Centrepay

[Banker]

Centrepay is a free service that allows customers to pay bills via regular deductions from their Centrelink payments.

If you receive regular Centrelink payments, you can use Centrepay.

You can use Centrepay to pay your bills. Just allocate an amount of money to be deducted from your Centrelink payments, and these deductions are sent directly to your nominated organisation as full or part payment for services.

Centrepay is free and you can start or stop deductions at any time.

There are many organisations that offer Centrepay as a bill-payment option for costs, including:

private rent (including community housing)
telecommunications
electricity, gas, and water
education fees and expenses
ambulance
child care
home care services
rental of household goods
medical services and equipment.

Contact the business or organisation you want to pay to find out whether it offers Centrepay. You can also contact us to find out whether an organisation is registered with Centrepay.

Note: Some participating organisations can organise Centrepay deductions for you.

Read More:
www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/centrepay

[Banjo]

Reminds me that if I'm spending more time in Aussie I have to take out Ambulance cover.
$42 a year is reasonable and it's huge $$$ if you get caught without it.

[hypoman]

wouldnt being on DSP include ambulance cover Banjo? or does it depend on the circumstances...? just curious if ever I should need one. I would like to know as im im not covered ill look at the ambo cover too mate...

[Banjo]

No, back in the day I lived in an inner city doss house to save money while my divorce came through and most of the guys there were alkies and the Catholic church who ran the place were always on their backs to join the ambulance incase they fell down the stairs.
And it is VERY expensive, particularly for emergency calls.

[Banker]

Ambulance cover, not sure about now but all pensioners were covered for free in Queensland when I left Australia in 2000.

Perhaps someone could up date us on the different states.

[Banjo]

My retired parents live in SA and pay ambulance through their private health cover.
They have a problem at the moment because Medibank Private don't want to pay for a trip they consider to be "non-emergency".... it was a shuttle between two hospitals, one a private, for my father.
I was pissed off because I could have driven him but now they may have to pay out about $300.

[spaceyone]

I was told ambulances are free for anyone on welfare in NSW.

However, you would need to have a valid medicare card to use the service.

[Banjo]

Might be worth checking out, I'm sure everyone pays in SA or why would they have a pensioners concession on the subscription?

[Banker]

Are Health Care cardholders or Pension Concession cardholders covered for ambulance transport?

All holders of Victorian Health Care cards and Pensioner Concession cards are entitled to free ambulance and air ambulance travel anywhere in Australia. This covers all emergency transport treatment and non-emergency transport on the recommendation of a doctor and approval by Ambulance Victoria. Dependants listed on these cards are also covered.

www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/Singles/FAQs/Singles-Are-Health-Care-cardholders-or-Pension-cardholders-covered-for-ambulance-transport.html

[Banker]

Community Ambulance Cover Levy
Government removes ambulance levy from electricity bills

Between 1 July 2003 and 30 June 2011, the Community Ambulance Cover levy was charged on electricity bills in Queensland to provide funding towards the Queensland Ambulance Service. Exemptions applied to certain accounts and account holders including pensioners and senior card holders.

From 1 July 2011, Queenslanders are no longer required to pay the levy—a saving of $112.98. The government now funds the full cost of the ambulance service through its annual budget.

www.ambulancecover.qld.gov.au/

[Banjo]

www.saambulance.com.au/ProductsServices/AmbulanceCover.aspx

Pensioner Cover is Ambulance Cover which is provided to pensioners at a discount. A pensioner concession card must be provided at the time of applying for membership to obtain Pensioner cover.