Pensioners & Seniors Rebate
Pensioners or seniors who own and occupy their property may be entitled to a rebate.
The Government of Western Australia provides a rebate to persons who meet the eligibility criteria set out under the Rates and Charges (Rebates and Deferments) Act 1992.
This scheme provides concessions to eligible pensioners and seniors in relation to their local government rates charges, water service charges and emergency services levy and underground electricity connection charges.
Eligibility
To receive a concession on local government rates and charges, you must own and occupy the property as your ordinary place of residence on 1 July of the rating year, hold an eligible concession card and have registered your entitlement.
Eligible concession cards
- Pensioner Concession Card or
- State Concession Card or
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card together with a WA Seniors Card or
- WA Seniors Card.
Veteran Gold Card holders issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs may be eligible for a State Concession Card. For more information, or to apply, contact the Department of Communities.
Property Ownership
To own means you must:
- be the registered owner or co-owner of the property on the Certificate of Title (a partial concession may apply if the property is co-owned) or
- have a right to reside or life tenancy at the property under the terms of a Will (probated) and be responsible for paying the rates and charges raised against the property or
- hold a long-term lease (greater than 5 years) in a retirement village, park home, lifestyle village or caravan park.
Property Occupancy
1. Your normal place of residence
To occupy means the property must be physically and actively occupied by you as your ordinary place of residence. To be considered your ordinary place of residence, occupation of the home must have a degree of permanence, continuity and regularity.
Factors that will be considered in determining whether the property is your ordinary place of residence includes, but is not limited to:
- where you sleep, eats meals, and entertains friends and family
- the amount of time you occupy the property and the pattern of occupation
- whether your clothing, furniture and possessions are located at the property
2. Not in actual occupation
A property may still be treated as your ordinary place of residence under certain circumstances, even if you are no longer occupying the property.
If you cannot live in the home as your ordinary place of residence due to ill-health, frailty or another reason, you may remain eligible for a concession on local government rates and charges if:
- the property was your ordinary place of residence immediately before you stopped living in the home
- your furniture, household goods or personal effects remain in the property and
- the property is
- unoccupied or
- occupied by a dependent, as their ordinary place of residence or
- with your consent, occupied by some other person, but no income is derived from the arrangement and
- during that time, the person in occupation does not have any other entitlement registered.
Payment Due Date
You must pay the required amount on the notice by 30 June of the current rating year. If payments are received after the due date, you may lose the rebate for that rating year and must pay the full amount. The waste services levy and other service charges are not eligible for deferment and must be paid in full by the end of each financial year.
If you are an eligible pensioner and your rates or service charges are in arrears, you may still be able to obtain a rebate if you enter into a satisfactory payment arrangement to pay the arrears. Contact our Rates team on 08 9021 9654 or email rates@ckb.wa.gov.au for further information on how to apply.
FAQs: Pensioners & Seniors Rebate
How do I apply for a pensioner/senior rebate?
You should register their entitlement as soon as you receive your concession card.
- Complete an online application via the Water Corporation website or by calling 1300 659 951 to complete a telephone application. The Water Corporation will notify the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder of your registration.
You can only claim a concession on your rates and sewer charges and the emergency services levy on one property in any rating year. This must be the property you owned and occupied on 1 July.
Registration will take effect from the date your application is lodged with the Water Corporation.
Is there a maximum rebate amount for pensioners/seniors?
Your concession entitlements depend on:
- the type of concession card you hold
- the percentage of the property you own
- for married or de facto couples who co-own a property, entitlements will apply for the full ownership of the property if at least one partner is eligible.
- the percentage of the property you use as your ordinary place of residence
- for properties co-owned under other arrangements, for example shared equity arrangements, entitlements will be determined based your ownership percentage.
- when you registered your entitlement.
If you owned and occupied the property on 1 July but registered your entitlement to a concession later during the rating year, the rebate will be applied pro-rata.
These tables detail the entitlements and maximum rebate available for each eligible concession card type.
Pensioner Concession Card or State Concession Card
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Rebate Amount
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LG Rates
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Up to 50%, limited (capped) to a maximum of $750
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LG Sewerage Rates
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Up to 50%, limited (capped) to a maximum of $450
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Emergency Services levy
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Up to 50%
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May defer LG rates, sewerage rates and emergency services levy
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WA Seniors and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (both cards must be held)
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Rebate Amount
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LG Rates
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Up to 50%, limited (capped) to a maximum of $750
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LG Sewerage Rates
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Up to 50%, limited (capped) to a maximum of $450
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Emergency Services levy
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Up to 50%
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May defer LG rates, sewerage rates and emergency services levy
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WA Seniors Card
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Rebate Amount
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LG Rates
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Up to 25%, limited (capped) to a maximum of $100.00
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LG Sewerage Rates
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Up to 25%, limited (capped) to a maximum of $ 72.69
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Emergency Services levy
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Up to 25%
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Cannot defer LG rates, sewerage rates and emergency services levy
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What happens if my circumstance change or I no longer receive a pension?
You must immediately advise either the Water Corporation on 1300659 951 or the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder on 08 9021 9600 if you:
- are issued with a new card or your card is cancelled/expired, or the entitlements change
- have changed any of your details that were provided on the original registration
- sell or transfer an interest in all, or part, of the property or move to another address
- have a spouse or partner who stops living in the property
- if a WA Seniors Card holder - become an eligible pensioner or the holder of a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or
- if a Pensioner Concession Card holder - cease to be eligible
Am I eligible to defer my rates?
You may be entitled to defer your rates, sewer rates and emergency services levy (ESL) under certain circumstances. If eligible, these charges will automatically defer if the amount required to be paid is not paid by 30 June of the rating year.
Deferred rates, sewer and ESL charges:
- remain as a debt on the property until paid
- are not required to be paid until the entitlement to defer ceases (that is, if you move out, sell the property, or pass away and leave no surviving spouse/de facto)
- may be paid at any time, but a rebate cannot be claimed when they are paid and
- do not incur interest charge
Rates and charges will not be deferred if your property is:
- occupied under a right to reside or life tenancy under the terms of a Will of a deceased estate
- subject to co-ownership, other than spouse/de facto, where not all owners are eligible pensioners. This includes shared equity arrangements.
- subject to a long-term lease in a retirement village, park home, lifestyle village or caravan park or
- if you hold a WA Seniors Card only
Concessions, Exemptions & Rebates
Additional information on properties eligible for an exemption or rebate can be found here.
Quick Links
Pensioners and Seniors Concession Fact Sheet
Rates Concession Policy
Rates Concession Application
Rates Exemption Policy
Rates Exemption Application
Water Corporation