from work, you are contributing to your Work Bonus balance,' Services Australia community services officer Justin Bott explained. 'This balance can grow until it reaches a maximum of $11,800.' RELATED $3,300 Centrelink change that would leave thousands of pensioners worse off: 'Pile on more pain' Tax cuts, HECS debts, Medicare boost: All the major cost-of-living relief coming for millions of Aussies Intimidating salary now needed to afford a home in Australia If you are claiming an eligible pension for the first time, you will automatically start with a Work Bonus balance of $4,000. 'That means you could start work straight away if you wanted, and earn over $4,000 in your pocket before you see any change to your pension rate,' Bott said. 'If you earn more than $300 from work in a single fortnight, any extra income is offset against your Work Bonus Balance. Your pension payment doesn't change until your work bonus balance is reduced to $0.' The Work Bonus isn't money that you can draw on to use for other things. Instead, you use it to keep more of your pension if you are working. Bott gave the example of someone with a Work Bonus balance of $7,900 who returned to work after six months off. He was paid $750 in eligible income in his first fortnight. Services Australia would deduct the $300 fortnightly Work Bonus and then reduce the remaining $450 of income using his Work Bonus balance. This would reduce his Work Bonus balance to $7,450 and his pension payment would not be impacted. Assuming he continued working and being paid $750 a fortnight, it would take around 16 fortnights before his pension was affected by his wages. You don't need to apply for the Work Bonus. You just have to let Centrelink know of any income you receive from work. The Work Bonus is on top of the pension income test free area. Single pensioners can currently earn up to $212 a fortnight of income from any source and still be eligible for the full pension, couples can receive up to $372 a fortnight. The Work Bonus, which only applies to income from paid employment, adds an extra $300 per fortnight. That means singles can earn a combined income of $512 a fortnight and couples $672 a fortnight without it affecting their pension.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Centrelink warning over common mistake that could impact your payments: 'We don't'
Centrelink recipients are being warned to update Services Australia about any changes that could impact their payment. If they don't, they could risk being paid too much and having to repay this. Services Australia community information officer Justin Bott said there was a 'common misunderstanding' that Services Australia could see people's bank balances. Because of this, many people don't think they need to tell the government agency about changes to their circumstances and assume they already know. 'We don't have the ability to see these things. It's up to you to let us know about changes that could affect your payment. You need to let us know of changes to your circumstances within 14 days,' Bott said. RELATED Major Centrelink changes coming for millions in March Aussie exposes frustrating $7,691 singles 'tax' hitting millions: 'It's tough' Retirement offer for Australians from idyllic island with no tax offers: 'Enjoy' 'If you don't tell us, we may pay you more money than you're entitled to and you will have to pay the money back.' It's important to tell Services Australia about any changes if you receive a Centrelink payment, plan to claim a payment, or owe them need to tell Services Australia if any of you or your partner's personal circumstances change as this could affect your payments. Bott recommended looking at the letters you receive from Services Australia, either online or in your letterbox, which will outline what you need to notify them about. 'You need to let us know about a change to your address, going overseas, changes to your relationship status, or stopping and starting work,' Bott said. 'If you're working, it's really important you report what you are paid each entitlement period.' You also need to advise Services Australia about changes to your financial assets, including your bank account and shares. While you don't need to tell them every time your bank balance changes, you do need to tell them if the balance of your financial assets increases by more than $2,000, or if the value of other types of assets goes up by $1,000. If you are receiving a part payment, any reductions in your asset values can also be worth telling Services Australia about. Bott said you don't have to tell them about any increases in the market value of your shares, as this is automatically updated on March 20 and September 20. However, you need to tell them if the number of shares you own changes. Bott said it was 'easy' to tell Centrelink about changes to your circumstances. 'The best way is using one of the self-service options, which are your Centrelink online account through myGov or by calling the Centrelink phone self-service,' he said. Services Australia has outlined more details about the changes you need to tell it about in to access your portfolio
