[Michael Olthof]

Howdy all,

It was announced in the Federal Budget that the PCC would be reinstated to all those impacted by the asset test change introduced in January this year.

Does anyone know when this will be effective, or how to find out? (We had 500 assessments affected earlier this year in half of our LGA – so that’s 500 applications to expect in 2017/18.)

Regards, MO.

[Robert Hay]

Hi MO

I have passed this onto the OLG and am hoping for an answer by next Monday at the State Exec meeting.

Robert

[Trevor Holland]

Hiya Everybody

Looks like we are all in the same boat. We haven’t seen anything on this yet either.

Our guess is that reinstatement will mean taking the entitlement back to the date of loss in January this year.

Blue Mountains was affected to the tune of approx. 300 rate accounts so we can expect a bit of an influx come the issue of the July rate notice if not before.

We will also be including an article in our quarterly newsletter regarding pensioner concessions and eligibility.

Regards
Trevor

[Dajana Poblete]

On Centrelink website ratepayers will regain entitlement to a Pensioner Concession Card on 9 October 2017. It is still unclear whether the date of grant and entitlement will be backdated. Has there been any update on this?

[Trevor Holland]

Good Morning Everyone
A quick question on the issue of PCC reinstatement.
As everyone would know the reinstatement of the PCC has started happening. Date of entitlement showing on the cards is 9 October and we are granting the rebates effective from that date. So far so good.
Most ratepayers are happy to just be reinstated. However we have a number of customers who are jumping up and down and carrying on about having to complete a new application form.
Customers are saying that when they ring Sydney Water to advise of the PCC reinstatement they are reinstated without being required to complete a new application form.

It has always been my understanding that if you lose eligibility for the rebate you are required to reapply. A new application form needs to be completed including the customer’s signature to confirm ongoing eligibility.

My question is how are Sydney Water able to reinstate by only receiving the details over the phone?

Would be interested in hearing comments from other Revenue folk.

Thanks
Trevor

[Robert Hay]

Hi Trevor

My guess is they are using a form that has been approved by human services that enables them to take applications over the phone.

We would be able to do this to if we still weren’t waiting for the new approved electronic and phone application forms to be issued by the OLG.

This has been raised with the OLG on numerous occasions but still no luck at getting a release date yet.

Robert

[Matthew Saunders]

Penrith City Council is allowing these customers to re-apply over the telephone. From our point of view we have a form signed by the customer that says “unless I revoke my consent, this applicant Consent record is a permanent consent, and may be relied on by the Council until such time as I revoke it” and we are taking that as being current even after we removed their rebate (they haven’t revoked their consent).

We still have a signed consent form to show Centrelink, so we don’t feel there are any other barriers stopping us.

Matthew.

[Phil Chapman]

For those reinstated PPC with card start dates of 9 October 2017, what instalments are councils applying the rebate to (2-4 or 3-4)? My understanding of Section 575(4) of the Act is that the rebate should only be applied for 3-4, however I believe it may be a fair claim to apply to 2-4.

[Robert Hay]

Hi Phil
You are correct in your interpretation of Section 575(4) apply to instalments 3 and 4 if card start date is 09/10/2017.
Fair or not any other interpretation would be a breach of the Act, which no doubt auditors would question.

Robert

[Andrew Butcher]

Hi everyone

We were audited this year by the Auditor General and can advise that they went through the Act asking detailed questions regarding compliance. The date of service and eligibility came up a number of times and totally agree with Robert that there is a risk to any council that does not strictly adhere to the legislation.

Hope this is helpful.

Regards,

Andrew

[Tracey Walker]

Hi everyone,
As Robert has alerted to if we had the new forms to take over the phone we would do that, but we don’t and have made everyone re-apply. the rebate has only been applied to instalments 3-4 as per the legislation.

[David Grima]

Morning all,
Is there any legislative requirement to site the PCC? We have always done so here at RCC and now Bayside.
Our Customer Service team have turned away a couple who brought in letters and now one has gone to the Local Member and I need to prepare a reply.
Baldy

[Andrew Butcher]

Hi Dave,
Short answer is no, but I don’t think your issue is with granting a concession its with a concession ceasing. The letter issued by Centrelink usually has a commencement date and an end date on it. What this then means is that document is only valid for the period stated (I believe 14 days) which technically means they are only eligible between the start and end date.
So, if you have levied the rates and they become eligible grant the rebate according to the date they go on, then take them off based on the end date on the letter.
Seems ridiculous but those are the rules. We had the same issue happen here which also escalated to the local member and we advised as per above. Our process has always included taking a copy of the letter which is attached to the PCC application and we ask the ratepayer to post or bring in a copy of their card when they get it. Mostly we ask them to come back once they have their card and people agree to this.
Good luck.
Regards,
Andrew

[Suzi Flynn]

Hi everyone,

The City will be relying on reapplication by the pensioner to reinstate.

However, I know Sutherland Shire are of the same opinion as Penrith that the authority to check eligibility previously signed by the pensioner remains in place unless they have revoked it. Sutherland are checking evryone’s eligibility through Centrelink and reinstating rebates from 1 Jan 2018 if eligibility is confirmed, without requiring the pensioner to reapply.

Suzi

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