FROM November 10, Medicare customers wishing to make face-to-face claims will have to do so at the current Centrelink office on Peter Street.
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Earlier this year, an amalgamation of services was announced causing outrage among customers and staff from local chemist Summit Discount Pharmacy.
Pharmacy staff launched a petition attracting more than 2000 signatures voting against the move, to no avail.
Department of Human Services general manager Hank Jongen said the amalgamation would create a "one-stop-shop" of services for customers.
"Wagga residents who access both Centrelink and Medicare services will benefit from the new arrangements, as it means they won't have to travel to two locations," he said.
Mr Jongen said services were undergoing a transition, as an increasing number of customers shunned visiting customer service stores and instead made use of Medicare and Centrelink's online platforms and services.
"The way people access services has already changed significantly," he said.
"Around 80 per cent of Medicare claims in Wagga are now made at the local doctor's surgery and the number of claims made in person at the Medicare shop front has reduced by more than half over the past year."
The current Centrelink building will be renovated to meet the needs of customers.
The one-stop shop will undergo a refurbishment to create a more modern, spacious layout to accommodate all of our customers, as well as more self-service facilities.
Summit Discount pharmacist Julie O'Hara said the location of the Centrelink building and lack of parking had concerned some elderly medicare customers.
"It's a bit out of the way and away from the main street," Mrs O'Hara said.
"(At the moment) they can lunch and go to the chemist and claim their Medicare while staying in the same parking space."
Mrs O'Hara said it soon became clear that even a huge amount of community support would not change the minds of those in power.
"We hoped we could do something, but there is not much you can do."
Federal member for Riverina Michael McCormack said he was comfortable with the changes to the services location.
He said he had received a number of messages from people concerned about the transition but assured them there would be no increase in wait times.
"There are absolutely no job cuts, absolutely none," Mr McCormack said.
"There are no going to be any waiting times."
He said the one-stop-shop style of service was in operation in 120 towns.
"Life's changing and society evolves with it."
