Changes in age eligibility for ACT Seniors Cards
In November 2019, the ACT Government announced that the eligibility age for ACT Seniors Cards will be lowered to 60 years.
This change will come into effect on 1 July 2020.
See below the media release from Minister for Seniors and Veterans Gordon Ramsay MLA.
MEDIA RELEASE
Age of eligibility lowered to 60 for Seniors card
The ACT Government has today announced that from July 2020 Canberrans aged 60 or over will be entitled to obtain a senior’s card.
Minister for Seniors and Veterans Gordon Ramsay said that older Canberrans play a substantial role in the ACT community and that allowing a greater number of older Canberrans to access concessions would benefit older Canberrans and the community more broadly.
“Our community of older Canberrans has the highest rates of volunteering and caring nationally and are the healthiest and most educated in the country,” Minister Ramsay said.
“They bring significant resources through their years of experience to the social, community and economic life of our city.
“As our city continues to grow it’s important that we ensure that older Canberrans remain engaged in our community and that they have access to the appropriate services at a reasonable cost.
“Everyone benefits when the intrinsic worth of older people and their active involvement in the community, and as decision makers, is valued and fostered.
“First and foremost, the seniors card helps ease some cost of living pressures for our older Canberrans, but perhaps more importantly than a reduction in cost is how the scheme encourages social inclusion.
“I am proud that the ACT Government is working to ensure that our city continues to grow and develop and is shaped as an age-friendly city in which the infrastructure, culture and support services enable our seniors to lead rich, happy and healthy lives,” Minister Ramsay said.
The ACT Seniors Card provides –
- a 10 per cent discount on motor vehicle registration;
- 28 per cent for electric vehicle registration
- concessional public transport fares at peak times and free travel at off peak times; and
- a broad range of discounts from private businesses.
The Seniors Card also allows seniors to access reciprocal discounts in other States and Territories.
There are around 8,500 seniors in the ACT aged 60 and 61. To be eligible for the Card, seniors must not be in paid employment for more than 20 hours per week.