Australian government responds to Greek Federation’s concerns on pensioners’ living costs

·

Australia’s Department of Social Services has responded to a letter by the Federation of Greek Elderly Citizens Clubs of Melbourne and Victoria outlining their concerns around pensioners’ cost of living.

The response – which was sent by the Director of the Age Pension and Payment Rates Policy Section at the Department, Rita Scholl – outlines the Australian Government’s plan to “ensure that pensioners’ living standards are safeguarded by the Age Pension.”

Ms Scholl said that the Australian Government expects to spend around $59 billion on the Age Pension in 2023-24 to assist around 2.6 million eligible Australians.

“On 20 March 2024, the maximum total pension rate for single pensioners increased by $19.60 to $1,116.30 a fortnight or $29,023.80 a year. The maximum rate for pensioner couples combined increased by $29.40 to $1,682.80 a fortnight or $43,752.80 a year,” the response read.

A range of cost of living relief measures, designed to support the living standards of vulnerable Australians, were also outlined in the response. These included:

  • Up to $3 billion under the Energy Bill Relief Fund to eligible households, including pensioners and other income support recipients. In Victoria, the total bill relief is $250 per eligible household.
  • An investment of $5.7 billion over 5 years to strengthen Medicare, including $3.5 billion to triple the bulk billing incentive for the most common General Practitioner consultations including for pensioners, as well as a doubling of the maximum dispensing quantity for over 300 Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines, which lowers out-of-pocket costs.

According to the letter, pensioners can also receive a range of benefits and concessions that increase their economic security, including:

  • assistance for people who rent in the private rental market, through Commonwealth Rent Assistance;
  • the exemption of the principal home from the assets test for homeowners;
  • subsidised prescription medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme;
  • subsidised health care and related products;
  • subsidised aged care; and
  • concessions provided by state and territory governments, which could include subsidised rates, electricity, gas, water, public transport and vehicle registration fees. Concessions offered vary between states.

For more information on concessions in Victoria, people were encouraged to visit services.dffh.vic.gov.au/concessions-and-benefits.

READ MORE: President resigns from Federation of Greek Elderly Citizens Clubs of Victoria

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Pontoxeniteas NSW celebrates community, culture and generosity at 2025 Winter Wonderland

Celebration swept through The Grand Roxy on Saturday, May 31, as Pontoxeniteas NSW hosted its spectacular Winter Wonderland Gala 2025.

GCM prepares for AGM as Board elections and revenue outlook take centre stage

The Greek Community of Melbourne has officially announced that its Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday, 15 June 2025.

Raptis sisters left devastated as SA music school faces second government acquisition

Koula and Mary Raptis are “devastated and heartbroken” after learning their music school, Allegro Music, is to be acquired by the government.

Jon Adgemis vacates luxury Sydney mansion amid legal battle over his mum’s home

Disgraced former KPMG dealmaker Jon Adgemis has vacated the $20,000-a-week Point Piper mansion dubbed the "Bang & Olufsen house."

Australian Hellenic Choir delivers a stirring musical journey at ‘A Portrait of Greece’ in Sydney

The Australian Hellenic Choir captivated a packed Sir John Clancy Auditorium at the University of New South Wales on Sunday, June 1.

You May Also Like

11-year-old Evangelia Siskou crowned world chess champion

Evangelia Siskou, an 11-year-old chess player from Thessaloniki, has been crowned a global champion in the category for girls up to 13.

New multicultural business network event held in Victoria

Small Business Victoria, Victorian Multicultural Commission collaborated on multicultural business forum with multicultural business sector.

‘Provocative rhetoric’: Greek and Cypriot FMs slam Turkey’s oil drilling move

Nikos Dendias and Ioannis Kasoulides accused Turkey of stroking tensions as they prepares to drill for natural gas in the Mediterranean.