Intrepid Single Mum Saves Over $800 with Simple Phone Call
A single mother from the Blue Mountains, Alyce Verade, has ingeniously saved more than $800 in car registration and licence fees by simply making one phone call. As a mum of three, every additional dollar is vital, and Alyce is determined to direct the funds towards her children’s expenses.
Verade holds a Pensioner Concession Card, which provides various benefits, including discounted medicines and bulk-billing for medical services. For eligible cardholders in New South Wales, this also includes free car registration and licence fees, if certain criteria are met.
Alyce learned about this advantageous rule through her hairdresser and quickly reached out to Services NSW. To her astonishment, she discovered that she was entitled to a refund of $692 for her car registration, plus an additional refund exceeding $200 for her driver’s licence, contingent on the timing of her Pensioner Concession Card acquisition. This unexpected refund totalled over $800, a boon for her financially strapped household.
“I was so shocked that I was eligible for that,” she recounted in an interview with Yahoo Finance. Verade, who has been receiving the Single Parenting Payment since December 2023, noted the entire process was swift and easy. “They were so helpful. It was over and all done within 10 minutes,” she said, only needing to provide her Centrelink number and the last transaction from Services NSW.
The benefits granted to those with a Pensioner Concession Card include exemptions from various fees, such as registration and transfer fees, stamp duty, and motor vehicle tax. Furthermore, eligible pensioners also enjoy free driving tests and other related costs, although specifics depend on state regulations.
For example, in Victoria, holders of the same card are eligible for a substantial discount of 50% on their vehicle registration fees, while Queensland offers similar concessions aimed at easing the financial burden of vehicle registration costs.
The Pensioner Concession Card is automatically issued to eligible holders based on their qualifications for certain payments, including the Age Pension, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, and Parenting Payment Single.
Verade expressed that the newfound funds would significantly alleviate her financial pressure. She works three casual jobs in retail and as a teacher’s aide while caring for her three young children, aged 7, 6, and 3. “That $800 is going to go towards the kids, that’s where all the money always goes. So groceries, bills, and school clothes are where the funds will go,” she highlighted.
Encouraging others to explore available benefits, Verade has shared her success with friends, with one also discovering eligibility for a $500 refund. “There are things out there to help us make our day-to-day life easier,” she affirmed.
Support and benefits for Pensioner Concession Card holders extend to healthcare, public transport, and even reduced utility bills, depending on the local council and state policies.
In her closing remarks, Alyce Verade emphasised the importance of checking for potential financial assistance, reiterating how a single phone call can lead to significant savings for those eligible.
This revelation serves as a reminder of the myriad benefits available to those on set assistance programs and the importance of advocating for oneself to maximise financial support.
