Pensioners and seniors who meet certain criteria and hold valid cards, may be entitled to claim a rebate of up to 50% off the current rates and Emergency Services Levy, or a deferment of Council rates and the Emergency Services Levy.
To qualify for a pensioner/senior rebate or deferment, you must be an owner and occupier of the property at 1 July of the year that you are applying in.
The concessions available are:
- Seniors card only holders are entitled to receive up to a 25% capped rebate on rates and Emergency Services Levy. Deferment is not available.
- Seniors with a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card are entitled to receive up to a 50% rebate on rates and may be able to defer payment on rates.
- Pensioner Concession Card or State Concession Card holders are entitled to receive up to a 50% rebate on rates and may be able to defer payment on rates.
Those pensioners who are eligible for the full 50% pensioner rebates are also eligible to defer their rates and emergency services levy until the property is sold or no longer resided in by the pensioner.
If a pensioner defers their rates, they lose the rebate on those rates i.e. 100% of the rates are deferred, not 50%. No penalties are levied on deferred rates. All other charges including rubbish service charges and pool inspection fees are required to be paid in full by the due date on the rate notice issued each year.
How do I apply for a concession?
Due to new amendments under the Rates and Charges (Rebates and Deferments) Act 1992, effective from 1 July 2007, there are now three ways to apply for your pensioner concessions.
1. Submit to the City of Belmont a completed pensioner/senior application form (available at our offices) together with a copy of both sides of all relevant cards. Copies of your cards can be taken at our offices.
2. Apply online at the Water Corporation www.watercorporation.com.au
3. Telephone the Water Corporation on 1300 659 951. Applications made via the Water Corporation are no longer required to be signed by the applicant.
To make things easier for customers, you need only to make an application at either Council or the Water Corporation for pensioner/senior concessions and the other organisation will automatically be advised.
Information about the concession cards is available from:
WA Seniors Card:
Phone: (08) 6217 8855
www.seniorscard.wa.gov.au
State Concession Card:
Phone: (08) 9222 2555
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
or Pensioners Concession Card:
Centrelink Phone: (08) 13 23 00
Commonwealth Department of Veteran Affairs:
Phone: (08) 9366 8222
Events that can affect your pensioner / senior concessions
If you take advantage of the pensioner/senior concessions, the Office Of State Revenue reimburse the City for the rebated amount on your rates – for example if you are a full 50% pensioner – you pay half and the Office of State Revenue pay the other half.
The Office of State Revenue has various methods of checking the accuracy of the City’s records to ensure that you are still eligible for concessions.
If any of the details checked do not match, the claim may be rejected and concessions may be required to be cancelled.
Therefore, some things that pensioners and seniors may need to consider and advise the City about are:
- Have I changed from a Centrelink pension to a Veteran Affairs pension and not completed a new application?
- Do I hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card as well as a Seniors Card and am only registered at the City with my senior’s card?
- As I am now not working more than 20 hours per week and am over 60, have I applied for a senior’s card at all yet?
- Has the ownership of my property been changed due to recent circumstance?
- Have I moved from one property to another still within the City and not made a new application for concessions yet?
All these things mentioned are changes that the City of Belmont is required to be advised about.
Unfortunately if concessions are cancelled pensioners/seniors do not get their rebates again until new applications are made. This increases the amount of rates that they are required to pay.
So if you are unsure of any of these things, please contact our Rates Department on 9477 7222 and our friendly staff will help you as much as possible.