New pension supplement from 20 September 2009
A new pension supplement will be introduced which will be an amalgamation of the former GST pension supplement, Pharmaceutical Allowance, Utilities Allowance and Telephone Allowance. The new supplement will be available to all income support payments with the exception of Newstart allowance, Special benefit and Sickness benefit recipients.
For the new pension supplement the government will provide an increase (included in the increased government support pension amount detailed above) of –
- $2.49 per week increase for singles; and
- $10.14 per week combined increase for couples.
From 20 September 2009 a new seniors supplement will be established for Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders and veterans eligible for the Gold Card. It is the amalgamation of the former Seniors Concession Allowance and the Telephone Allowance. The single rate of the Seniors Supplement will include an extra $129 a year, to bring it to two thirds of the rate paid to couples combined.
