If you happen to’re eligible to obtain one, the Victorian Seniors Card might assist make your retirement simpler by offering you with a wide range of reductions on items, companies, utilities and public transport.
Right here’s what you must know concerning the Victorian Seniors Card, together with a few of the advantages it gives, its eligibility necessities and learn how to apply for one.
What sorts of reductions are you able to get with a Victorian Seniors Card?
The Victorian Seniors Card provides you entry to an a variety of benefits, lots of that are reductions or concessions at taking part shops and companies. The cardboard additionally gives wide-ranging public transport advantages for Victorian seniors.
Reductions at shops and companies
The checklist of reductions afforded by a Victorian Seniors Card is kind of intensive and nearly continually being added to. It contains reductions on foods and drinks, lodging, ageing and aged care, procuring and extra from over 4,000 taking part companies in Victoria, in addition to state authorities points of interest such because the Melbourne Museum and Nationwide Gallery of Victoria. If you wish to discover out extra, the Victorian Seniors Card web site has a helpful low cost listing, which lets you search all present reductions by location and supply sort.
Transport concessions
As talked about, Victoria gives beneficiant public transport concessions for its seniors. Victorian Seniors Card holders get a free Seniors myki card and likewise obtain the next advantages:
- concession fares on trains, trams and buses (which is a 50% low cost on full grownup fares)
- free journey on weekends in any two consecutive zones and on regional city buses
- entry to free off-peak journey vouchers
- free journey in the course of the Victorian Seniors Competition in October
- cheaper off-peak fares on V/Line companies (Victoria’s regional public transport service).
Different advantages
Seniors Card holders may also entry the New Zealand SuperGold program, which might be of curiosity for those who plan to go to New Zealand ought to a proposed journey bubble eventuate. SuperGold is the New Zealand equal of the Victorian Seniors Card program and gives entry to a variety of reductions from taking part New Zealand companies.
Different reductions embrace a reduction on vitality plans from AGL and reductions on some present playing cards bought on-line. Earlier than selecting an vitality plan, it’s a good suggestion to match plans so you’ll find one which fits you and your price range. You’ll be able to examine vitality plans over at Canstar Blue.
Who’s eligible for a Victorian Seniors Card?
To be eligible for a Victorian Seniors Card, you should be:
- 60 years of age or older
- Both working lower than 35 hours per week in paid employment or totally retired
- A everlasting resident of Australia and dwelling in Victoria
If you happen to meet the residency and age necessities however not the work requirement, it’s possible you’ll be eligible for a Victorian Seniors Enterprise Low cost Card relatively than a Victorian Seniors Card. The Seniors Enterprise Low cost Card nonetheless provides you entry to reductions on a variety of products and companies from taking part companies. Nonetheless, the cardboard doesn’t present public transport concessions.
How do I apply for a Victorian Seniors Card?
You’ll be able to apply for a Victorian Seniors Card on-line or in particular person at your native library. The Victorian Authorities says to ensure you have your Medicare Card at hand to finish your software. In case you are filling out a paper software kind, additionally, you will want to supply a statutory declaration which should be witnessed.
The Seniors Card is free for eligible Victorians and there are not any charges or fees that apply. It can often take between three to 4 weeks to course of your software as soon as it has been obtained.
Whereas the reductions you get as a Victorian Seniors Card holder might make a distinction in serving to you lower your expenses in retirement, it’s additionally vital to make sure you’ll have sufficient in tremendous to assist fund your required way of life. You may like to match totally different tremendous funds with Canstar.
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This text was initially written by James Hurwood. It was reviewed by our Sub Editor Tom Letts and Finance & Way of life Editor Shay Waraker earlier than it was up to date, as a part of our fact-checking course of.