McBride Keeps Locals Up To Date On Pension Increase

The Wyoming Community Centre was at capacity last Friday as Emma McBride MP hosted one of her regular seniors’ forums with Services Australia and the Seniors Rights Service.

The forum followed the September 20 increases to the Age Pension, Rent Assistance, and Home Care Packages, and expansions to income and asset tests for income support and the Seniors Health Care Card.

McBride also updated seniors on the Labor Government’s work to ease the cost of living, including tax cuts for every taxpayer, $300 energy bill relief for every household, cheaper medicines, and increases to bulk billing.

The Labor Government is easing pressure by freezing the maximum cost of PBS prescriptions and adding more medicines to the PBS. For the next five years, eligible cardholders won't pay more than $7.70 for medications on the PBS.

Representatives from Services Australia and Seniors Rights Australia gave presentations on the changes and the assistance they can provide. Attendees took the opportunity to speak with Financial Information Service staff from Services Australia and book face-to-face appointments to discuss their future.

This is the third seniors forum McBride has held in her community since July, following previous events in Long Jetty and Toukley.

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister McBride, Member for Dobell:

“Over the past 8 years as the Member for Dobell, I’ve held seniors’ forums across our community to keep local seniors up-to-date with the information and support.

“I’m working to deliver cost-of-living relief for local seniors, including increases to the pension, energy bill relief and cheaper medicines.”

“Expanding the eligibility for the Seniors Health Care Card means more people can access to cheaper medicines. As we’ve frozen the maximum cost of PBS prescriptions, cardholders won't pay more than $7.70 for PBS medications.”