INFORMATION FOR PENSIONERS AND VETERANS

THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HEARING SCHEME

The Australian Government has a hearing program for eligible pensioners and veteran affairs card holders, that is managed by the Office of Hearing Services. The Office of Hearing Services will supply eligible pensioners and eligible veterans affairs card holders with free hearing services including hearing tests, digital hearing devices or an alternative listening device. For a small annual charge, all batteries and repairs will also be provided.

Who is eligible?

You are eligible to apply for a hearing services voucher if you are an Australian Citizen or permanent resident 21 years or older and you are:

• a Pensioner Concession Card Holder
• receiving Sickness Allowance from Centrelink
• the holder of a Gold Repatriation Health Card issued for all conditions
• the holder of a White Repatriation Health Card issued for conditions that include hearing loss
• a dependent of a person in one of the above categories
• a member of the Australian Defence Force or
• undergoing a vocational rehabilitation program with the CRS Australia and you are referred by your case manager

You are eligible to receive other declared hearing services if you are an Australian Citizen or permanent resident and you are:

• younger than 21 years or
• an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander who is over 50 years; or a participant in a Community Development Employment Projects Program

What am I entitled to?

Your hearing services voucher entitles you to a free hearing test and free hearing rehabilitation. If needed, the program can also supply you with free hearing aids or an alternative listening device. You also have the option to ‘top-up’ which means that you can contribute towards the cost of a device that has more advanced features than that available on the standard device.

Maintenance Agreement

Maintaining your hearing aids and buying batteries can be costly. This is why the office recommends you have an annual maintenance agreement with your service provider. For a small annual charge, your service provider will supply your batteries, clean and service the aid and replace any worn and broken parts.

How to Apply

If you are eligible to apply, you can obtain an application form from All Ears in Hearing, your doctor or you can contact the Office of Hearing Services on 1800 500 725 (phone) or 1800 500 496 (for users of TTY equipment only). You can also download an application form from www.health.gov.au/hear

If you are applying to the program for the first time, you will need to ask your doctor to complete the referral section on the application form.