JULY brought cold comfort for many seniors who didn’t receive their quarterly energy supplement.
An estimated 25,000 self-funded retirees who retired and received a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card after September 20 last year, which entitled them to the government’s energy supplement, had it removed after March 20.
Those who received their card before September 20 will continue to be paid the supplement of $14.10 per fortnight for a single and $10.60 each per fortnight for a couple (paid quarterly).
The card is given to people who reach retirement age and who do not receive a payment from the departments of Human Services or Veterans’ Affairs, and who meet an income test.
Robert Curley from the Association of Independent Retirees was disappointed by the decision and said his organisation would like to see the commonwealth extend the energy supplement and the pension supplement to all recipients of the card.
Govt looks to go further
It’s not just self-funded retirees in the bean-counters’ sights.
As power costs skyrocket (almost 20 per cent in some states) the federal government is pushing ahead with its proposal to stop the energy supplement for anyone who qualified for an age pension, disability support pension or carer payment after September 20 last year, effective from September 20 this year. People on one of these pensions before September 20 last year would continue to receive the supplement.
However, the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Ending Carbon Tax Compensation) Bill 2017 may have a tough time passing in the Senate as it has been rejected twice.
The bill is currently with the Community Affairs Senate Committee for review. A report is due on August 9.
The Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association says it finds the government’s obsession with abolishing the energy supplement difficult to understand.
“Yes, the energy supplement was intended as compensation for electricity price hikes due to an emission trading scheme,” it says in a statement. “This scheme did not happen, but as everyone knows, electricity prices have gone through the roof anyway.”
Group policy co-ordinator Ellis Blaikie said the bill was ludicrous. “This is gouging out of the pockets of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable,” she said.