Pensioner relief from card -œouting
The Government has made good on an undertaking to allow concession cardholders to choose whether their partner’s name appears on their Centrelink concession cards.
The names of both partners will now be optional for those on the pension. The provision is an attempt to soften the blow for same-sex couples on Centrelink having to declare their relationships by July 1.
Gay and lesbian rights lobbyists have raised fears many elderly people on the pension would be unfairly positioned if, having lived in a closeted relationship all their life, they were suddenly forced to include the name of their same-sex partner on their pension card.
When launching the new Centrelink -œCouples are Couples advertisements last month, Minister for Human Services Senator Joe Ludwig announced changes to Centrelink concession cards.
-œFrom July, any customer who would like a concession card reissued without their partner’s details will be able to do so, he said.
-œBoth cards will remain valid and can be used by the customers as they choose.
info: For more about the same-sex reforms Centrelink customers can visit centrelink.gov.au or call 13 6280.
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Well, it’s a start! It’s increasingly feeling like we’re not going to see any grandfathering of the legislation though.