No travel card, no dental, no rates relief: Seniors miss out in NSW budget

The budget focused heavily on housing and health, which most people would welcome, but some much hoped-for financial relief was not forthcoming.

Advocacy peak Combined Pensioners and Superannuants said it was disappointed at the lack of measures to support the health, wellbeing and social inclusion of pensioners and other Centrelink payment recipients.

CPSA Policy Manager Ash Fowler said despite steep increases in council rates across the state, the pensioner council rate rebate which has not been increased since its introduction over 30 years ago, remained stagnant. "This leaves many people on a low income who own their own home in an increasingly precarious position," she said.

"Many people are doing it tough at the moment. In a recent survey of our members, 86 per cent of respondents indicated that cost-of-living pressures were a major issue for them," she said.

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The budget also failed to reinstate the Regional Seniors Travel Card, which provided $250 to offset the increased cost of transport in these communities. Ms Fowler said the discontinuation of the program had left older people struggling to access essential services and participate in their communities.

"CPSA has heard from people who are skipping meals, putting off medical treatments and missing out on seeing family and friends because there are bills to be paid. People shouldn't have to make decisions like this to afford to live", she said.

Seniors will however welcome a budget initiative to encourage more GPs to offer fee-free medical appointments by exempting medical practices that bulk-bill at least 80 per cent of their patients from paying payroll tax.

Low-income households will also receive up to $350 energy rebate from July.

Dental care however has been ignored with the Budget again failing to invest in the State's beleaguered public dental system. Nearly 80,000 people are waiting for assessment and treatment in public dental services across NSW.

"Oral health is essential healthcare, and everyone should have access to adequate dental care regardless of income or where they live," said Ms Fowler.

Private health insurance holders might be concerned at a proposed government crack-down that would ensure patients pay the correct single room rate for stays in public hospitals.

The budget also includes the announcement of $6.6 billion to be spent on social housing including 6200 new homes to be built over the next 4 years.