26-October-2007
Goldstein Media Releases, Community
Pensioners, self funded retirees and carers in Bayside will benefit from the Coalition’s comprehensive plan to ensure all Australians share in the benefits of our strong and growing national economy, Andrew Robb, Federal Member for Goldstein said today.
More than 3 million Australians will benefit from a re-elected Coalition Government’s plans to reward and encourage those who have contributed, and continue to contribute, so much to our community.
More than 2 million older Australians of Age Pension age on income support, including 9,962 residents in Bayside, will benefit from the Coalition’s plan to increase the Utilities Allowance to $500 per year per single, and $500 per year for a couple.
The Coalition also recognises the emotional and financial burden that many carers carry by caring for a loved one who is disabled or frail aged.
“Over 270 carers in receipt of Carer Payment in Bayside will benefit from the Coalition’s plan to, for the first time, extend the Utilities Allowance to all carers on Carer Payment.
“The Coalition understands that many people in receipt of the Disability Support Pension are unable to benefit from Australia’s current strong labour market.
“That is why a re-elected Coalition Government will pay the Utilities Allowance to all disability support pensioners, including more than 2,154 people in Bayside,” Andrew Robb said.
Extensions to the Utilities Allowance will take effect from 20 March 2008.
Andrew Robb said the Coalition would also continue its strong support for self funded retirees, who have made a significant contribution to funding their own retirement, by more than doubling the Seniors Concession Allowance to $500 from June 2008.
These increases are in addition to the bonuses delivered by the Coalition Government in recent Federal Budgets.
“A re-elected Coalition Government will introduce a new Cost of Living Guarantee to ensure that if living costs for pensioners increase faster than general inflation or wages, pensions will be topped up to ensure that pensioners are fully compensated for increases in the cost of living. This will provide pensioners with a greater peace of mind.
“This increased assistance for local pensioners, carers, disability support pensioners and self-funded retirees is possible only because of the strong economy the Coalition has delivered to Australians,” Andrew Robb said.