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Pensioner rate subsidy and rate concession

Council offers a pensioner rate concession, and the Queensland Government offers a pensioner rate subsidy.

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Queensland Government pensioner rate subsidy

A concession of rates and charges shall be allowed to approved pensioners who have applied for the concession on or before 30 June or 31 December each year.

All holders of a current Queensland pension concession card or a Department of Veteran Affairs gold card are entitled to a state subsidy on council rates and charges on their principal place of residence. Note: seniors card holders are not eligible.

The Queensland Government offers a 20% subsidy capped at $200pa for rates and charges (excludes State Emergency and Management Levy (SEML)). The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services offers a 20% subsidy based on the SEML for an eligible pensioners principal place of residence.

Upon proof of eligibility the entitlement to a state subsidy will commence from either the:

  • card start date shown on the pensioner concession card
  • date of occupation of their principal place of residence, or
  • start of the current rating period.

Whichever is the later.

For eligibility criteria please refer to the guidelines on page 2 of the pensioner rates rebate application form below.

Council pensioner rate concession

To qualify for council's pensioner rate concession, the ratepayer must also qualify for the Queensland Government pensioner rate subsidy.

The four categories of pensioner concessions and amounts for 2024-25 are listed below:

Pension rateSole title per propertyJoint title per property
Maximum level of pension$304 per annum maximum$238 per annum maximum
Below maximum level of pension$152 per annum maximum$87 per annum maximum

How to apply for a pensioner rate concession and subsidy

To make an application for a pensioner concession, please complete the:

January 2025 rates notices

If you submit a pension application after 31 December 2024, your pension rebate may not appear on the January 2025 rates notice. Please pay your rates notice as issued. The credit will be on your next rates notice.

Please read the guidelines on page 2 of the form before submitting to council.

Valid concession cards include either:

  • Queensland pensioner concessions card issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veteran Affairs
  • Veterans' Affairs repatriation health gold card issued by the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Please send the form to council with a copy of your pension card attached by:

  • post: 
    Sunshine Coast Council
    Locked Bag 72
    Sunshine Coast Mail Centre  QLD  4560
  • email:
    scan and email to: [email protected].

Please note: Upon receipt, your application form will be sent to the rates department for processing. Any pension concession/subsidy approved will show as a credit on your next rates notice. If more information is needed you will be contacted by council.

If you are unable to finalise the account by the due date, you may apply to pay your rates by instalments.

For full details of council's pensioner concession policy, see section 2.3 of council's 2024-2025 Revenue Statement (PDF, 6MB).

Contacts

If you would like more details or assistance contact council.