Concession Cards are the icing on the cake when it comes to retirement income. The rate of a full Age Pension has been measured as subsistence level, not much more, according to the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS). Many part Age Pensioners also find that they can cover household expenses, but live a far from lavish lifestyle based upon their pension incomes, including supplements (explained last week). Similarly there are many self-funded retirees, who, unlike common media portrayals, are not greedy baby boomers spending the kids’ inheritance. On the contrary, they watch every dollar.
This is why concession cards can make a very real difference.
The cards offer a broad range of discounts, generally covering medical and pharmaceutical concessions, utility discounts, car registration and public transport discounts and sometimes lower council rates.
The following table explains the cards currently issued by the federal government (through Services Australia or the Department of Veterans Affairs) for those on a full or part Age Pension, for self-funded retirees (who meet the criteria), as well as the Seniors card programs which are offered by every state and territory to any senior, regardless of their financial situation.
| CARD | WHO IS ELIGIBLE? | BENEFITS | HOW TO APPLY |
| Pensioner Concession Card | If you are eligible for an Age Pension payment then you are eligible for a Pensioner Concession Card | National
Reduced-cost medicines State Property rates and water charges |
Automatically issued with when your application for the Age Pension is approved. You can apply for your Age Pension here |
| Commonwealth Seniors Health Card | If you are of Age Pension age but do not qualify for the Age Pension, you might be eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card if your income is below the current thresholds. | Discounts on prescription medicines
May also qualify for additional health, household, transport, education and recreation concessions that may be offered by state or territory and local governments and private providers. |
You can make a seniors health card application with Retirement Essentials or via Centrelink or MyGov |
| Seniors Card | Seniors Cards are issued by state and territory governments and are available to those aged 60 years and over, who no longer work full-time and are permanent residents. However, eligibility varies depending on the state or territory in which you reside. | The main benefit is that Seniors Card holders are entitled to travel concessions in their home state and territory, as well as interstate. Concessions vary depending on the state or territory in which you reside.
As an example, NSW Seniors are entitled to:
|
Apply online, by phone or in person at a service centre
To apply online for your local Seniors Card go to:
NSW:Click here NSW Seniors Card VIC:Click here Vic Seniors Card ACT: Click here ACT Seniors Card WA: Click here WA Seniors Card QLD:Click here QLD Seniors Card TAS:Click here TAS Seniors Card SA: Click here SA Seniors Card |
How do you apply?
There is no need to apply for a Pensioner Concession Card, it will be automatically awarded to you when you qualify for a full or part Age Pension. If you would like support with an Age Pension application, a consultation with our customer service team can speed up the process.
The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card involves a lengthy application, with eligibility dependent upon income thresholds.
Interestingly, there are far fewer card holders than people who are eligible. So it is fair to assume that the potential card holders either do not know about the cards, or the application process is seen as too hard.
It is complicated and that is why Retirement Essentials offers support to help you lodge an application quickly and easily.
How much are concession cards actually worth?
This can vary from household to household.
Conservatively, depending upon the extent of medical, pharmaceutical and utility bills, a Pension Concession Card could allow the holder around $2-3000 worth of health discounts, with a possible $2000-$3000 across other benefits.
A total annual Commonwealth Seniors Health Card discount might also add up to $2000-3000 covering Medicare safety net and pharmaceutical benefits, and (up to) an additional $3000, depending upon rates, utility and transport costs.
You can check of you are eligible to receive either of these cards by using our free eligibility calculator.
We want to apply for senior health care card but the form is very long and complicated. If we ask you to help how much we have to pay you ? We are over 70 years old. We are not working over a year.
Thank you
Hi Van, we will be happy to help with submitting your claim. I’ll send you an email separate to this comment with your options on how to proceed.
So, I take ot from your carefully crafted reply to above that there is a hidden charge?
Hi John, I sincerely apologise if it appears we are being deceitful and can assure you this is not the intent. We are quite up front about our costs prior to proceeding but there are different prices depending on what service you wish to proceed with. For example if you fill in the initial questionnaire online yourself, it is a different cost to if you would like to book a call with us to go through it together with you. Therefore we find it best to have the conversation about what your options are, the costs involved and which one best suits you, in a more private forum such as emails rather than in public blog comments.
My case is not a problem to fill the form, my question is the age pension application has been submitted and qualified accepted, it has been for a few months but still in processing, every 10days received an auto-message: “We are still working on your claim, you don’t need to do anything. Do not reply by SMS.”
If you could help to push this process with a guarantee in a certain time, I am happy to pay the reasonable fees.
If you can’t help with confidence that is fine, I just keep waiting.
Hi Li, thanks for reaching out for further assistance. Based on the situation you have explained we would not be able to guarantee getting your claim finalised quicker. If Centrelink were to request something that you are unsure how to respond to or your claim is perhaps declined then we may be able to have a consultation with you and assist with clarity and/or getting the decision over-turned but fingers crossed it doesn’t come to that!
You haven’t mentioned the Lower Income Health Care Card, an asset and income dependent card. For non pension card holders this enables many more discounts than the Commonwealth Senior Health Cate Card and the Seniors card and can also be held with both of these. (And at any age). With asset rates of 2% to 4% many non pensioners with find they are eligible..
If you’re not satisfied with the length of time it is taking to get things processed I suggest you talk to your local or state member of parliament. By hassling them you should get action. It’s their department slowing work on your applications.