Entitlements

Communication

• Mail redirection
  Australia Post provides a 50% reduction in the cost of redirecting all postal articles to a new mailing address for a maximum period of up to 12 months.
• Telecommunications industry ombudsman
  The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman deals with disputes that consumers have not been able to resolve with their telephone or internet service provider.
• Telephone allowance
  Telephone Allowance assists with the costs of maintaining a phone and home internet service.
• Telstra bill assistance program
  Telstra provides a range of discounts to Centrelink and DVA Pension cardholders, including discounts on new telephone connections and monthly rebates.

Disability

• Carer allowance
  A carer allowance is available to people who provide daily care and attention to an adult or child who lives with them with a severe disability.
• Companion card
  The Companion Card is issued to people with significant, permanent disability who can demonstrate that they are unable to access most community activities and venues without attendant care support.
• Disability on-line victoria
  Disability Online provides people with a disability, their families and carers with access to online disability related information across governments and the non-government sector
• Home and community care
  Home and Community Care (HACC) is a joint Commonwealth and State program that provides services to support frail elderly people, younger people with disabilities and carers.
• Multiple and complex needs panel
  The Multiple and Complex Needs Panel is a statutory body established under the Human Services (Complex Needs) Act.
• Office of the public advocate
  The Office of the Public Advocate protects the rights of Victorian people who have disabilities, they can assist if there is a complaint about services, care or treatment of the disabled.
• Personal alert victoria
  Personal Alert Victoria provides 24 hours service and assists frail, older people and people with a physical, sensory, intellectual or psychiatric disability and those persons who are isolated and vulnerable without constant care.
• Victorian aids and equipment program
  The program provides equipment services to people living in the community who have a permanent or long-term disability to help them live independently.

Education

• Council of adult education fees
  The CAE provides concessions on course fees. The level of the concession varies between courses.
• Education conveyance allowance
  The Education Conveyance Allowance is provided by the Department of Education to assist eligible students with the cost of travel to school.
• Education maintenance allowance
  The Education Maintenance Allowance assists low income parents or guardians with the costs of schooling.
• Kindergarten fee subsidy
  The kindergarten fee subsidy is government funding paid to organisations to enable eligible families to attend kindergarten for free or minimal cost.
• Kindergarten program
  Three year old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children whose families are in receipt of a concession card can access up to 10 hours a week of a funded early childhood program planned delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher.
• TAFE fees
  TAFEs may offer concessions on enrolment fees for cardholders and their dependent spouses.

Energy

• Electricity transfer fee waiver
  The electricity transfer fee waiver provides a full waiver of the fee that is normally payable to the electricity retailers when there is a change of occupancy at a property.
• Energy and water ombudsman victoria
  The Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria investigates complaints about the actions of electricity, gas and water companies operating in Victoria.
• Life support machine
  The Life Support Concession provides a quarterly rebate on electricity bills where a cardholder or member of cardholder's household uses certain life support machines, such as an oxygen oncentrator or haemodialysis machine.
• Medical cooling
  The medical cooling concession (formerly the summer multiple sclerosis concession) provides a 17.5% discount off electricity costs over a six month period from 1 November to 30 April for concession cardholders with multiple sclerosis and other qualifying medical conditions such as Parkinson's, motor neurone disease, scleroderma and lupus. If you or a member of the household has a condition that impacts on the body's ability to regulate temperature and it's not one of the automatically eligible conditions, please contact the Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521.
• Non-mains winter energy
  The Non-Mains Winter Energy Concession is an annual rebate for eligible cardholders who use LPG for domestic heating or cooking, and/or are individually metered for electricity but who pay a caravan park or accommodation proprietor.
• Off peak concession
  The Off Peak Concession provides a 13% reduction on the off-peak tariff rates on all quarterly electricity bills.
• Service to property charge
  The Service to Property Charge concession provides a reduction on the supply charge for concession households with low energy consumption.
• Winter energy
  The Winter Energy Concession provides a discount of 17.5% off mains electricity and mains gas on usage from 1 May to 31 October of each year.

Financial and welfare

• Asylum seeker assistance scheme
  It provides financial assistance and health care to eligible asylum seekers who have been waiting for six months or more for their Protection Visa applications to be finalised.
• Bereavement allowance
  The Bereavement Allowance helps the surviving member of a couple who was not receiving income support before bereavement to adjust to their changed financial circumstances following the death of their partner.
• Bereavement assistance charity
  Bereavement Assistance is a Melbourne-based non-profit charity providing funeral services for low income Victorians. Bereavement Assistance arranges and provides memorial services and cremation.
• Bereavement payment
  This payment assists a surviving partner, carer or parent of a young child to adjust to the financial circumstances of the death of a Pensioner, Long-term Centrelink recipient (i.e. minimum of 12 months) of various payments and allowances.
• Burial of persons with insufficient means
  State Trustees may be able to assist with the burials for those with insufficient means. State Trustees can assume responsibility for financing and arranging the plot and funeral of deceased persons reported to the Coroner, who have assets of less than $1000.
• Centrelink advance payment scheme
  Centrelink provides an Advance Payment Scheme that provides lump sum payments in advance from future Centrelink payments. The advance must be repaid, as it is essentially an interest free loan.
• Centrelink financial information service
  The Financial Information Service (FIS) offered by Centrelink gives information to help people improve their standard of living by using their own money to their best advantage.
• Emergency relief
  Several welfare organisations provide emergency relief in the form of food, clothing and household goods such as second-hand furniture and blankets, for people experiencing a severe financial crisis.
• Financial counselling
  The Victorian Government funds a large number of financial counselling services across Victoria.
• Good shepherd buying service
  The Good Shepherd Buying Service is a free statewide telephone service to assist concession card holders and community groups obtain lower prices on household goods and health appliances.
• No interest loan scheme
  The No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS) provides interest-free loans for individuals or families on low income.
• Refugee and asylum seeker assistance
  The Victorian Government provides funding for the delivery of a number of support services for refugees and asylum seekers. Such services include health services, community support networks, legal services, education and training opportunities.
• Step-up low interest loan
  stepUP is available to holders of a Health Care Card or recipients of Family Tax benefit Part A who do not have access to other financial services.

Hardship

• Centrelink advance payment scheme
  Centrelink provides an Advance Payment Scheme that provides lump sum payments in advance from future Centrelink payments. The advance must be repaid, as it is essentially an interest free loan.
• Centrelink financial information service
  The Financial Information Service (FIS) offered by Centrelink gives information to help people improve their standard of living by using their own money to their best advantage.
• Emergency relief
  Several welfare organisations provide emergency relief in the form of food, clothing and household goods such as second-hand furniture and blankets, for people experiencing a severe financial crisis.
• Financial counselling
  The Victorian Government funds a large number of financial counselling services across Victoria.
• Home wise: appliance and infrastructure grant
  The Home wise appliance and infrastructure grant assists households with the repair or replacement of an essential appliance or essential household infrastructure that is faulty and/or has failed within the last 12 months.
• Support and housing for young people
  SHYP provides transitional housing and support to young people aged 16 - 24 years old who are homeless (or are at risk of becoming homeless) in the City of Yarra and surrounding areas.
• Utility relief grant scheme
  The Utility Relief Grant Scheme and the Non-mains Utility Relief Grant Scheme provide assistance for domestic customers who are unable to pay their utility bills due to a temporary financial crisis

Health

• Ambulance travel
  Concession cardholders are eligible for free ambulance and air ambulance travel anywhere in Australia in an emergency or on the recommendation of a doctor.
• Ambulance victoria
  The Metropolitan Ambulance Service and Rural Ambulance Victoria provide medically necessary ambulance transportation free to pensioners and Centrelink Health Care Card holders who do not have access to another entitlement through other Government agencies.
• College of optometry and victorian eye care service
  The Victorian College of Optometry provides low cost eye care for people on low-incomes, and is also responsible for the Victorian Eye Care Service.
• Commonwealth seniors health card
  Centrelink issues the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card to persons of aged pension age who do not qualify for the age pension. The card is subject to an income means test only.
• Community health centres
  Community health centres provide a range of medical and allied health services to local residents. These include services provided by doctors, dentists, podiatrists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
• Dental health for adults and school aged children
  Dental Health Services Victoria provides emergency and general dental care for adult concession cardholders through public dental clinics in community health centres, rural hospitals and the Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne.
• Eye care and glasses
  Free eye examinations and low cost glasses are available for concession cardholders and their dependants under the age of 16 who are listed on the concession card.
• Hearing services
  A wide range of hearing rehabilitation services is available to eligible persons. These services include hearing assessments and the provision of hearing aids
• Hospital treatment
  All permanent Australian residents and some visitors are entitled to free treatment in public hospitals as public patients.
• Medicare
  The Commonwealth Government provides assistance for medical expenses to all members of the public through Medicare.
• Medicare safety net
  The Medicare Safety Net is designed to help individuals and families with medical costs, once the safety net threshold is reached.
• Mental health legal centre
  The Mental Health Legal Centre provides information and advocacy about the rights of mental health clients and aims to promote the rights of people who experience mental illness.
• Mental health review board
  The Board conducts reviews of, and hears appeals by, psychiatric patients being treated involuntarily either as inpatients or on community treatment orders who want to leave a psychiatric hospital or have their cases reviewed.
• Office of hearing services
  The Office of Hearing Services manages the Commonwealth funded hearing services program. Services include free hearing assessment, an appropriate hearing aid or other hearing device from a range of devices and training in how to use them.
• Office of the Health Services Commissioner
  The Health Services Commissioner provides a free and confidential service that helps people with complaints about health services in Victoria, and issues regarding the privacy of health information.
• Patient travel
  The Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme provides a subsidy to assist rural and remote Victorians with travel and accommodation costs incurred when travelling more than 100 kilometres (one way) or 500 kilometres per week if receiving treatment in a block of at least five weeks.
• Pharmaceutical benefits scheme
  The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) allows holders of Commonwealth Government cards to purchase prescription medicines except where a special brand price applies.
• Pharmaceuticals
  Eligible concession cardholders are entitled to purchase most prescription medicines for $5.00
• Red cross patient transport
  The Australian Red Cross provides a free transport service to and from hospital or a medical appointment for people who cannot use public transport or afford a taxi.

Housing

• Bond loan scheme
  If you can't afford to pay the bond (security deposit) when renting privately, you may be able to borrow the money.
• Crisis accommodation centres
  Housing Information and Referral, and Transitional housing is delivered through 19 agencies in 20 geographic and 2 specialist catchments across the State.
• Emergency accommodation and homelessness
  If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness and in need of assistance, please visit the Office of Housing website for further information.
• Group self build
  Group Self Build is an owner builder program that provides home ownership opportunities to people who are willing to commit their time and energy to building their homes and the homes of others in groups of 10 to 12 families.
• Home finance
  The Home Finance Review Office has been established to try and resolve any problems you may have with your government supported home loan or the quality of service you have received.
• Home renovation loans
  The Home Renovation Service was established to help people with disabilities to remain living independently in their own home environment. The program assesses homes to see where modifications can be made to make living, at home easier and safer.
• Home renovation service
  The Home Renovation Service was established to help people with disabilities to remain living independently in their own home environment. The program assesses homes to see where modifications can be made to make living, at home easier and safer.
• Mortgage relief
  Eligible Victorian home owners can apply for short term interest-free loans to help overcome difficulties with home loan repayments resulting from an unavoidable change in circumstances.
• Movable units
  Movable units offer eligible people with disabilities a chance to live independently while remaining in close contact with family or friends.
• Public housing rent rebates
  As a public housing tenant, you can apply to pay a reduced amount of rent based on your household income.
• Rent assistance
  Centrelink pays rent assistance to pensioners and beneficiaries who rent accommodation in the private rental market, and pay rent above a set threshold.
• Support and housing for young people
  SHYP provides transitional housing and support to young people aged 16 - 24 years old who are homeless (or are at risk of becoming homeless) in the City of Yarra and surrounding areas.
• Tenancy information
  Advice about tenancy matters such as eviction, excessive rent and repairs may be obtained from Consumer Affairs Victoria.
• Women domestic violence crisis service of victoria
  If you are experiencing family violence you can contact the Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service.

Motor vehicles

• Motor vehicle registration fee
  The Motor Vehicle Registration Fee concession provides a 50% reduction on the motor vehicle registration fee component of the registration bill where the cardholder or their spouse is the registered operator of the vehicle.

Rates and property

• Municipal rates
  The Municipal Rates concession provides a 50% discount off council rates up to a maximum of $184.30 in 2009/2010.
• Stamp duty
  The Stamp Duty Concession provides an exemption from stamp duty for cardholders purchasing property up to $330,000 in value.

Recreation

• Pet registration
  Concessions are available on cat and dog registrations (concession varies between councils)
• Recreation facilities
  Discounts are available to various recreation facilities such as national parks, the zoo, National Gallery, State Galleries and the Museum. Some private organisations such as cinemas and the Australian Football League may also offer concessions on admission prices.
• Recreation fishing licences
  An exemption exists from the need to purchase a fishing licence for certain groups (the exemption does not apply to inland amateur netting licences).
• Victorian seniors card
  The Victorian Seniors Card is a Victorian Government initiative in partnership with the private sector to encourage people who have retired or who are working part time to continue to engage with the community. Cardholders are able to obtain a wide range of discounted goods and services from participating businesses including travel, accommodation, hospitality, entertainment and leisure.

Transport

• Multi-purpose taxi program
  The Victorian Taxi Directorate provides a 50% discount on taxi fares, up to a maximum of $30 per trip, for permanently and severely disabled people.
• Transport accident commission (TAC) insurance charge
  The TAC concession provides a 50% reduction of the TAC charge component of the registration bill. There is a limit of one vehicle per concession card.
• Victorian pensioner free travel voucher and exchange coupon
  Pension Cardholders are entitled to one free economy class return trip each year within Victoria with the Pensioner Free Travel Voucher.
• Public transport ombudsman
  The Public Transport Ombudsman deals with complaints about Victorian public transport that members of the community have been unable to resolve directly with the public transport operators.
• Public transport
  Concession fares are available on trains, trams and privately operated bus lines within metropolitan Melbourne and V/Line ticketed transport services.
• Seniors daily travel Metcard and Sunday pass
  Seniors Card holders can purchase either the Seniors Daily ticket or concession fares on all metropolitan services. The Seniors Daily ticket entitles Seniors cardholders to unrestricted all day travel on all services throughout zones 1 and 2.
• Victorian seniors card
  The Victorian Seniors Card is a Victorian Government initiative in partnership with the private sector to encourage people who have retired or who are working part time to continue to engage with the community. Cardholders are able to obtain a wide range of discounted goods and services from participating businesses including travel, accommodation, hospitality, entertainment and leisure.

Water and sewerage

• Energy and water ombudsman victoria
  The Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria investigates complaints about the actions of electricity, gas and water companies operating in Victoria.
• Non-mains water
  Also known as the Carted Water Rebate, it assists cardholders not connected to reticulated or mains water with the costs of purchasing non-mains water for domestic usage, for example, when buying carted water for rainwater tanks, or buying water via a billing agent or water cooperative.
• Water smart homes and gardens rebate scheme
  The Water Smart Homes and Gardens Rebate Scheme provides residential customers with a rebate off their water bill for purchasing water-saving devices and services, thereby reducing their water consumption.
• Water wise
  Water wise is a State Government initiative aimed at reducing your water bill by providing you with a free water audit and repair or replacement of inefficient water fittings.
• Water and sewerage
  The water and sewerage concession provides a 50% discount off water and sewerage charges up to an annual maximum.

Welfare, consumer and legal rights

• Civil claims list
  The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) incorporates the Civil Claims List, which investigates disputes over goods and services.
• Commonwealth ombudsman
  The Commonwealth Ombudsman investigates complaints about the actions of Commonwealth Government departments and authorities.
• Community legal centres
  Community legal centres offer free legal advice and assistance in completing legal aid applications for low-income people. The centres give referrals to private solicitors and other sources of assistance.
• Consumer action law centre
  Consumer Action provides free legal advice and representation to vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers across Victoria, it is the largest specialist consumer legal practice in Australia.
• Consumer affairs victoria
  Consumer Affairs Victoria investigates complaints about fraudulent, illegal or unfair trade or commercial practices regarding goods and services.
• Council on the ageing
  The Council on the Ageing (COTA) provides information to seniors, their relatives and the community, educates the community about the positive aspects of ageing, monitors government policy and services, and ensures that older people are receiving the care and service they require.
• Energy and water ombudsman victoria
  The Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria investigates complaints about the actions of electricity, gas and water companies operating in Victoria.
• Office of senior victorians
  The Office of Senior Victorians (OSV) coordinates policy and action across Government to promote the wellbeing and social participation of older Victorians.
• Public transport ombudsman
  The Public Transport Ombudsman deals with complaints about Victorian public transport that members of the community have been unable to resolve directly with the public transport operators.
• Seniors information victoria
  Seniors Information Victoria is a free and confidential advisory and information service for older people, their relatives and friends wanting information on issues affecting older people.
• State ombudsman
  The State Ombudsman investigates complaints against State departments, statutory bodies and local councils.
• Support and housing for young people
  SHYP provides transitional housing and support to young people aged 16 - 24 years old who are homeless (or are at risk of becoming homeless) in the City of Yarra and surrounding areas.
• Telecommunications industry ombudsman
  The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman deals with disputes that consumers have not been able to resolve with their telephone or internet service provider.
• Victoria legal aid
  Victoria Legal Aid provides advice and information about how to use the courts and legal system. Pensioners and beneficiaries who require legal representation may apply for legal aid.
• Victorian welfare rights unit
  The unit provides information about social security entitlements and helps people with the review and appeals processes.