Fed: Rudd to examine downside of pensioners' sunny payments

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2010
Fed: Rudd to examine downside of pensioners' sunny payments

CANBERRA, April 30 AAP - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the government could "fine
tune" the system that docks pensioner welfare payments if they sell solar power back into
the grid.

Pensioners have this week complained that if they install solar panels and sell any
excess power, Centrelink counts cash payments and power bill rebates as income.

Mr Rudd on Friday told the Seven Network he'd examine the issue.

"Let's look and see if there's any fine tuning possible here," the prime minister said.

"(But) the pension system has been around for a long time and it counts all forms of income."

Mr Rudd said pensioners could earn about $150 a fortnight without it affecting their
pension. Couples could earn about $250.

"Most of those panels are designed so that you could perhaps feed back into the grid
$50 or $60 a fortnight.

"(So) it should be therefore doable without really affecting people's pension."

AAP jcd/it

KEYWORD: SOLAR

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