News For Seniors
Issue 94 | APRIL 2015
A publication offering information, guidance and inspiration to Australian senior citizens
News for Seniors subscription
If you would like to receive a copy of News for Seniors, call 132 300. You can also change your address by writing to:
Seniors Hub, PO Box 7808, Canberra BC, ACT 2610.
Department of Veterans’ Affairs customers should call 133 254 or Freecall™ 1800 555 254.
If you would like to receive News for Seniors in a language other than English, call 131 202. If you have a vision impairment and would prefer to receive an audio version, call 132 300.
To view English and non-English versions, go to humanservices.gov.au/newsforseniors
DISCLAIMER: The Australian Government has attempted to ensure the information in this publication is accurate. However, the government does not warrant that the information is accurate or complete nor will it be liable for any loss suffered by any person because they rely on it in any way. You should contact your local Department of Human Services office or Department of Veterans’ Affairs state office for full details of any entitlements and services to which you may be eligible, or how any pending changes in legislation, programs or services may affect you.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2015. ISSN 1033-8365
A message from the Prime Minister
I’m pleased to be able to update you on some important government actions to protect your savings and to support seniors.
You may recall that in 2012 the period of time for inactive bank accounts to be declared unclaimed was reduced from seven years to three years. As a result, millions of dollars held in thousands of active savings accounts were transferred to the government. In 2012–13 more than 156 000 accounts worth about $550 million disappeared into the government’s coffers. People had to go through the time-consuming and costly process of reclaiming their money. In some cases this took six months. This caused real financial distress, especially for older Australians and community groups, who were not able to access their own funds when they needed them.
Recently, I announced that the government would deliver on our commitment to restore the time bank accounts and life insurance policies can be inactive before they are transferred to the government to seven years. Children’s bank accounts will be exempt to ensure funds put aside in these accounts will never be transferred to the government. This recognises that many people choose to put money aside for their children’s future.
We are also making changes to protect the privacy of individuals who have genuinely inactive accounts transferred to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission to address concerns around identity theft and to stop unscrupulous people from preying on vulnerable Australians. Some unscrupulous businesses have been using this information to charge fees as high as 25 per cent to reunite people with their own money.
I am also pleased to confirm that Australia’s age pensioners receiving the maximum rate of payment are $51.80 per fortnight better off for singles and $78 per fortnight for couples since the government was elected. The recent indexing of the Age Pension provides single age pensioners a $5.90 boost to their fortnightly payment or $153.40 a year while couples will receive an extra $8.80 a fortnight or $228.80 a year.
Electricity bills are also lower as a result of the abolition of the carbon tax. The carbon tax is gone and the government is continuing to pay the Energy Supplement—that’s an additional $14.10 per fortnight for single pensioners and $21.20 for couples.
There is also good news for part pensioners. Income tested part-pensioners will receive a double boost to their payments as a result of the recent change to lower deeming rates. More than 770 000 Australians will receive, on average, an extra $83.20 a year as a result of this government decision.
My government wants to do the right thing by Australian seniors—and especially to help pensioners keep up with the cost of living.
A message from the Minister
Welcome to the first 2015 edition of News for Seniors.
In the previous edition of News for Seniors, we included a special supplement outlining the growing range of digital services the department has to offer. I hope you found this useful and perhaps were inspired to start using the department’s digital services. In this edition, some of our Service Officers have shared their stories about helping enthusiastic older Australians use our digital options, like the Express Plus mobile apps and myGov.
Earlier this year I was pleased to officially open a myGov shopfront in Sydney. The government is committed to making it easier to access services you need and the new shopfront is a key part of that goal, bringing together the Department of Human Services and the Australian Taxation Office into one place.
The opening of the Sydney myGov shopfront follows the success of the Brisbane shopfront, which opened in June 2014. The public response to the Brisbane myGov has been extremely positive. Older Australians who attended the Brisbane opening told me learning how to use the range of online options was a
positive experience.
If you don’t live close to a myGov shopfront, staff at all our service centres are happy to show you how to use our mobile apps and self service computers. They can show you how to create a myGov account if you haven’t done so already. The service now has over 6 million active users and you can read more about the new features and enhancements to the service on page 12.
While we are meeting the demand for seamless and efficient technological services, the department continues to offer phone and face-to-face services to help Australians through different phases of their lives. Our Multicultural Service Officers (MSOs) are a prime example of this.
For 25 years, MSOs have helped millions of customers access government programs and services.
The relationship the MSOs have with groups and organisations in culturally and linguistically diverse communities is invaluable. I know our dedicated MSOs are proud to be out amongst the multicultural communities, helping people understand their options and the services available to them. There are a range of translated publications available on the Human Services website—including News for Seniors. Visit humanservices.gov.au/yourlanguage or to speak to someone in your language about Centrelink payments and services, call our Multilingual Phone Service on 131 202.
Lastly, I want to reflect with you on the enormous sacrifice our parents and grandparents undertook for us. In April, I will join you in remembering the sacrifice made by Australian and New Zealand troops who landed and fought at Gallipoli 100 years ago. Lest we forget.
Reporting your employment income
Changes to your income may affect your payment. We need to know how much you have earned each fortnight so you’re paid the right amount. You need to tell us if your circumstances change, including any changes to your income. If you do not tell us about changes to your circumstances within 14 days, your payment may be affected.
You can report your employment income by:
•logging on to your Centrelink online account through myGov and selecting ‘Report employment income’
•using an Express Plus mobile app, or
•calling 133 276 on your reporting day.
If you tell us the wrong amount, you need to call or visit us as soon as possible to fix the mistake. This will ensure we pay you the right amount. You cannot use self service to change an amount you have already reported.
For more information visit humanservices.gov.au and search for ‘income reporting’.
Income Stream Reviews are now quicker
Each year in August and February, we review certain types of income streams. When it’s time for you to complete an Income Stream Review, we will let you know.
A quick and easy way to complete an Income Stream Review is online using your myGov account.
To use your myGov account:
1.Log on to your Centrelink online account through my.gov.au
2.Select your ‘Income Stream Review reminder’ and be guided through the process step-by-step.
If you can’t complete the review using your myGov account, a unique One Time Access Code is provided in your Income Stream Review letter. The One Time Access Code is secure, simple and easy to use. It will allow you, or your nominee, to complete the review online at humanservices.gov.au/incomestreamreviews
If you cannot complete the review online, call us on 132 300. Make sure you have the information about your Income Stream Review products ready.
Our website has a range of support tools including videos and guides to help you use our online services. Visit humanservices.gov.au/onlineguides
If you don’t have a myGov account, you can create one at my.gov.au
With a myGov account you can claim a range of payments, request income statements, update personal details and more.
It’s easy to set up your Centrelink online account through myGov—select ‘Services’ and then the ‘link’ icon.
For more information about myGov, see page 12.
Champion marathon swimmer living life to the full...
It was a decades-old promise to his former local swimming coach, Des Renford, and a personal pledge to raise funds for cancer research at the Melanoma Institute, which motivated Cyril Baldock to swim across the English Channel to France at the age of 70 years and 9 months. Cyril’s first swim across the English Channel was in 1985 when he was 41 years old.
Completing the gruelling 34 km marathon swim in 12 hours and 45 minutes on 20 August 2014, Cyril broke the Guinness World Record as the oldest man in history to do so.
With a support crew in the boat offering encouragement and sustenance, he arrived at Cap Gris Nez in France, exhausted but exhilarated. ‘I haven’t had that much fun in years,’ Cyril said after his marathon swim. ‘At the 10 hour mark I felt like I was going nowhere but my support crew was fantastic in their encouragement and inspired me to make it to the finish.’
A life member of Bondi Surf Club, with a patrol named after him for his dedication and commitment to the club, Cyril is still very active as he works to motivate and inspire younger swimmers. His passion and love for the ocean date back to his childhood. Cyril joined the surf club in 1958 at the age of 15. His grandchildren have followed his love of the ocean and are training as Nippers at their local Eastern Suburbs beach.
His efforts and achievements have been noted by many near and far. Cyril was honoured to be nominated for Performance of the Year in 2014 by the World Open Swimming Association. He has raised over $13 000 for charity, and those who have donated to Cyril’s fundraising efforts describe him as an inspiring champion who makes them feel proud to be an Australian.
Cyril acknowledges his swim would not have been possible without the sponsorship of an aged care facility in Bondi. The Director of the facility, Laurie Kresner, is also a former schoolmate of Cyril’s and said his old friend is a man who represents positive ageing and achievement. ‘Cyril and I go way back, so having an opportunity to support him in this endeavour is an honour. Cyril is a first class athlete and a proud Australian. We strive for excellence in aged care and Cyril strives to excel not only in his sporting field but by gracefully ‘ageing well’ and setting goals when naysayers say we [seniors] may be past our prime!,’ said Laurie.
As a motivational speaker, Cyril gives talks to residents, staff and guests at aged care facilities in Bondi, Sutherland and Bankstown. He inspires them with tales of his dedicated training regime and the gruelling isolation of marathon swimming. Cyril’s advice is that age should not restrict living life to the fullest and that it can often be mind over matter. Ageing does not dampen the enthusiasm to live well and be positive!
Cyril’s outlook on life and overcoming challenges is an inspiration to all.
If you have a Twitter account, you can follow Cyril @BaldockCyril
Anzac Day
The Anzac Centenary, 2014 to 2018, is one of Australia’s most important periods of national commemoration. It’s a time for all Australians to remember and commemorate the service and sacrifice of those who have served in the Australian Defence Force over the last 100 years.
Anzac Day 2015 marks the centenary of the Anzac landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. This battle was one of many significant battles fought by Australian and New Zealand troops during the First World War.
As a nation, we pause on Anzac Day to remember the contribution of all Australians who served in the First World War, and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. We also honour the contributions made by Australian service men and women from all wars, conflicts and peace-keeping operations over the last 100 years, and reflect on the families and communities that support them.
There are lots of ways you can commemorate the Anzac Centenary, including:
Attending a Dawn Service
You can join in a local Dawn Service or watch the television broadcast of the Gallipoli and Villers-Bretonneux services on the ABC.
Watching an Anzac Day March
You can find out about marches in your area by contacting your local Returned and Services League (RSL).
Anzac Centenary Photo App
Experience how local communities are marking this significant milestone in our history by viewing and sharing images of commemorations from Australia and around the world using the Anzac Centenary Photo App at spirit.anzaccentenary.gov.au
The assessment of account-based income streams has changed
On 1 January 2015, the following changes to the assessment of account-based income streams took effect.
Customers receiving income support payments
The assessment of income from account-based income streams (also called account-based pensions or allocated pensions) for customers receiving pensions and allowances has changed. If you used superannuation to purchase account-based income stream products, the balance of these products is now assessed as if they are returning a certain percentage of income, regardless of the actual income being earned or drawn down.
This is known as ‘deeming’, which is how we assess income from other financial investments for income support payments. Deeming means you do not have to advise actual returns and may reduce the extent to which your payments vary.
For more information about deeming and the changes to the deeming rules for income support payments visit the Department of Social Services (DSS) website, dss.gov.au and go to the Seniors section, select ‘Benefits and payments’ and search for ‘Age Pension’. An e-Booklet is also available from the DSS website on the ‘Deeming Information’ page.
Customers holding a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
The assessment for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) has changed:
•Account-based income streams will be assessed using the deeming rules. The deeming rules assume your financial assets are earning a certain amount of income, regardless of the income they actually earn. If these financial assets earn more than these amounts, the extra income is not assessed.
•Account-based income streams you held before 1 January 2015 will not be assessed using the deeming rules, providing you remain eligible for the CSHC from 31 December 2014.
•If you change products, or buy a new account-based income stream from 1 January 2015, the new product will be assessed using the deeming rules.
•If you have a partner who is aged 60 or more and not the holder of a CSHC, any account-based income streams they hold, regardless of when they purchased the product, will be assessed under the deeming rules and may affect your entitlement to the CSHC.
•If you’re no longer eligible for the CSHC from 1 January 2015, any account-based income streams you hold will be assessed under the deeming rules if you reapply for a CSHC.
•If you’re a Low Income Health Care Card holder, the deemed income from your account-based income stream will be used to assess your entitlement.
For more information about the CSHC, visit humanservices.gov.au/seniorshealthcard
Greater control over your aged care services
Freda Bishop has always been fiercely independent. At 101 years of age, she has overcome numerous obstacles over her lifetime and losing her independence has always been one of her greatest concerns.
With her daughter, Helen, as her full time carer and with additional assistance through a home care package, Freda has been able to remain at home.
‘I became mum’s full time carer when mum was diagnosed with macular degeneration about 15 years ago,’ says Helen.
‘This was a difficult time for all of us, because mum had always enjoyed her independence.’
Over the last few years, Helen has taken on a greater carer role. Freda fell and broke her femur nine years ago, and Helen had to do most tasks for her.