Territory seniors will be able to use their $500 annual recognition payment on a bigger range of goods and services from 1 July, under changes to the NT Seniors Recognition Scheme (NTSRS).
The changes will also open up the scheme to temporary visa holders who are over 65 and signed up for Medicare. This will see a further 379 seniors able to access the scheme, most of whom have settled in the Territory from New Zealand.
The NT Seniors Recognition Scheme (NTSRS) recognises the valuable contribution seniors make to the Territory through a $500 prepaid card issued each financial year.
There are currently 15,035 NTSRS members using their recognition payment to pay bills and or spend in stores throughout the Territory, helping them with the cost of living and injecting money into the economy.
Expanding the use of the NTSRS prepaid card will provide more flexibility for seniors, allowing them to use their $500 each year on groceries, white goods, hospitality, vet bills, phone bills, fuel, car registration, bore repairs and much more.
The changes also respond to calls from temporary visa holders who have lived in the Territory for many years to recognise their contribution to the community. (Currently, to be eligible for the NTSRS, you must provide proof of Australian citizenship or permanent residency.)
Budget 2021 includes $32 million for both the NT Concession Scheme and the NTSRS.
Quotes from the Minister for Seniors, Lauren Moss:
"Our senior Territorians have given so much to the Territory and they deserve to be recognised for their contributions to our community. Seniors have told us that they want to be able to use their recognition payment more broadly. We have listened and extended the scheme so they have greater freedom in how they spend their $500 each year.
"We have also responded to calls from temporary visa holders to include them in the scheme. Many have lived in and contributed to the Territory for many decades and deserve the same recognition as citizens and permanent residents.
"These are important changes that will provide more flexibility and options to our seniors and ensure more people can benefit from this wonderful scheme, including local businesses."
Quotes from the CEO of the Council of the Ageing NT, Sue Shearer:
"COTA NT has lobbied on behalf of seniors for expansion of merchants to the Seniors Recognition Scheme, and we are delighted that Territory seniors will now have more choice.
"Seniors can now purchase white goods, pay vet bills, motor rego, repairing bores plus their rates and much more.
"These changes will also be good for Territory businesses with more money flowing directly back into the local economy. This is a fantastic win for Territory seniors."
