What is the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card?
A concession card to get cheaper health care and some discounts if you’ve reached pension age.
What are the benefits of the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card?
With your card, you can get the following:
- Cheaper medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
- Bulk billed doctor visits – this is up to your doctor
- A bigger refund for medical costs when you reach the Medicare Safety Net
Other benefits
Your state or territory government and local council may offer you more. They may lower your:
- Electricity and gas bills
- Property and water rates
- Health care costs, including ambulance, dental, and eye care
- Public transport fare
Who can qualify for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card?
You can get a card if you:
- Have reached pension age
- Don’t qualify for a payment from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans Affairs
- Meet an income test, and
- Are an Australian resident currently living in Australia
What is the Income test?
The government reviews this test on 20 September each year in line with the Consumer Price Index. The income test will look at your:
- Adjusted taxable income
- A deemed amount from account-based income streams
To pass the income test from 20 September 2021, you must earn no more than:
- $57,761 a year if you’re single
- $92,416 a year for couples
- $115,462 a year for couples separated by illness, respite care, or prison
Add $639.60 to these amounts for each child in your care. There is no assets test.
Account-based income streams
Account-based income streams are assessed as part of the income test. Account-based income streams include account-based pensions and account-based annuities.
The balance of an account-based income stream is subject to deeming. Deeming assumes that financial investments are earning a certain rate of income.
Deeming rules will only apply if:
- You bought or changed it on or after 1 January 2015
- You own it and were granted your Commonwealth Seniors Health Card after 31 December 2014; your partner owns it, and they are 60 years old or more
Source: servicesaustralia.gov.au
