The state opposition this week accused the government of tricking seniors the electorate about a regional travel subsidy program at last year's election.
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The Seniors Regional Travel card pays $250 worth of travel bills for seniors and veterans. Applications for the card opened in late January.
But only pensioners who hold either a valid Pensioner Concession Card or a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card are eligible for the subsidy.
Veterans have also recently been made eligible.
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Labor Shadow Minister for Seniors Jo Haylen said the program as sold to the electorate a year ago was open to more people and accused the government of lying to the electorate.
In Budget Estimates this week Labor MLC John Graham quoted campaign material that promised the card to any "annuity income earner who lives in regional New South Wales"
The Nationals "clearly mislead voters across NSW," said Ms Haylen.
"It's very reasonable that if you were a senior living in regional NSW and received a lot of gold and green election material this time last year that you were going to be able to access that $250 that you were promised.
"It is the case that not only are people on a disability pension or a carer's pension not able to access that money but that also there have been delays in the rollout."
Since applications opened on January 29, some 180,000 seniors have signed up.
Government estimates as many as 400,000 are eligible.
Minister for Regional Transport Paul Toole told an Estimates hearing the leaflet could have "been clearer in its communication" but pointed to press release issued last year that had accurate information.
"Nobody is going to miss out on the card who is eligible. Anyone who is eligible for the card will receive the card," he told Estimates.
Labor MP Jo Haylen said the program is also over budget, spending an extra $23 million in the first month than budgeted for the first year.
A decision to expand the program to cover veterans and war widows is responsible for some of that additional cost.
Ms Haylen said the program "is not the card the Nationals promised and was always about them saving their seats in the bush".
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson has been contacted for comment about this story but was unavailable for an interview.
A spokesperson said the election promise was fully costed and top up funding should not take away from other sections of the transport budget.
The Travel card can be used to pay for petrol, taxi vouchers and pre-paid tickets on public transport.