More than 100,000 Western Australian seniors have already lodged applications for the Liberal-National Government’s Cost of Living Rebate.
Seniors and Volunteering Minister Robyn McSweeney said the response had been overwhelming, with the Seniors Card centre averaging around 1,300 calls a day since the rebate was announced a few weeks ago.
The rebate is $100 a year for single Seniors Card holders and $150 for couples living in the same household.
Mrs McSweeney said the majority of calls to the centre were from seniors who wanted to update their address details or apply for a Seniors Card in order to receive the rebate.
“There are more than 350,000 seniors in WA, 268,000 of who held a card at the time the rebate was announced. We expect at least 300,000 to apply for the rebate,” she said.
“Extra staff have been put on at the Seniors Card centre to deal with enquiries, with about 20 people on hand to answer the phones at one time. I ask seniors to be patient when calling and reassure them that anyone who is eligible for a rebate will receive one.”
The Minister said she was disappointed in the Opposition for scaremongering seniors into believing they would miss out on the rebate or that the process was too complex.
“The truth is that the seniors’ card data collection was left in such a mess by the previous government that we have had to update the system by mailing out the applications forms for the rebate,” Mrs McSweeney said.
“If we had used the Opposition’s database to send out the rebate in cheques like they requested, then we would have had thousands of cheques returned as their information on seniors’ details was so out of date.
“Once seniors fill out the application form this year, they will not need to fill out the form next year or in subsequent years to receive the rebate.
“Instead of confusing seniors, the Opposition should be supporting this positive initiative which aims to make life a little easier for those who have contributed so much to the WA community.”
Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria but does not have a Seniors Card, can apply before March 31, 2009 to receive the rebate.
Seniors Card holders who do not receive an application form, have changed address or circumstance, or who lose the form, can obtain an application form by emailing seniorscard@communities.wa.gov.au, or phone the Seniors Card hotline weekdays from 9am to 3pm on 6217 8855 (1800 671 233 for country callers).
Minister's office - 9222 8950