Celia lost her Energy Supplement after being issued with a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC), but can’t understand why it is still being paid to other holders of this concession card.
Q. Celia
My Age Pension card was cancelled as of 1/1/2017 and I was re-issued with a CSHC due to my asset threshold changes. I no longer receive any Age Pension payments. However, my friend who had a CSHC all along, still receives her Energy Supplement. How come I don’t get this supplement along with my CSHC?
A. The Energy Supplement eligibility, in relation to the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC), changed as of 20 March 2017. If you were receiving an income support payment as at 19 September 2016 and then lost it, then claimed for a CSHC at a later date, you should still continue to be paid the Energy Supplement. However, you must make a claim for a CSHC within 42 days of losing your income support payment.
Therefore, if you were in receipt of the Age Pension as at 19 September 2016 and were issued a CSHC on 1 January after the asset threshold changes, you should be receiving the Energy Supplement.
You should contact Centrelink to enquire as to why you are not receiving this payment.
Find out more at humanservices.gov.au
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