Opal Will Block Concession Cards if Centrelink Eligibility Is Suspended

YouWinAgain on 11/11/2019 - 11:30
Last edited 11/11/2019 - 11:39 by 1 other user

BEWARE, Newstart Centrelink recipients:

In order to get a Concession card, you need to initally verify your Centrelink Newstart enrolment. But it doesn't just end there. Even after this, OPAL systems daily check your Centrelink status.

I wasn't aware of this and I didn't know if other people are too, so I'm just putting out an FYI…

I recently failed to attend a Jobseeker Appointment with my Job Provider and my Centrelink was Suspended.

The next day, I got an email from OPAL:

Subject: Your Concession Opal card will be blocked on 19/11/2019.

The Opal card Number XXXXXXXXXXXXX will be blocked on 19/11/2019.

We've been advised that the eligibility for this card is no longer valid and in two weeks this Concession Opal card will be blocked.

If you believe there has been an error with your eligibility status please contact Centrelink to discuss. If they advise us that your eligibility is still valid before 19/11/2019 your Opal card may still be used. If we don't receive this advice before the above date the card will be blocked.
For any questions regarding your eligibility status, please contact Centrelink to discuss. For any other information please visit transportnsw.info.

Opal Customer Care

So beware:

If you put $100 on your card and Centrelink gets Cancelled (for any reason - finding a full-time job, not attending appointments, etc), you'll have to transfer the money out or send it to OPAL for a refund!

I wasn't aware they periodically check validity like, until now.

Is this a New OPAL thing? Have they always checked validity systematically?

Travel

Related Stores

Opal Card - NSW Government
Opal Card - NSW Government

Comments

  • Seasoned Salt on 11/11/2019 - 11:43
    +19

    I recently failed to attend a Jobseeker Appointment with my Job Provider and my Centrelink was Suspended.

    Yep, fair enough. Glad the government is taking these things more seriously and cracking down.

    • Bad Company on 11/11/2019 - 13:25
      +1

      Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the original authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of the poster, Bad Company.

      For god's sake why force someone to do something they don't like?

      • JimmyF on 11/11/2019 - 13:41

        For god's sake why force someone to do something they don't like?

        They're not forced. If they wish to make their own money, they are welcome to do that and don't need to attend any centrelink appointments, but if they wish to have the magic money appear every 2 weeks into their account like magic, they need to go pay centrelink a visit.

        • Bad Company on 11/11/2019 - 13:48

          They're not forced. If they wish to make their own money, they are welcome to do that and don't need to attend any centrelink appointments, but if they wish to have the magic money appear every 2 weeks into their account like magic, they need to go pay centrelink a visit.

          I agree with you.

          Basically, instead of saying "I want money given to me unconditionally", which sounds very lame and is unlikely to get any support, I've seen people say "why force someone to do something they don't like".

          The argument being people are more creative when they do things they like, therefore will be more productive, creating more benefits to society than simply forcing them to work.

          While there's an element of truth, using that argument to get Centrelink benefits is laughable.

      • HighAndDry on 11/11/2019 - 13:54
        -1

        So they can support themselves instead of leeching off society?

        • Bad Company on 11/11/2019 - 14:00

          That'll be nice isn't it……..

  • GG57 on 11/11/2019 - 11:44
    +2

    I think it is more likely that Centrelink advised Opal of the change to your status. Opal would not have access to Centrelink records to check.

    "We've been advised that the eligibility for this card is no longer valid"

    • brad1-8tsi on 11/11/2019 - 14:17
      +3

      I know my Child Support assessment is changed within 24 hours of submitting my tax whereas the actual tax takes a few days longer to process.

      I'd guess it's one of the standard permanent flows of information between goverment departments and is automatically triggered when there's a change of status.

  • p1 ama on 11/11/2019 - 11:48
    +6

    I wasn't aware they periodically check validity like, until now.

    So you thought you could travel on a concession fare when you're not eligible for a concession fare?

  • JordanM on 11/11/2019 - 11:59

    Same thing with Go Card in QLD, my only issue with it is it takes up to 14 days to verify eligibility.

    • YouWinAgain on 11/11/2019 - 12:00

      Interesting.

      It took them only 1 day to verify in NSW.

      • JordanM on 11/11/2019 - 12:04
        +1

        Yeah, it is a very odd implementation. Also in QLD the concession is applied to an Adult card (and is removed if Centrelink stops) so in that case it is better if you have money tied up in the card.

        • YouWinAgain on 11/11/2019 - 12:04
          +1

          I agree.

          It's stupid in NSW to offer 4 different types of cards, rather than applying Concession status to a Adult card.

  • YouWinAgain on 11/11/2019 - 12:02
    +1

    I think this Concession checking also happens for other types of payments:

    • Farmers Assistance
    • Austudy
    • Pensioners
    • etc

    So, be aware folks! :)

    • GG57 on 11/11/2019 - 12:49
      +2

      But surely there is not a problem with Centrelink advising relevant parties of an individual's change in status? It seems to be a pretty efficient process to me.

      • YouWinAgain on 11/11/2019 - 13:52

        Yep, it's pretty efficient.

        May or may not be a problem for people.

        Not a problem for me, may be for others.

  • YouWinAgain on 11/11/2019 - 12:03

    Also, Why do they have a separate NSW (blue colour) Travel Concession card, if they actively block OPAL's?

    • HighAndDry on 11/11/2019 - 12:29

      Because people who are eligible for the concession rate can still be supported by the government?

  • JimmyF on 11/11/2019 - 13:40

    If you put $100 on your card and Centrelink gets Cancelled (for any reason - finding a full-time job, not attending appointments, etc), you'll have to transfer the money out or send it to OPAL for a refund!

    And? Its not like your money is lost.

    I recently failed to attend a Jobseeker Appointment with my Job Provider and my Centrelink was Suspended.

    Well maybe you shouldn't have done that?

    • YouWinAgain on 11/11/2019 - 13:52
      +2

      And? Its not like your money is lost.

      And

      People need to be aware.

      That's the point of the post.

      Well maybe you shouldn't have done that?

      Irrelevant.

      • HighAndDry on 11/11/2019 - 13:55
        -2

        Not really. Don't miss your obligations to keep concessions, don't have to worry about concessional Opal cards being invalidated.

        Though to be fair, thank you for the FYI. But the take away lesson should be to live up to your responsibilities.

      • JimmyF on 11/11/2019 - 14:00
        -1

        And

        You're making it sound like your money is going to lost/taken, its not. they give you 2 weeks notice and you can transfer any balance to another card at any stage.

        I don't see what the big issue is? Its the same as if you exited the system at your own accord

        Irrelevant

        yes/no, you seem to be all upset that you missed an appointment and now your card will be canceled in 2 weeks.

        Go attend the appointment as part of obligations to keep concessions/payments and your card won't be cancelled.

        • YouWinAgain on 11/11/2019 - 14:26

          What made you have that idea that I'm upset?

          • JimmyF on 11/11/2019 - 14:49
            +1

            @YouWinAgain:

            What made you have that idea that I'm upset?

            your post comes across as you have been inconvenienced by all of this.

            If not then, sorry.

  • Baysew on 11/11/2019 - 14:10

    You inconvenience us, we inconvenience you.

  • Janegi on 22/08/2020 - 15:33

    An old post, however here goes:
    Years ago I was on the project that designed and delivered opal and concession entitlement cards for NSW Job seekers.
    It has always been the case, except perhaps in the first several months of operation, that entitlements for free and concession travel are revalidated on a regular basis. The frequency of revalidation differs for each type of entitlement. Jobseeker has the highest frequency of revalidation.
    Jobseekers, pensioners and various other categories of opal card holders have their entitlements checked so that the good tax-paying people of NSW don't have their tax wasted on subsidised travel for people who are not entitled to it.
    These revalidations run automatically. Transport sends basic info like concession ID and concession type to Centrelink, and Centrelink returns a Y/N (eligibility) response. If N, Transport tags the travel entitlement for suspension and sends a message to the customer. Transport will resend the revalidation request to Centrelink over the next 2 weeks. If the entitlement remains N at the end of this time, the entitlement is cancelled. If it's Y, the entitlement remains valid.
    I am glad it is still working as intended.

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