Mervyn was our guest speaker on behalf of the Department of Communities, WA Seniors Card Centre.
Western Australia was the first State to introduce the Seniors Card. That was back in 1988 under the leadership of Labor Government Premier Dowding. The Minister for the Aged at that time was Kay Hallahan. She had an idea to validate seniors and presented it to Parliament, which approved the scheme. It was launched at the Maylands Community Centre.
It took a few years to develop but in its first year, 50,000 seniors signed up.
From 2000 under the State Government Seniors Strategy, more concessions have been added to encourage active ageing and maintaining social connections.
At the moment, there are 430,000 Seniors Card members, which is 93 per cent of the eligible population of over 65s.
It is projected that in 2029-30, 500,000 seniors will be signed up to the Seniors Card.
To be eligible, you must be 65-years-old or older, an Australian citizen or permanent resident, reside in WA, and retired or not exceeding 25 hours a week in paid employment.
WA receives the most benefits of any State, which include free off peak public transport, spectacles subsidy, driver’s licence and fishing licence rebate, a Department of Transport photo card (if you don’t need a driver’s licence), subsidised entry to WA museums and national parks, water service and local government rebates and emergency services levy.
A Seniors Card without a Commonwealth Pension Card is estimated to be worth $900, with a pension around $2500 to $3000.
Another important rebate which is offered is the one-off Safety and Security rebate of $400, which includes home alarm and/or CCTV systems, deadlocks, Wifi or wired video doorbell, mains powered smoke alarms, security doors and windows screens and security sensor lights, residual current devices, fire extinguishers or fire blankets.
To date there have been 35,000 security claims. Almost every senior Mervyn has spoken to about these added safety features is very happy. The security rebate is also available to seniors who rent, with their landlord’s permission.
The cost of living rebate is automatically applied to Seniors Card holders bank accounts each year.
The Discount Directory, which was first launched in 1996, is due to be released very soon and aims to encourage more engagement and active lifestyles in the seniors’ community.
Mervyn gave us a comprehensive breakdown of all the features the Seniors Card has to offer. Members agreed that it is a great asset to being a senior and living in this State but also that they didn’t fully utilise the Seniors Card across the many concessions that it offers.
It is definitely worth visiting the WA Seniors Card website and finding out more ways that it can benefit us. All except for Aaron of course, who we all laughingly agreed was far too young to concern himself with it just yet.