SCOA Australia Claiming the Age Pension and/or the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card just got easier after Centrelink consolidated the information into one page on their website. To claim the Age Pension, click here. To claim the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, click here. The above links will take you to the relevant page(s) on Centrelink’s website where you … Read more
SCOA today launched a Recruit a member campaign, inviting new members to join SCOA for just $10 for the remainder of 2016. Currently, we have around 8,500 members across Australia. We want many more. We believe that each of our members must know at least one eligible person (current or former government employee, state or … Read more
With a re-elected Turnbull government now in place, SCOA believes it is time to look to the future. SCOA’s Federal President, Dr Annette Barbetti, today called for a thorough review of the entire superannuation system and its interaction with the welfare and pension systems before rushing through the recently announced changes to superannuation. “Over the … Read more
SCOA’s Federal President, Dr Annette Barbetti, today asked all political parties to hold their fire on changes to superannuation rules “until after a proper review of the interaction between the superannuation and welfare systems”. Dr Barbetti said that, “the changes proposed by the major political parties will have an adverse effect on many retirees who … Read more
The Australian Council of Public Sector Retiree Organisations Inc. (ACPSRO), in a press release issued today, has welcomed the review of rules for retirement incomes and their interaction with the Age pension, as promised by the ALP on 25 May 2016. Issuing the press release, ACPSRO’s National President, Richard Griffiths, said it was hoped that … Read more
SCOA’s Federal President, Dr Annette Barbetti, today deplored the lack of information in a response from the Department of Social Services to a Freedom of Information request (jointly with ACPSRO) for further details about how many pensioners would be affected by the socalled “ten percent issue”. In response, SCOA has put out the attached press … Read more
SCOA Australia Annual General Meeting – Call for nominations SCOA Australia will hold its 2016 Annual General Meeting in November. Due to timing issues, we are asking you to nominate for committee elections already now. Please use the nomination form and send it to us by 15 June 2016.
The Australian Council of Public Sector Retiree Organisations Inc. (ACPSRO) has issued a Media Release condemning the effects of the 2015 Budget “10% Cap” measure, the real effects of which are now starting to show.
Read the Media Release here.
20160204 ACPSRO Media Statement (88 KB)
You can read more about this issue on our Current Events page.
Canberra
4 February 2016
New arrangements regarding seniors’ concessions on NSW public transport came into effect from 1 January 2016.
Instead of using a Pensioner Excursion Ticket, seniors will now have to get a Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal card (the Opal Card) when travelling interstate to NSW, and the fares continue to be capped at $2.50 a day.
You need to apply for your Opal Card before you undertake your journey. Click here to apply online or here to download a form.
Your Opal Card is only valid for 60 days from the date of issue, so if you are going to be travelling interstate for more than 60 days, you need to reapply for another card. Make sure you use your current address when you reapply, as the new card will be sent to that postal address.
You can read more about how to apply and how to register and use your Opal Card in the attached Fact Sheet.
Federal Office
Canberra
1 February 2016
Federal President of the Superannuated Commonwealth Officers Association, Dr Annette Barbetti, today condemned the 10% cap on the amount of a defined benefit pension that can be excluded from the Age Pension income test, included in last year’s federal Budget. The measure came into effect on 1 January 2016.
Dr Barbetti said that as a result of the new measure, many defined benefit pensioners lost part of their part Age Pension today (pension payday). Most of them have relatively low super pensions.
Dr Barbetti said the 10% cap was not grandfathered, whereas the earlier changes to the treatment of account-based pensions were grandfathered, even though those on account-based pensions were better placed to cope with a sudden reduction in income because they could access their capital, whereas CSS and PSS pensioners cannot do that.
Read the full press release here.
The Australian Council of Public Sector Retiree Organisations (ACPSRO) has put out a number of press releases regarding this issue.
You can read them here.
Be afraid, be very afraid! (64 KB)
No, Minister, it was not an anomaly (65 KB)
Effect of the 2015 budget 10% cap (81 KB)
Ten percent cap very poor policy (88 KB)
Canberra
14 January 2016