JUST three weeks after applications for the Regional Seniors Travel Card opened for the second consecutive year, the popular initiative has had more than 3,300 claims from seniors across the Northern Tablelands.
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The Regional Seniors Travel Card is a $250 prepaid VISA card designed to assist eligible seniors in rural, regional and remote areas of NSW off-set the cost of essential travel expenses for fuel, taxis and public transport.
Local State MP Adam Marshall said it was wonderful to see the strong response already to year two of the trial, which benefited more than 8,000 local seniors and their communities in 2020.
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"The Regional Seniors Travel Card was a commitment we made before the 2019 election and I'm proud to say it's one we have delivered for the people of country NSW," Mr Marshall said.
"Already in year two of the trial 3,344 applications have been received from the Gwydir, Moree Plains, Glen Innes Severn, Armidale Regional, Uralla and Inverell local government areas - that's a whopping 1,100 a week.
"This year I would really like to see seniors from Moree, Uralla and the Gwydir capitalising on this program and am hopeful we can see their figures tick over 10,000 by the November cut-off date.
"This card is great news for regional seniors and another way we are injecting money into the bush with the benefit flowing for fuel stations, taxi drivers and local economies."
State-wide there has been more than 100,000 applications to the second phase of the scheme.
Eligible seniors have until November 30, 2021 to apply through Service NSW.
Seniors must be an age pensioner with a valid Pensioner Concession Card or hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card issued by either the Department of Human Services or Department of Veterans' Affairs.
