Rent holiday for Tas pensioners

The Minister for Human Services, Lin Thorp, has confirmed that the Tasmanian government would not be seeking to increase the rent of aged pensioners with Housing Tasmania when rate increases were made in September.
 
Ms Thorp said the state government welcomed the boost to single and couple aged pensions and has made sure the full benefit of the pension increase is protected by implementing a rent holiday for this increase.
 
“This government recognises that pensioners have been doing it tough for a very long time and this decision will assist them to live a little easier,” Ms Thorp said.
 
“I’ve spoken with the Premier about this matter and we are agreed that this is the reasonable thing to do. We’re determined that pensioners will receive the full benefit of the increase when it arrives.

“We’re very aware of the difficulties many pensioners face in attempting to make ends meet and this decision to grant a rent holiday is a contribution to making that task a little easier,” she said.

The Rudd Government budget measure will take effect from 20 September 2009 and deliver a boost of up to $32.49 a week to single pension recipients on the full rate. 
 
Housing Tasmania would normally apply a rent calculation based on increases pensioners receive to their income. This most often occurs when Centrelink passes on a quarterly basis.