Latest news with #ServicesNSW
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Aussies sitting on $130m bonanza
NSW motorists are sitting on a $130m bonanza and have just over two weeks to claim it back in toll relief. The NSW government last year introduced a $60-a-week cap on tolls and under the scheme motorists can claim back up to $340 every week per vehicle. Since the cost-of-living measure was introduced by the Minns government, $139m has been claimed back by motorists, mostly in Sydney's western suburbs. And the government said that a further $130m was sitting in its coffers unclaimed. Sunday June 30 marks the final day that motorists can claim back excess tolls which were accrued in 2024. According to government numbers, Blacktown, Baulkham Hills and Auburn are the suburbs hit hardest by tolls, with $2m in relief claimed in all three suburbs since the introduction of the scheme. Over $1m in toll relief has been claimed in a further 10 suburbs - Merrylands, Marsden Park, Castle Hill, Quakers Hill, Lakemba, Kellyville, Bankstown, Greystanes, West Pennant Hills and Punchbowl. 'The $60 toll cap is a critical cost-of-living support and I am pleased to see it has been laser-like in getting to where it is needed most, suburbs like Blacktown, Baulkham Hills, Marsden Park and Bankstown,' Transport minister John Graham said. 'These are the parts of western Sydney where paying a toll is not a choice and in many cases relying on public transport is not a viable choice either.' Toll relief can be claimed via the Services NSW website. Those needing extra assistance can visit a Service NSW centre or call 13 77 88.
Perth Now
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Aussies sitting on $130m bonanza
NSW motorists are sitting on a $130m bonanza and have just over two weeks to claim it back in toll relief. The NSW government last year introduced a $60-a-week cap on tolls and under the scheme motorists can claim back up to $340 every week per vehicle. Since the cost-of-living measure was introduced by the Minns government, $139m has been claimed back by motorists, mostly in Sydney's western suburbs. And the government said that a further $130m was sitting in its coffers unclaimed. Sunday June 30 marks the final day that motorists can claim back excess tolls which were accrued in 2024. According to government numbers, Blacktown, Baulkham Hills and Auburn are the suburbs hit hardest by tolls, with $2m in relief claimed in all three suburbs since the introduction of the scheme. Over $130m worth of unclaimed toll relief is sitting in NSW government coffers. NewsWire/Monique Harmer. Credit: News Corp Australia Over $1m in toll relief has been claimed in a further 10 suburbs - Merrylands, Marsden Park, Castle Hill, Quakers Hill, Lakemba, Kellyville, Bankstown, Greystanes, West Pennant Hills and Punchbowl. 'The $60 toll cap is a critical cost-of-living support and I am pleased to see it has been laser-like in getting to where it is needed most, suburbs like Blacktown, Baulkham Hills, Marsden Park and Bankstown,' Transport minister John Graham said. 'These are the parts of western Sydney where paying a toll is not a choice and in many cases relying on public transport is not a viable choice either.' Toll relief can be claimed via the Services NSW website. Those needing extra assistance can visit a Service NSW centre or call 13 77 88.
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Climate
- The Advertiser
'Slap in the face': Hunter farmers say government flood grants won't cover much
A month ago, turf farmers Gavin and Emma Hill watched their entire livelihood suffocate under blankets of water. As the clean-up rolls on after May's heavy floods, the couple are unsure how to recoup their financial losses after what they say is inadequate government support. "You feel kind of lost, you just get up in the morning, look out the window, and think where to start," Mr Hill said. "It was probably going to be our best year yet, but it won't be after this." The owners of Hunter Turf Co on McKimms Road, Largs, said about 98 per cent of their land was covered in water, as deep as two metres at the flooding's peak. An estimated $980,000 worth of turf crops were damaged in the flooding not including their lucerne crop, they said. Before the rains hit, the owners had spent roughly $10,000 on fertiliser, all of which will need to be bought again to bring the farm back to life. "We won't be looking at getting back on or doing anything for at least three months, and then the replanting will start," Mr Hill said. "The mental health side of things, let alone the financial side, is a big burden." The Hills were approved for the one-off $1000 recovery payment from Services Australia but they were not eligible for the Services NSW $180 individual hardship grants. While the individual hardship grant would be a drop in the bucket for them, they were hurt that the state government did not recognise their property as flood-affected. "It's embarrassing, it is horrendous," Ms Hill said. They planned on applying for the $25,000 government grant for primary producers, but they said even then, it just wouldn't be enough. "The $25,000 grant won't cover the loss of our crops," Mr Hill said. "We lost well and truly over that amount in product, in the scheme of things, it isn't going to cover much." The turf farmers are not the only Hunter residents at a loss of how to rebuild their water-logged business. Upper Hunter Nationals member Dave Layzell said only 10 out of the 30 small communities in the 2320 postcode were listed as eligible for the individual hardship grant, despite being flood-affected. With NSW National leader Dugald Saunders, Mr Layzell met with a group of landholders and farmers from Bolwarra, Bolwarra Heights and Largs who were left empty-handed on Tuesday, June 10. "There has been a major issue with how the government defines where has been flooded," Mr Layzell said. "It is not the case of doing it based on some sort of postcode lottery, choosing one area, and leaving out others," he said. The Upper Hunter member said he had sent emails to the government with areas he believed had missed out but he felt that they hadn't been transparent. "I have areas near Gloucester that are still isolated and yet the government won't recognise the fact they were flood-affected," he said. Mr Saunders said he believed some Bolwarra residents were not qualified for any of the state or federal government grants on offer. "To make a phone call and be told that you don't qualify and weren't in the flood is a slap in the face," he said. "We have heard from residents here who have had floodwaters through the house, and boats going past the kitchen windows." Labor Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain said the federal and state government were working closely to help communities in flood recovery. She said the NSW government was working to collect and assess information on the impact on primary producers. "Once these assessments are complete, the NSW government will work with the industry and our government to identify both the sector impacts from disaster events as well as the identifying the required recovery needs to support primary producers," she said. A spokesperson for NSW Minister for Recovery and Small Business Janelle Saffin said eligibility for assistance was "based on which suburbs were most impacted". "People outside the designated areas are not excluded from support," the spokesperson said. "Those 142 eligible suburbs and localities were identified using data from the SES's impact assessments and areas that were subject to evaucation orders." Hunter Valley Sunflowers owners Glen and Kirsten Slade said their property had been covered in six feet of water and it could cost $150,000 to get the Largs farm back up and running. "The $25,000 won't even cover the diesel, it won't cover seed fertiliser to get the crops back," Mr Slade said. The couple planned on trying to apply for the $25,000 grant after being rejected from the Disaster Recovery Allowance, a 13-week income support payment. "I was told I had to apply for JobSeeker, I don't need a job, I have one, it is very frustrating," Ms Slade said. "The mental health toll on farmers is already high, and when we hear no all the time, it is a struggle," she said. A month ago, turf farmers Gavin and Emma Hill watched their entire livelihood suffocate under blankets of water. As the clean-up rolls on after May's heavy floods, the couple are unsure how to recoup their financial losses after what they say is inadequate government support. "You feel kind of lost, you just get up in the morning, look out the window, and think where to start," Mr Hill said. "It was probably going to be our best year yet, but it won't be after this." The owners of Hunter Turf Co on McKimms Road, Largs, said about 98 per cent of their land was covered in water, as deep as two metres at the flooding's peak. An estimated $980,000 worth of turf crops were damaged in the flooding not including their lucerne crop, they said. Before the rains hit, the owners had spent roughly $10,000 on fertiliser, all of which will need to be bought again to bring the farm back to life. "We won't be looking at getting back on or doing anything for at least three months, and then the replanting will start," Mr Hill said. "The mental health side of things, let alone the financial side, is a big burden." The Hills were approved for the one-off $1000 recovery payment from Services Australia but they were not eligible for the Services NSW $180 individual hardship grants. While the individual hardship grant would be a drop in the bucket for them, they were hurt that the state government did not recognise their property as flood-affected. "It's embarrassing, it is horrendous," Ms Hill said. They planned on applying for the $25,000 government grant for primary producers, but they said even then, it just wouldn't be enough. "The $25,000 grant won't cover the loss of our crops," Mr Hill said. "We lost well and truly over that amount in product, in the scheme of things, it isn't going to cover much." The turf farmers are not the only Hunter residents at a loss of how to rebuild their water-logged business. Upper Hunter Nationals member Dave Layzell said only 10 out of the 30 small communities in the 2320 postcode were listed as eligible for the individual hardship grant, despite being flood-affected. With NSW National leader Dugald Saunders, Mr Layzell met with a group of landholders and farmers from Bolwarra, Bolwarra Heights and Largs who were left empty-handed on Tuesday, June 10. "There has been a major issue with how the government defines where has been flooded," Mr Layzell said. "It is not the case of doing it based on some sort of postcode lottery, choosing one area, and leaving out others," he said. The Upper Hunter member said he had sent emails to the government with areas he believed had missed out but he felt that they hadn't been transparent. "I have areas near Gloucester that are still isolated and yet the government won't recognise the fact they were flood-affected," he said. Mr Saunders said he believed some Bolwarra residents were not qualified for any of the state or federal government grants on offer. "To make a phone call and be told that you don't qualify and weren't in the flood is a slap in the face," he said. "We have heard from residents here who have had floodwaters through the house, and boats going past the kitchen windows." Labor Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain said the federal and state government were working closely to help communities in flood recovery. She said the NSW government was working to collect and assess information on the impact on primary producers. "Once these assessments are complete, the NSW government will work with the industry and our government to identify both the sector impacts from disaster events as well as the identifying the required recovery needs to support primary producers," she said. A spokesperson for NSW Minister for Recovery and Small Business Janelle Saffin said eligibility for assistance was "based on which suburbs were most impacted". "People outside the designated areas are not excluded from support," the spokesperson said. "Those 142 eligible suburbs and localities were identified using data from the SES's impact assessments and areas that were subject to evaucation orders." Hunter Valley Sunflowers owners Glen and Kirsten Slade said their property had been covered in six feet of water and it could cost $150,000 to get the Largs farm back up and running. "The $25,000 won't even cover the diesel, it won't cover seed fertiliser to get the crops back," Mr Slade said. The couple planned on trying to apply for the $25,000 grant after being rejected from the Disaster Recovery Allowance, a 13-week income support payment. "I was told I had to apply for JobSeeker, I don't need a job, I have one, it is very frustrating," Ms Slade said. "The mental health toll on farmers is already high, and when we hear no all the time, it is a struggle," she said. A month ago, turf farmers Gavin and Emma Hill watched their entire livelihood suffocate under blankets of water. As the clean-up rolls on after May's heavy floods, the couple are unsure how to recoup their financial losses after what they say is inadequate government support. "You feel kind of lost, you just get up in the morning, look out the window, and think where to start," Mr Hill said. "It was probably going to be our best year yet, but it won't be after this." The owners of Hunter Turf Co on McKimms Road, Largs, said about 98 per cent of their land was covered in water, as deep as two metres at the flooding's peak. An estimated $980,000 worth of turf crops were damaged in the flooding not including their lucerne crop, they said. Before the rains hit, the owners had spent roughly $10,000 on fertiliser, all of which will need to be bought again to bring the farm back to life. "We won't be looking at getting back on or doing anything for at least three months, and then the replanting will start," Mr Hill said. "The mental health side of things, let alone the financial side, is a big burden." The Hills were approved for the one-off $1000 recovery payment from Services Australia but they were not eligible for the Services NSW $180 individual hardship grants. While the individual hardship grant would be a drop in the bucket for them, they were hurt that the state government did not recognise their property as flood-affected. "It's embarrassing, it is horrendous," Ms Hill said. They planned on applying for the $25,000 government grant for primary producers, but they said even then, it just wouldn't be enough. "The $25,000 grant won't cover the loss of our crops," Mr Hill said. "We lost well and truly over that amount in product, in the scheme of things, it isn't going to cover much." The turf farmers are not the only Hunter residents at a loss of how to rebuild their water-logged business. Upper Hunter Nationals member Dave Layzell said only 10 out of the 30 small communities in the 2320 postcode were listed as eligible for the individual hardship grant, despite being flood-affected. With NSW National leader Dugald Saunders, Mr Layzell met with a group of landholders and farmers from Bolwarra, Bolwarra Heights and Largs who were left empty-handed on Tuesday, June 10. "There has been a major issue with how the government defines where has been flooded," Mr Layzell said. "It is not the case of doing it based on some sort of postcode lottery, choosing one area, and leaving out others," he said. The Upper Hunter member said he had sent emails to the government with areas he believed had missed out but he felt that they hadn't been transparent. "I have areas near Gloucester that are still isolated and yet the government won't recognise the fact they were flood-affected," he said. Mr Saunders said he believed some Bolwarra residents were not qualified for any of the state or federal government grants on offer. "To make a phone call and be told that you don't qualify and weren't in the flood is a slap in the face," he said. "We have heard from residents here who have had floodwaters through the house, and boats going past the kitchen windows." Labor Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain said the federal and state government were working closely to help communities in flood recovery. She said the NSW government was working to collect and assess information on the impact on primary producers. "Once these assessments are complete, the NSW government will work with the industry and our government to identify both the sector impacts from disaster events as well as the identifying the required recovery needs to support primary producers," she said. A spokesperson for NSW Minister for Recovery and Small Business Janelle Saffin said eligibility for assistance was "based on which suburbs were most impacted". "People outside the designated areas are not excluded from support," the spokesperson said. "Those 142 eligible suburbs and localities were identified using data from the SES's impact assessments and areas that were subject to evaucation orders." Hunter Valley Sunflowers owners Glen and Kirsten Slade said their property had been covered in six feet of water and it could cost $150,000 to get the Largs farm back up and running. "The $25,000 won't even cover the diesel, it won't cover seed fertiliser to get the crops back," Mr Slade said. The couple planned on trying to apply for the $25,000 grant after being rejected from the Disaster Recovery Allowance, a 13-week income support payment. "I was told I had to apply for JobSeeker, I don't need a job, I have one, it is very frustrating," Ms Slade said. "The mental health toll on farmers is already high, and when we hear no all the time, it is a struggle," she said. A month ago, turf farmers Gavin and Emma Hill watched their entire livelihood suffocate under blankets of water. As the clean-up rolls on after May's heavy floods, the couple are unsure how to recoup their financial losses after what they say is inadequate government support. "You feel kind of lost, you just get up in the morning, look out the window, and think where to start," Mr Hill said. "It was probably going to be our best year yet, but it won't be after this." The owners of Hunter Turf Co on McKimms Road, Largs, said about 98 per cent of their land was covered in water, as deep as two metres at the flooding's peak. An estimated $980,000 worth of turf crops were damaged in the flooding not including their lucerne crop, they said. Before the rains hit, the owners had spent roughly $10,000 on fertiliser, all of which will need to be bought again to bring the farm back to life. "We won't be looking at getting back on or doing anything for at least three months, and then the replanting will start," Mr Hill said. "The mental health side of things, let alone the financial side, is a big burden." The Hills were approved for the one-off $1000 recovery payment from Services Australia but they were not eligible for the Services NSW $180 individual hardship grants. While the individual hardship grant would be a drop in the bucket for them, they were hurt that the state government did not recognise their property as flood-affected. "It's embarrassing, it is horrendous," Ms Hill said. They planned on applying for the $25,000 government grant for primary producers, but they said even then, it just wouldn't be enough. "The $25,000 grant won't cover the loss of our crops," Mr Hill said. "We lost well and truly over that amount in product, in the scheme of things, it isn't going to cover much." The turf farmers are not the only Hunter residents at a loss of how to rebuild their water-logged business. Upper Hunter Nationals member Dave Layzell said only 10 out of the 30 small communities in the 2320 postcode were listed as eligible for the individual hardship grant, despite being flood-affected. With NSW National leader Dugald Saunders, Mr Layzell met with a group of landholders and farmers from Bolwarra, Bolwarra Heights and Largs who were left empty-handed on Tuesday, June 10. "There has been a major issue with how the government defines where has been flooded," Mr Layzell said. "It is not the case of doing it based on some sort of postcode lottery, choosing one area, and leaving out others," he said. The Upper Hunter member said he had sent emails to the government with areas he believed had missed out but he felt that they hadn't been transparent. "I have areas near Gloucester that are still isolated and yet the government won't recognise the fact they were flood-affected," he said. Mr Saunders said he believed some Bolwarra residents were not qualified for any of the state or federal government grants on offer. "To make a phone call and be told that you don't qualify and weren't in the flood is a slap in the face," he said. "We have heard from residents here who have had floodwaters through the house, and boats going past the kitchen windows." Labor Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain said the federal and state government were working closely to help communities in flood recovery. She said the NSW government was working to collect and assess information on the impact on primary producers. "Once these assessments are complete, the NSW government will work with the industry and our government to identify both the sector impacts from disaster events as well as the identifying the required recovery needs to support primary producers," she said. A spokesperson for NSW Minister for Recovery and Small Business Janelle Saffin said eligibility for assistance was "based on which suburbs were most impacted". "People outside the designated areas are not excluded from support," the spokesperson said. "Those 142 eligible suburbs and localities were identified using data from the SES's impact assessments and areas that were subject to evaucation orders." Hunter Valley Sunflowers owners Glen and Kirsten Slade said their property had been covered in six feet of water and it could cost $150,000 to get the Largs farm back up and running. "The $25,000 won't even cover the diesel, it won't cover seed fertiliser to get the crops back," Mr Slade said. The couple planned on trying to apply for the $25,000 grant after being rejected from the Disaster Recovery Allowance, a 13-week income support payment. "I was told I had to apply for JobSeeker, I don't need a job, I have one, it is very frustrating," Ms Slade said. "The mental health toll on farmers is already high, and when we hear no all the time, it is a struggle," she said.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Little-known Centrelink benefit gets Aussie single mum $800 cash boost: ‘Done in 10 minutes'
A single mum has shared how she saved more than $800 by making one phone call. The mum-of-three said every bit of extra cash was welcome right now and would go towards costs for her kids. Centrelink's Pensioner Concession Card gives Aussies access to a range of benefits, including cheaper medicine, bulk-billed doctor visits, along with perks from certain states and territories. In New South Wales, this includes free car registration and free licences for eligible cardholders. Alyce Verade told Yahoo Finance she was able to get a refund on her car rego and licence fees through this little-known rule. RELATED Centrelink warning as Aussie parents risk losing $100 a day for child care subsidy: '63-day grace period' ATO warning ahead of $1,288 cost-of-living cash boost: 'Shooting yourself in the foot' $3 million superannuation tax change sparks property warning as 'panic' selling begins 'I was so shocked that I was eligible for that,' the Blue Mountains mum said. Verade receives the Single Parenting Payment and has had a Pensioner Concession Card since December 2023. The 37-year-old heard about the rule through her hairdresser and rang up Services NSW to check if she was eligible. They told her she could get a refund on her $692 car registration, plus a partial refund of more than $200 for her driver's license due to when she received her Pensioner Concession Card. This totalled a refund of more than $800.'They were so helpful. It was over and all done within 10 minutes. She asked a few questions and had to know my Centrelink number and my last transaction with Service NSW,' Verade said. Services NSW confirmed to Yahoo Finance that those with a current Pensioner Concession Card were eligible for pensioner benefits. That included exemptions from registration fees, motor vehicle tax, conditional registration fees, transfer fees, and stamp duty. Eligible pensioners can also receive free licences, driving tests, riding skills tests, and other licence-related fees. The rules differ depending on your state or territory. In Victoria, Pensioner Concession Card holders are eligible for a 50 per cent discount on their motor vehicle registration fee. In Queensland, Pensioner Concession Card holders are also eligible for concessions to reduce the cost of registering a vehicle. Fees for concession card holders can be found here. You can get a Pensioner Concession Card if you get certain payments from Services Australia. That includes the Age Pension, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, JobSeeker or Youth Allowance if you are single, caring for a dependent child and looking for work, and the Parenting Payment single. You don't need to apply for a Pensioner Concession Card, Services Australia will send you one if you are eligible. State and territory governments and local council areas offer benefits to people with a Pensioner Concession Card. For example, you may be able to get lower rates for electricity and gas bills, property and water rates, healthcare costs, public transport fares or motor vehicle registration. You can find out about the concessions available in your state and territory here: Australian Capital Territory - Cost of living support New South Wales - NSW Government Community Support Northern Territory - NT Pensioner and Carer Concession Scheme Queensland - Concessions South Australia - Disability concessions and entitlements Tasmania - Discounts & concessions Victoria - Concessions & benefits Western Australia - Concessions available Verade said the $800 refund would provide extra relief for her budget. She currently works three casual jobs in retail and as a teacher's aide, and has three kids aged 7, 6 and 3. 'That $800 is going to go towards the kids, that's where all the money always goes. So groceries, bills and school clothes is where the funds will go,' she told Yahoo Finance. Verade said she would absolutely encourage other Aussies to check what benefits they were entitled to and it could just take a single phone call to save hundreds. "One of my friends, I contacted as soon as I found out. She's getting $500 back," she said. 'People who are on the pension, whether that be on the single parenting, disability or age pension, there are things out there to help us to make our day-to-day life easier for us."Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data
