There are many types of concession and healthcare cards available to help older Australians access discounts offered by governments, local councils, utility companies and private businesses.
These discounts can amount to considerable savings over the year and can be just as valuable as income support payments.
But, it can be difficult to know which one you are eligible to receive and how to go about applying for them.
Here’s a quick guide on available cards for Australian Pensioners:
| 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 |
We Can Help
As Age Pension and CSHC Specialists, we understand how complicated this can all be which is why we try to give you as much information as possible so that you can confidently get what you are entitled to.
If you have questions about your seniors card and other related issues, please call us on 1300 527 727 or email us at hello@retirementessentials.com.au
There are some retirees who became ineligible for the Age Pension after 2017 asset test recalibration. Though their assets were deemed to be too high for any pension payment at all, they were allowed to keep the Pension Concession Card. So I believe any self-funded retirees should benefit from the WHOLE range of concessions too. Otherwise it is very unfair and an uneven playing field. Example: In South Australia you cannot get motor registration and drivers licence concessions without a Pension Concession Card.
The WA Senior Card is not available on this site. It comes up as ACT when you click on the link
Thanks for pointing that out Lynda. I have corrected the link to the WA Seniors Card
Which is the better card to have – a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or the Low Income Health Care Card – if eligible for both?
I am interested in the answer to Sue Harris’ enquiry.
I currently have a Low Income Health Care Card and am not eligible for a Pension Card.
Is there any advantage in switching to a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (eg. do you need to keep reapplying every year as per the LIHCC)?
Hi Gary, the benefits between the two are similar but at we are not fully across the LIHCC so cannot comment with confidence on if they are the same or is one better than the other. Regarding your comment about needing to reapply every year, we can confirm that the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) does not have this requirement. Once you have proved you are under the income threshold to be eligible for the CSHC, Centrelink presume you remain eligible and expect you to notify them should you begin earning a higher income. There is no requirement to prove you are still eligible each year.
As a ex defence person I receive a fortnightly payment which is not much different from the normal pension but does not include any concessions. Why is that so as I served over 22 yrs.
Need seniors card
Hi Marie. You can check your eligibility for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and Age Pension here. We can also help you to apply for those two if you need assistance.
the seniors card does that apply to NZrs over 66years of age who have been residing in australia for the past 31 years?
Please advise me of benefit
Hi Neil, thank you for your comment but it is a little vague so I’m not sure how best we can help you? Perhaps if you call us on 1300 527 727 and we can better point you in the right direction.