Council offers rebates and concessions for eligible pensioners who own and occupy a rateable property. 
 

Pension Discount - Rates and Charges 

• Council provides a rebate (discount) up to a maximum of $250 each financial year to eligible pensioners (funded 45% by Council at a cost of $1 million, and 55% by State Government). The rebate amount is fixed and does not increase with inflation or rate increases. 

• Pensioners who are approved will have their pension rebate (discount) automatically applied to their Rates and Charges Notice each year, if eligibility has not changed.

 

Eligibility Criteria

You must meet all of the following conditions to be an “eligible pensioner” (per State legislation).

• Hold a current pensioner concession card issued by either Centrelink or the Department of Veteran's Affairs. (Ratepayers can check with Centrelink or Veteran’s Affairs to see if they are entitled to a Pensioner Concession Card for the purposes of Council Rates and Charges concessions).

• You (solely or jointly) own the property for which you are claiming a rebate.

• The property is your sole or principal residence.

Please contact us immediately if your eligibility changes. If your pensioner rebate eligibility changes during the rating year, your instalment amounts will be adjusted accordingly.
 

How to Apply

Submit the below form with a copy of the front and back of your Pensioner Concession Card.

• By email: mail@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au. 
• By mail: Georges River Council, PO Box 205, Hurstville BC NSW 1481.
• In person: at our Hurstville or Kogarah Customer Service Centre (details at the bottom of this page).

Rates Pensioner Concession Rebate Application form
 

How the Pension Rebate is Calculated

• The amount of rebate approved will depend on the portion of the property owned by the applicant, and the date which the applicant became an eligible pensioner. 

• If the property is owned by a couple and both names are listed on the same Pensioner Concession Card, both owners should complete this form.

Applicants who become an eligible pensioner during the financial year will receive part of the rebate as shown below (unless eligibility was confirmed for the full financial year), depending on the number of full quarters the applicant is eligible (Section 575, LG Act). 

Date of Pensioner Concession Card	Rebate entitlement within financial year
Before 1 July of financial year	Full rebate
Before 1 October	75% rebate
Before 1 January	50% rebate
Before 1 April	25% rebate
Between 1 April and 30 June	No rebate

 

Backdating of Pension Rebate

If you became eligible for a rebate in the past and are only now applying, you can claim a rebate back up to 12 months before the form submission date, only if eligibility is confirmed for that period.
 

Termination of Pension Rebate

This occurs when a person is no longer an eligible pensioner, dies or sells the property. The rebate amount which was granted for the remaining part of the financial year is reversed and will be owed to Council (the amount depends on the number of full quarters remaining).
 

Other financial assistance offered by Council

Hardship Assistance

Council is committed to assisting customers who are experiencing adverse financial hardship, and offer payment arrangements such as interest free extensions and interest free payment plans to ease the burden. If you receive a rebate on your Council rates, you can still apply for assistance. Visit our Payment plans and hardship assistance page for more information and to apply.

Additional Assistance for Pensioners

Council has adopted the following changes to the Debt Management and Hardship Policy to provide additional assistance to eligible pensioner ratepayers. The new assistance includes the option for eligible pensioners to: Pay their rates in monthly instalments at no additional cost. Defer payment of rates until the sale of their property without being charged penalty interest. Please contact Council for information on how to begin an application to receive this assistance.