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Spectacles assistance
Assistance to buy spectacles may be available to low-income families with:
- students from kindergarten to year 12 at government and non-government schools.
Parents/guardians who have been approved for the Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) or who hold one of the following cards are eligible to apply:
- Service Australia or Department of Veterans' Affairs Pensioner Concession Card
- Services Australia Health Care Card
- Services Australia Low Income Health Care Card.
Approved applicants will receive assistance with the cost of one pair of standard prescribed lenses and standard frames from a participating optometrist in any 12-month period unless special circumstances apply (for example, a prescription change).
Assistance is also available to grandparents raising grandchildren. Grandparents may need to provide proof that their grandchildren are legally in their care.
For more information:
Department for Education, Children and Young People
Phone: 1800 827 055
Email: FAU@decyp.tas.gov.au
Web: www.decyp.tas.gov.au
Eligible cards for this concession:
Services Australia Health Care Card; Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria; Department of Veterans' Affairs Pensioner Concession Card; Services Australia Pensioner Concession CardVisual aids
Financial assistance is available for the purchase of glasses for pre-school aged children and adults. Low vision aids, prostheses and intraocular implants are subsidised up to $413.30 per item.
Eligible people include:
- a permanent Tasmanian residents for at least three continuous months immediately before they apply (refugees not required to satisfy this criteria) and
- able to satisfy the means test.
Other persons eligible to apply include:
- Services Australia or DVA Pensioner Concession Card holders
- DVA Veteran White Card holders (accepted conditions only)
- low income earners under hardship provisions, and
- persons not able to claim from private health insurance, workers compensation or any other source.
To receive the subsidy, an application form must be completed and sent with the prescription to the Statewide Spectacles Scheme.
This subsidy does not cover school aged children; however they may be eligible for assistance from the Department for Education, Children and Young People. Refer to Education - Spectacles Assistance in this Guide for further information.
Note: People who can claim from private health insurance, workers’ compensation or any other source are not eligible to apply.
For more information:
Spectacles Assistance Scheme, Department of Health
Phone: 1800 232 148
Web: Eyes and vision (Ophthalmology) | Tasmanian Department of Health
Eligible cards for this concession:
Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria; Department of Veterans' Affairs Pensioner Concession Card; Services Australia Pensioner Concession Card; Department of Veterans' Affairs Veteran Cards Orange; Department of Veterans' Affairs Veteran Cards White; Department of Veterans' Affairs Veteran Cards GoldKey
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