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Post by hypoman on Aug 1, 2012 8:41:36 GMT 7
just wondering what things are available to those of us on DSP etc?
I know of the obvious like :
phone allowance
rental assistance
medical bills & doctors appointments
someone mentioned about massages (if so how many a year, and how to apply for them?)
vehicle rego free for pensioners
electricity support? (is there such a thing?)
free/discounted travel on trains and busses. (some bus companies dont offer discounts? I came across this once).
food vouchers? (i remember getting one once when I was about 19yrs old).
does anyone know of any other things we can apply for to make things easier when we have to stay here?
free fuel cards was another thing I heard about (but maybe that was in sth or western oz...). anyone have any info...
cheers!
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Post by anotherdsp on Aug 1, 2012 9:41:34 GMT 7
to hypo, W.A has a fuel an taxi card(500$) for those above the 26th paralell.
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Post by Banjo on Aug 1, 2012 13:16:04 GMT 7
Health Care Plans through your GP, up to $4250 a year for stuff like dental, physio etc.
Probably massage and psychologists.
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Post by latindancer on Aug 1, 2012 14:35:10 GMT 7
Does anyone know what the deal is with these Health Care Plans ? I seem to recall someone telling me that they're difficult to get onto, or perhaps difficult to get your doctor to agree to putting you on one.
I need a couple of crowns on my teeth, and the clinics run by the state health department don't do free crowns. I certainly can't pay for them.
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Post by baranghope on Aug 1, 2012 16:08:46 GMT 7
I had the full $4.2 K worth of dental under the Fed Dental Plan over 6 months after Jan 2011. In Jan 2013, believe it or not, I can have another $4.2 K worth done (if I needed it).
Basically your GP has to have you under a Care Management Plan, and you have to have a "set" of chronic ailments, say 2 or 3, Which Contribute To Your Teeth problems.
I had my GP sign the downloadable forms and took one to my Dentist, who knew the routine well. So I never had to do anything after that.
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Post by Banjo on Aug 1, 2012 16:36:54 GMT 7
Sounds right, mine is handling them himself and said to come in and pick up the vouchers... ??... in about 3 weeks.
You have to have the name of the health care provider, I just picked a dentist out of the phone book near me.
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Post by latindancer on Aug 1, 2012 20:09:58 GMT 7
Oh....pity. I only have an ailment which could not be said to contribute to my teeth problems.
However the chronic lack of money for dental work and need to be on the DSP sure IS a problem.
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Post by peter on Aug 1, 2012 20:18:02 GMT 7
Queensland. I paid my electricity bill today which covered 90 days, and the net cost was $44.95 for 90 days!!!
The Queensland government gives a flat rebate of $0.574 per day to Pensioner Concession Card Holders.
And I also got a credit of $1.41 as interest from the security deposit.
Very affordable!
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Post by peter on Aug 1, 2012 20:32:37 GMT 7
Mobile phone expenses;
When returning to Australia I just bought a Vodafone zim card and monthly $10 load.
As a habit of long standing I never call people but they can call me. I used it for txt only.
I found that I was only using a few dollars a month and Vodafone was taking back the rest.
The validity on the zim is one year, so even if I do not load it, it is still operational.
I decided not to load it any more as I really do not like being taken for a mug.
I have an international dialing set up on the computer where the computer works as a virtual telephone.
I just load it for $2 and send any texts off of it. It is nine cents a text within Australia and cheaper overseas.
For voice calls its 2.5 cents a minute in Australia and around ten cents a minute SE Asia. Uk, Europe and USA are quoted at a few cents a minute voice calls, and a five to ten cents a text.
Voice calls vary in quality cause its an internet connection. But for txts its very reliable.
And the best part about it is that you only pay for what you use and no monthly telco stealing of the unused portion.
There are several of these international services. The one I use is TawagPinas but there is also Skype and others.
To set it up needs a bit of nous but not too much.
And if one travels, he can take his little computer with him and inside is an adjustable international telephone calling system, so no need to buy zim cards as one goes.
Excellent system.
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Post by peter on Aug 1, 2012 20:52:12 GMT 7
Library;
Cairns library service is free, and newspapers available. This is good as the Australian and Financial Review are not on line. Plus they got the topical magazines.
Free internet;
They allow one hour per member per day.
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Post by gungho on Aug 1, 2012 20:56:56 GMT 7
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Post by Banjo on Aug 2, 2012 4:12:03 GMT 7
Nice to see you gungho, how's things been?
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Post by Banjo on Aug 2, 2012 4:19:52 GMT 7
Library; Cairns library service is free, and newspapers available. This is good as the Australian and Financial Review are not on line. Plus they got the topical magazines. Free internet; They allow one hour per member per day. I love libraries, if you have a DVD player or even a laptop they have an excellent selection of movies, docos and old TV shows for loan. I watched all of Dad's Army last time I waited for my SSAT decision. |
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Post by howdo on Aug 2, 2012 6:00:25 GMT 7
Health Care Plans through your GP, up to $4250 a year for stuff like dental, physio etc. Probably massage and psychologists. I've just been refused dental treatment by my doctor for the 2nd time. They said point blank I am not entitled to it on DSP. |
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Post by Banjo on Aug 2, 2012 6:35:10 GMT 7
Change doctors?
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