Latest news with #SingleParentingPayment
Courier-Mail
15 hours ago
- Business
- Courier-Mail
Little-known Centrelink rule that could save you $800
A single mum from the Blue Mountains has shared how a simple phone call saved her more than $800 a year. Alyce Verade, a 37-year-old mother of three, discovered she was eligible for a refund on her car registration and licence fees, thanks to a little-known benefit associated with Centrelink's Pensioner Concession Card. Verade, who receives the Single Parenting Payment, has held a Pensioner Concession Card since December 2023, according to Yahoo Finance. She stumbled upon this financial lifeline during a conversation with her hairdresser, who mentioned the potential for refunds. Intrigued, Verade contacted Services NSW to verify her eligibility. To her surprise, Verade – who has shared her story on TikTok – was informed that she qualified for a refund of her $692 car registration fee, along with a partial refund exceeding $200 for her driver's licence. MORE NEWS Big blow for anyone who isn't a millionaire Shock salary you now need to buy a home Great Aussie dream crushed by cost surge The total refund amounted to more than $800, a significant sum for the mum-of-three, who expressed her gratitude for the unexpected windfall. 'They were so helpful. It was over and all done within 10 minutes,' Verade told Yahoo Finance. 'She asked a few questions and had to know my Centrelink number and my last transaction with Service NSW.' For Verade, every bit of extra cash is welcome, especially when it can be directed towards her children's needs. For others, it could provide a lifeline to help cover rent and mortgage expenses. Based on the average $640,000 home loan and 5.5 per cent interest mortgage repayments, an $800 a year refund could provide $29,555 in savings over the life of a loan. Homeowners would also be able to pay off their loan 16 months earlier. For those renting, an $800 a year refund would provide around $40 in savings a week. Centrelink's Pensioner Concession Card provides Australians with access to a variety of benefits, including cheaper medicine and bulk-billed doctor visits. In New South Wales, eligible cardholders can enjoy additional perks such as free car registration and licences. Service NSW confirmed that current Pensioner Concession Card holders are entitled to exemptions from registration fees, motor vehicle tax, conditional registration fees, transfer fees, and stamp duty. The rules, however, vary across states and territories. In Victoria, Pensioner Concession Card holders receive a 50 per cent discount on their motor vehicle registration fee. Meanwhile, in Queensland, similar concessions are available to reduce vehicle registration costs.
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
