Pensioner rebates

Pensioners are entitled to a discount on the rate account for their owner occupied residence. We're continuing to support pensioners by providing a rebate of up to 40 per cent on their rates bill.

There are two types of Council rebates available to pensioners: 

Maximum rebate (valid from 1 July 2024)

The maximum rebate is available to people on a full pension. Under this scheme Council grants a 40% rebate on rates up to a maximum of $312.00 per quarter ($1248.00 per year).

Partial rebate (valid from 1 July 2024)

A partial rebate is available to people on an allowance/benefit or a part pension. Under this scheme Council grants a 20% rebate on rates up to a maximum of $156.00 per quarter ($624.00 per year).

State Government subsidy

For eligible pensioners, the state government also grants a 20% rebate on the rate account up to a maximum of $50 per quarter ($200 per year) plus 20% of the Emergency Management Levy.

Eligibility

To be eligible for either the maximum or partial pensioner rebate, you must own and live on the property permanently and have one of the following:

  • a current Centrelink Queensland Pensioner Concession Card
  • a Queensland issued Veterans' Affairs Gold Card
  • a Queensland issued Veterans' Affairs Pensioner Concession Card.

The cards that do not qualify for a rebate are Seniors cards, Health Care cards, Health Benefit cards and Veteran Health cards for specific conditions.

Rebates can only be granted on one property per quarter.

Maximum rebate eligibility

You may be eligible for a maximum rebate on your rates if you receive the:

  • Age pension
  • Carer payment
  • Disability Support pension
  • Wife pension
  • Widow pension
  • Parenting Payment Single
  • Service pension
  • War Widow/Widower pensions with full Income Support Supplement
  • Veterans' Affairs' Disability/TPI/EDA pension (conditions apply).

Partial rebate eligibility

You may be eligible for a partial rebate on your rates if you receive a:

  • part pension (of any kind)
  • a government allowance/benefit
  • War Widow/War Widower pension with less than full or no Income Support Supplement
  • Disability/TPI/EDA pension.

You may also be eligible:

  • if you are a World War II veteran aged 70 years or over with qualifying service from that conflict
  • hold a Queensland Veterans' Affairs Repatriation Health Card for All Conditions (gold card) but receive no payment.

State Government subsidy only

Where a pensioner holds a current Centrelink Queensland Pensioner Concession Card (PCC), but does not receive a pension, the PCC cardholder may be eligible to receive the State Government Subsidy only. Unless they receive a pension and meet all other eligibility, they will not be eligible for Council's pensioner rebate.

How to apply

Centrelink and Department of Veterans' Affairs pensioners can apply for rates rebates, including State Government Subsidy, by calling Council on 07 3403 8888. You will need your Pensioner Concession Card or Gold Card.

Alternatively, Centrelink and Department of Veterans' Affairs pensioners can apply in person by visiting Council, or at any Ward Office.

Proof of pension/allowance must be produced at the time of application.

If you are applying for a maximum or partial rebate on your rates, you must include:

  • your Queensland Pensioner Concession Card or Queensland Veteran Card for All Conditions (Gold Card)
  • a copy of your rate notice (if possible)
  • proof of pension received (concession eligibility letter from Centrelink Queensland or Department of Veterans' Affairs).

If you do not receive a pension/allowance, a copy of your Queensland Pensioner Concession Card is all that is required.

If the property is under joint names, all applicants who are in receipt of a pension must produce the required information. For example, two owners on a pension must both produce pension cards and proof of payment. However, if only one owner is on a pension and the other owner is listed on their Pensioner Concession Card as their partner, then they may be entitled to additional rebate for their share of the property.

If a joint owner dies, the remaining owner must reapply for the discount and provide a death certificate.

In the case of life tenancy, the applicant must provide:

  • a certified copy of the will, stating the applicant is a life tenant and responsible for paying the rates, or 
  • a court order – supreme/family and death certificate
  • Queensland Pensioner Concession Card or Queensland Veteran Card for All Conditions (Gold Card)
  • a copy of the rate notice (if possible)
  • proof of pension received (concession eligibility letter from Centrelink, and/or Department of Veterans' Affairs with the relevant pension card)
  • if life tenancy is for more than one person, all applicants must produce the required information. (if two owners are both on a pension, each owner must produce a pension card and proof of pension payment)
  • if they do not receive a pension/allowance then a copy of their Queensland Pensioner Concession Card is all that is required.

Retirement facilities and relocatable home parks

Council offers a rebate to tenants of a retirement facility or relocatable home park which has agreed to pass on rebates to its eligible tenants. Tenants must make an application in person by visiting Council, or at any Ward Office.

If you are applying for a discount and are a tenant of a retirement facility or relocatable home park, you need to provide:

  • Queensland Pensioner Concession Card or Queensland Repatriation Health Card for All Conditions (Gold Card)
  • proof of pension received (concession eligibility letter from Centrelink Queensland or Department of Veterans' Affairs).

Tenants of retirement facilities or relocatable home parks are NOT entitled to State Government subsidy.

Make sure you record the unit or site number in the village or caravan park on your application.

Pensioner rebate applications should be received by Council by the following dates to ensure commencement as of the next rates release:

  • 31 March
  • 30 June
  • 30 September
  • 31 December.

It is your responsibility to notify Council if your pension changes.

Accounts in arrears

If a pensioner's rate account goes into arrears by $30 or more, Council will remove its rebate. When the arrears are paid in full, the reduction will be automatically reinstated from the following quarter.

The state government component of the reduction will continue even if the rate account is in arrears.

A pensioner whose rate account is in arrears will have their Council rebate reinstated if they agree to a payment plan to repay their arrears within a reasonable time frame. If the regular repayment of rates does not occur, the Council rebate will be removed for the next rate account period. This only applies to customers who hold a Queensland Pensioner Concession Card and/or Queensland Veteran Card for All Conditions (Gold Card) and receive a payment from their pension provider.

More information

For more information or to apply you can:

Further information about Council's pensioner rebate can be found in the Pensioners Partial Rebate of Rates and Charges Policy (Word - 117kb).

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