The Government has announced it will deliver a $4.8 billion down payment to Australian pensioners, carers and seniors. This will be made available through a lump sum payment of $1,400 to single pensioners and $2,100 to pensioner couples, which will benefit:
- Age Pensioners
- Disability Support Pensioners
- Carer Payment recipients
- Wife and Widow B Pensioners, Partner, Widow and Bereavement Allowees
- Veterans’ Affairs Service Pensioners
- Veterans’ Income Support Supplement recipients
- Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card holders eligible for Seniors Concession Allowance
- those of age pension age who receive Parenting Payment, Special Benefit, or Austudy
- eligible Self Funded Retirees holding a Commonwealth Senior Health Card (CSHC).
People who are receiving Carer Allowance will also receive $1,000 for each eligible person in their care.
Centrelink customers will receive the one-off payments between 8-19 December 2008.
Article by Christie Lewis
Christie is Practice Manager at Alan Lewis Accountants . Besides accounting, her passion is for all things small business (and blogging, of course). You can contact Christie directly at christie@lewistaxation.com.au.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I am a spouse carer for my husband Paul XXXXX XXXXXX (Quadriplegic) AND DID NOT receive THE bonus payment from last December 2008
My Address is
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
COOGEE WA 6166
Ph. XXXXXXXXXXXX
0415 764 346
Hi Suzette,
I have edit out some of your personal details for your own privacy/safety (who knows what identity thieves or other cyber crims might be lurking about the internet).
If you believe you were entitled to the carer bonus payment related to the Economic Security Strategy payments from December last year, I’d suggest you give Centrelink a call and see if they can sort it out for you.
As accountants, we are unable to communicate with Centrelink on behalf of most people.
Best of luck.
hi i am a single mum of 2.i am caring for my kids and my brother who has a bad disability.i was wondering if we will be recieving the same bonus payments that we got last year as it hepl me and my kids alot and it got my through some tough debt and i took the kids away on holiday which helpt them get over the loss of there father.plse get bak to me thankyou.
@sonia,
Hi Sonia
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I’m glad you were able to take your children on a holiday following such a difficult time in your lives.
In recent years, the various budgets have allowed for these ‘one-off’ bonus payments. This question has come up a lot of late so I wish I had a definate answer for you. As it stands right now, we don’t know until the 2009 Commonwelath Budget is released on 12 May.
As soon as we know anything, I’ll update the blog.
hi i have a carer looking after me he is a pensioner aged 48 I AM 45 he gets carer what payments doEs he get thanku
hi i care for my disabled 42 year old mother i am confused do i recieve the $1400 or the $1000 lump sum or do i recieve none of it
my name is jenny i have four one has sma type 2 she cant walk sit up or roll around i think i shou get money