Four disability benefits that can help improve your life

As a person with disability, there are specific cards and benefits that you can access to help you get out and about and make life easier.

But InLife client Cameron Davies says not everyone is aware of these entitlements.

Personally, he only found out about the Access Travel Pass, which he dubs the "magic Myki", when enquiring about concession travel for public transport.

Instead, Cameron discovered he was eligible to travel across all public transport for free. And anyone with him who has a companion card, could also travel for free.

Here are what Cameron calls his top "Disability superpowers":

1. Pension concession card: A concession card to get cheaper health care, medicines and some discounts and certain payments.
   Eligibility: You can get it if you are on the Disability Support Pension.
   Find out more here.

2. Companion card: A card for people with significant and permanent disability who have a lifelong need for a high level of support to participate in community events and activities. The card allows a person’s carer free entry into participating venues and events. Useful for music concerts, sporting events, art galleries and more. Best used when making a booking to ensure everyone is accounted for, although sometimes you can turn up on the day.
   Eligibility: To be eligible the person must:

   1. Be a permanent resident of Australia, residing in Victoria

   2. Demonstrate that they have a significant, permanent disability

   3. Demonstrate that, due to the impact of the disability, they would be unable to participate at most community activities without attendant care support

   4. Demonstrate that the need for this level of attendant care will be life-long.
      Find out more here.

3. Multi-purpose taxi program: The Multi Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP) assists with the travel needs of people with accessibility and mobility needs by offering subsidised CPV fares to members. Members get 50 per cent off the total fare, up to $60, with some restrictions. If the passenger is in a wheelchair or mobility scooter it can also include a loading payment for the process of loading and uploading.
   Eligibility: There are three main criteria you must meet in order to be eligible for the program.
   -Residential criteria: You must be a permanent resident of Australia and live in Victoria.
   -Medical criteria: You must have: a severe disability that prevents you from safely and independently using public transport a permanent disability a disability that is not likely to improve with treatment.
   -Financial criteria: You need to demonstrate financial hardship by supplying a Notice of Assessment from the last financial year or hold one of the following: a Centrelink issued concession card (such as the Aged Pension or Disability Support Pension) a Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) card (for example, Gold Repatriation Health card) or an EDA (Extreme Disablement Adjustment) or TPI (Totally and Permanently Incapacitated) notation.
   Passengers who require the use of a wheelchair are permanently exempt from the financial hardship test.
   Find out more here.
   

4. Access Travel Pass: A free Myki card that can be used across metro and regional transport services. With a companion card, a carer or support worker can also travel for free with the passenger. With an Access Travel Pass, you can travel free on: metropolitan trains, trams and buses, V/Line trains and coaches, regional town buses, regional services that have a contract or service agreement with Public Transport Victoria.
   Eligibility: ​You can travel with an Access Travel Pass if you have a permanent physical disability, cognitive condition or mental illness that prevents you from using Myki.
   Find out more here.