Changes to relationships recognition could bring financial strain to same sex couples on a pension.
The new Federal Government has announced it will remove remaining laws which discriminate against same sex couples. This is welcome news. However same sex couples, where one or both partners are recipients of a government pension, could find themselves financially much worse off.
Readers should note that any proposed changes to pension rules won’t come into effect in the very near future, and it is expected that it will be several years before they roll out.
Talkabout spoke to Joseph about the effect possible changes could have on him and his partner.
Q: What is your current situation?
My partner has been HIV positive for over 25 years and has had several life threatening illnesses over that time. He currently keeps in reasonable health and manages to works part-time (which he enjoys because he likes the social engagement but he certainly couldn’t work full time). He receives a partial Disability Support Pension as he reports his income fortnightly.
We are both concerned about the possible impact the relationship recognition reforms will have, to both his eligibility for DSP and for his health care card. While we satisfy some of the social security act requirements for determination of a marriage like relationship we do not satisfy others. On balance we would probably be regarded as a couple.
Q: What would be the impact, if income tests are applied to you as a couple?
It seems probable that my partner would lose his DSP and healthcare card. That means I would need to earn approximately $12,000 - 15,000 in total a year more to maintain our current standard of living. The loss of PBS concessions would have a big impact as medications will now cost much more.
We would also lose our electricity rebate, our council rates discount, our telephone allowance, utilities allowance, travel concessions, water rates concession, as well as GPs bulk billing and would therefore incur a gap payment.
This will be a big change for us. Perhaps there could be some kind of transitional arrangements (like grandparenting people with HIV currently on the DSP). If grand parenting is not a goer, a fall back would be the possibility of at least retaining the healthcare card.
Q: How do you feel at the moment?
As we’re approaching our 60s, we’ve both been planning to retire in the next five years or so. But this makes any kind of planning for the future very difficult. We knew there has to be give and take, but this makes us feel extremely uncertain. One of the worst things is the loss of independence. Sure, he’s my partner, but it’s hard for someone to go cap in hand even to their partner.
Positive Life, ACON, NAPWA and AFAO are meeting to discuss potential changes and the impact on both DSP and aged pensioners.
We will tell you more about progress on this in the next issue. If you have any comments please email them to editor@positivelife.org.au or post to Talkabout PO Box 831 Darlinghurst NSW 1300
