The reduction in Age Pension processing times from 84 to 49 days, announced by Services Australia, marks a significant improvement in service delivery for older Australians, Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia says.
Chief Executive Officer Patricia Sparrow says it is an example of what can be achieved with additional government resourcing, however Ms Sparrow says there are still opportunities to improve the Age Pension application process.
"While faster processing times are welcome news for older Australians, the application system itself remains needlessly complex. Many older Australians consistently tell us they find the application process overwhelming and difficult to understand," Ms Sparrow said.
"Processing speed is a welcome improvement, but making the pension application process simple and accessible is equally crucial for older Australians.".
"COTA Australia strongly encourages anyone approaching pension age to lodge their claim 12 weeks before their 67th birthday."
