Social Services Legislation Amendment (Enhancing Pensioner and Veteran Workforce Participation) 2022

# Social Services Legislation Amendment (Enhancing Pensioner and Veteran Workforce Participation) Bill 2022 ## What it does This bill makes it easier for pensioners and veterans to work without losing their benefits. It includes three main changes: suspending benefits temporarily instead of cancelling them outright if someone earns too much, letting former pensioners and veterans keep their concession cards for longer, and increasing how much money pensioners and veterans can earn before their payments are reduced. ## Why it matters More older Australians are working past traditional retirement age, either by choice or necessity. These changes remove barriers that currently punish them for earning extra income, making part-time or casual work a realistic option without the risk of losing support entirely. ## Key details - **Suspension instead of cancellation**: If a pensioner or veteran's income temporarily exceeds the limit, their payments pause rather than get permanently cut off — they can resume once their earnings drop again. - **Extended concession cards**: People who've left the pension system can keep their concession card for longer periods, maintaining access to discounts on essentials like transport and utilities while they work. - **Higher work bonus**: Pensioners and veterans can earn more money each fortnight before it affects their pension — the exact amount increase isn't detailed in this excerpt, but it's outlined in Schedule 3 of the bill.