Outrage at veteran ineligibility for promised $250 travel vochure

It was a $250 NSW election sweetener to woo older voters — a travel voucher for seniors living in the bush to help pay for fuel, taxis and transport.

Travel is a major expense for regional seniors.

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It was a $250 NSW election sweetener to woo older voters — a travel voucher for seniors living in the bush to help pay for fuel, taxis and transport.

But now that it is being rolled out veterans as well as war widows, carers and those on disability pensions are discovering they are ineligible.

Regional Transport Minister Paul Toole (centre) promotes the regional seniors travel card with taxi driver Paul Shanahan and NSW TrainLink’s Phil Barker.

And in another headache for the NSW government, the take-up rate among pensioners who are eligible is so high in areas such as the Central Coast that Treasury is facing a huge $130 million budget blowout.

With travel one of the most significant household costs faced by rural and regional seniors, the Nationals had declared the $250 voucher would be able to be put towards fuel, taxis and pre-booked NSW TrainLink services to travel to medical appointments or to see loved ones.

However, it appears only those with a Pensioner Concession Card or a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card can access the benefit.

Vietnam veteran Graham Bennett, 83, is among those who applied for a voucher but found out he was not entitled.

The retired RAAF maintenance officer receives a disability pension from the Veterans’ Affairs Department and has a Gold Card for veterans rather than an Aged Pension Card.

Mr Bennett said the fact veterans were not entitled to the voucher should have been made clear on the Service NSW website, rather than forcing veterans to apply only to find out they were not eligible.

War veterans, who have Gold Passes instead of seniors cards, are not eligible for the $250 regional seniors travel card.

He said three other friends who were also veterans had encountered the same situation.

“I live in the Sugar Valley Lifestyle Estate for over 55s here in Wallsend, and other aged pensioners here have got it,” he said.

“But when I tried to apply I got knocked back because it doesn’t recognise my veteran’s pension number.

“The Department of Veteran Affairs said it has been swamped by calls from veterans about it.” ­Another friend of mine followed it up and was told to ­approach the local member.”

NSW opposition veterans affairs spokesman Greg Warren. Picture: AAP/Troy Snook

NSW opposition veterans affairs spokesman Greg Warren said the exclusion of Gold Card holders was an insult to veterans.

“Veterans living in regional NSW shouldn’t have to beg for travel support that they were promised,” he said.

Official figures show the government has budgeted for 40 per cent of eligible seniors taking up the $250 rebate.

Should all eligible seniors take up the scheme, it would blow out by $135 million over three years.

Regional Transport Minister Paul Toole said the government was examining options to expand the program.

“We are investigating what options there may be to broaden the program further,” he said.

Originally published as Outrage at veteran ineligibility for promised $250 travel vochure