Give pension bonus to families of deceased pensioners

Federal Labor has called on the Prime Minister to immediately release the pension bonus to families of pensioners who pass away before they can claim their benefits.

The Department of Families and Community Services has admitted that 460 older Australians die each year before they can claim their pension bonus, worth up to $32,000.

All pensioners in the scheme from 1 January 2008 will have their pension bonus entitlement pass to their spouse if they unfortunately pass away. But hundreds of pensioners will miss out in the mean time.

“The Government should not be keeping any of the bonuses hard working older Australians have earned. They and their families should be able to get the pension bonus payments today,” Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd says.

He has also called for the Government to make sure that the children and families of pensioners are eligible to receive pension bonus payments, rather than only their spouse.