An aged pensioner has had to battle to have his rates discount reinstated after it was revoked.
Tamborine Mountain resident Mark Spencer was overseas when he received a letter from Scenic Rim Regional Council, saying the discount had been revoked due to a “discrepancy”.
“I was away so I got my son to open it,” Mr Spencer said.
Mr Spencer emailed council about the decision, but said the response he received didn’t adequately explain why he was no longer eligible.
He had been approved to receive the discount only a year earlier.
Mr Spencer said a Senior Revenue Officer from council told him she thought the decision to revoke the discount related to him being overseas.
After contacting both State Member Jon Krause’s office and Centrelink, he was told by Centrelink that the decision had nothing to do with him being overseas.
“Nobody could come up with any rational reason as to why there was a so-called discrepancy.”
Division One Councillor Amanda Hay also tried to assist with the issue.
Eventually, Mr Spencer was told to fill in another form and have his aged pension card copied.
“Then I got an email, with a letter attached, saying I was eligible,” he stated.
Mr Spencer’s concern now is the administrative cost of the process.
“All these people involved from three levels of government for a rebate which is around $100.”
“You could multiply that by about 30 to find what the real costs have been.”
“I think it is a bit of a farce.
“They are obligated to check to see if that pensioner is still alive – I understand that.
“But this discrepancy has never been clarified.”
“I’m not happy about it – I wasted all this time and effort and all these people got involved for nothing.”
Council’s Director Corporate and Community Services, Jason Bradshaw, was unable to comment on Mr Spencer’s case due to privacy, however he said the Queensland Government Pensioner Rate Subsidy Scheme is administered by Council on behalf of the State Government.
“Each year, Council must undertake an eligibility verification process through a Centrelink portal, as required by the Queensland Government, to determine the eligibility of all customers claiming the State Government pensioner rate subsidy,” Mr Bradshaw said.
“Council receives information confirming or declining eligibility to the subsidy.”
Council provides an assurance to the State every year that the verification process has been completed.
“Following the verification check, Council writes to the ratepayers concerned and provides an opportunity for them to respond where they feel a discrepancy has been returned in the verification check.”
“All discrepancies must be reverified via the Centrelink portal to reinstate the subsidy.
“Any customer who remains unverified, or whose response has not been received by Council by the date required, will have the pensioner rate subsidy removed and a new pension application form would need to be completed for any future subsidy.
“For clarity, Council is administering this process and does not offer pensioner rate subsidies as it only administers the State Government pensioner rate subsidy scheme.”
