Rates Pension Concession Enquiry

If the property owner or the ratepayer has one of the following cards as per the Department of Human Service, they may be able to receive a discount on their Rates:

Full Pensioner concession card (digital pension card is acceptable)
DVA Gold Card with war widow or TPI classification. See eligible cards

Conditions:

Discount is only available at just 1 property and it must be the property they reside at, not an investment property
The address on the card must be the same as the property home address
Health Care cardholders do not get a discount on their rates.

The Victorian Government provides the pensioner rates concession. The City of Greater Dandenong manages the discount for the Department of Human Services.

Name	Pensioner Fee	Description
Rates concession for pensioners 2025/2026	$316.00	100 per cent concession is $316.00 $266.00 rebate for Rate Levy $50 per cent pension rebate for Emergency Services ad Volunteers Fund

Claiming current year's concession - for Owners (Residential Properties Only)

Property Owner claiming concession

Advise customers to present in person with their eligible cards.

Properties in the estate of:

There can be no claim for pension concession by the ratepayer until Council receives an amendment to the title. After that, we can accept applications for pension concession. Advise the customer to seek legal assistance with the amendment to titles.

Names don't match:

If the names are different due to one letter, for example: Beverley spelled Beverly (without an e)
If the P & R name is wrong and the customer confirms our record is wrong. Then complete a change of name form and scan it together with the pension concession. It's making them aware that a change of name process may need to verify eligibility ownership.

Also if names are out of order, the application will be rejected. They first need to amend their name on the Pension Card with Centrelink and then apply for the Pension Rebate.

If we have the name wrong, they can submit a change of details form with supporting ID e.g. passport, license, birth/marriage certificate. (copies will need to be submitted with Change of Details form)

Counter

CSO:

Print the form and complete the application (do not let the customer complete the form)
Should they present with one, unless it meets the criteria, then please destroy it and do one yourself.
Department of Family, Fairness and Housing - Municipal Rates Concession Application Form

Before you scan the form, you need to check the following:

Go to 'Property and Rating' > Property enquiry
- Check the name of the property owner in P &R, matches the name on the pension card.
- Check the charges on the property, so if they have not received a rebate

Check if the card meets eligibility
Check property details on P & R is the same as on the application form
If a hard copy of the card, photocopy and write property number on the photocopy
If digital card, make sure the concession number is written clearly on the form
Complete the office box on the form
Advise the customer that you will be submitting the form to our Rate Department, who will send adjusted rate notice to them. They can use this notice to make a payment.
Scan all relevant forms and documentation to Records

Phone

CSO:

Offer to send the customer the Department of Family, Fairness and Housing - Municipal Rates Concession Application Form via email or normal mail and then the customer can either

complete the form and provide a copy of their pension card and send via email or normal mail
or they can present in person at any Customer Service Centre with the eligible card. The customer service officer will complete the application form and photocopy the eligible card

The form and a copy of the eligible card will be sent to the Rates Department for verification and processing of pension rebates as required.

Claiming current year's concession - for Ratepayers (Residential Properties Only)

Ratepayer claiming concession

To claim the pension concession as the ratepayer, a person living at the property is responsible for paying the rates. The following needs to be provided:

The owner requires a letter confirming that the ratepayer lives at the property and pays the rates.
Complete the form and present in person with their eligible cards.
Department of Family, Fairness and Housing - Municipal Rates Concession Application Form

Properties in the estate of:

Counter

CSO:

Print form and complete the application
Department of Family, Fairness and Housing - Municipal Rates Concession Application Form
Go to 'Property and Rating' and verify eligibility ownership
Check if the card meets eligibility, (hard copy and digital card pension are acceptable)
eligible cards
Check property details on P & R is the same as on the application form
If a hard copy of the card, photocopy and write property number on the photocopy
If digital card, make sure the concession number is written clearly on the form
Complete the office box on the form
Advise the customer that you will be submitting the form to our Rate Department, who will send adjusted rate notice to them. They can use this notice to make a payment.
Scan all relevant forms and documentation to Records

Phone

This cannot be processed over the phone, customer must present in person at our Service Centres with the eligible card. The form will be printed and completed by the customer service officer. Their eligible card must be photocopied and sent to Rates for verification.

Claiming previous years' pension concession - for Owners (Residential Properties Only)

Property Owner claiming concession

Complete form and present in person with their eligible cards.
Pevious year rates concession application form
A letter from Centrelink required or a copy of a pension card showing that year that they are claiming a discount. Eligibility requires they provide proof they were in receipt of a full pension concession at that time.

Properties in the estate of:

Counter

CSO:

Print form and complete the application
Pevious year rates concession application form
Go to 'Property and Rating' and verify eligibility ownership
Check if the card meets eligibility, (hard copy and digital card pension are acceptable) or a letter from Centrelink may be provided giving the pension card details, showing that year that they are claiming a discount. Eligibility requires they provide proof they were in receipt of a full pension concession at that time. eligible cards
Check property details on P & R is the same as on the application form
If a hard copy of the card, photocopy and write property number on the photocopy
If digital card, make sure the concession number is written clearly on the form
Complete the office box on the form
Advise the customer that you will be submitting the form to our Rate Department, who will send adjusted rate notice to them. They can use this notice to make a payment.
Scan all relevant forms and documentation to Records

Phone

This cannot be processed over the phone, customer must present in person at our Service Centres with the relevant documentation

Claiming previous years' pension concession - for Ratepayers (Residential Properties Only)

Ratepayer claiming concession

To claim the pension concession as the ratepayer, a person who is living at the property and is totally responsible for paying the rates. The following needs to be provided:

Letter required from the owner confirming that the ratepayer lives at the property and pays the rates.
Complete form and present in person with their eligible cards.
Pevious year rates concession application form
A letter from Centrelink required or a copy of a pension card showing that year that they are claiming a discount. Eligibility requires they provide proof they were in receipt of a full pension concession at that time.

Properties in the estate of:

Counter

CSO:

Print form and complete the application
Pevious year rates concession application form
Go to 'Property and Rating' and verify eligibility ownership
Check if the card meets eligibility, (hard copy and digital card pension are acceptable) or a letter from Centrelink may be provided giving the pension card details, showing that year that they are claiming a discount. Eligibility requires they provide proof they were in receipt of a full pension concession at that time. eligible cards
Check property details on P & R is the same as on the application form
If a hard copy of the card, photocopy and write property number on the photocopy
If digital card, make sure the concession number is written clearly on the form
Complete the office box on the form
Advise the customer that you will be submitting the form to our Rate Department, who will send adjusted rate notice to them. They can use this notice to make a payment.
Scan all relevant forms and documentation to Records

Phone

This cannot be processed over the phone, customer must present in person at our Service Centres with the relevant documentation.