Guide to concession cards for seniors

PBS medicine prices and income thresholds are indexed and subject to change. Verify current rates at servicesaustralia.gov.au at the time of application.

Seniors Card

The Seniors Card is offered by every state and territory government in Australia. You become eligible when you turn 60 (64 in Western Australia) and are no longer working full time, or are working below your state’s paid employment hours threshold. The card is not means-tested; there is no income test and no assets test. It is available regardless of whether you receive the Age Pension.

The Seniors Card gives you access to discounts at thousands of participating businesses across Australia – from transport and utilities through to retail, hospitality, and entertainment. In some states, a separate card covers private business discounts, and another covers public transport. In NSW, these are the NSW Seniors Card and the NSW Senior Savers Card – both are free to apply for.

Pensioner Concession Card

The federal government issues the Pensioner Concession Card through Services Australia. It is automatically issued to people receiving eligible Centrelink payments – you do not need to apply separately. Eligible payments include the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, and certain other Centrelink allowances.

Key benefits include:

• Discounted Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines
• Bulk-billed GP visits at participating practices
• Hearing assessments, hearing aids, and batteries through the Hearing Services Program
• Discounts on some Australia Post services
• At least one free rail journey within your state or territory per year
• Energy and utility concessions (amount varies by state and territory)
• Reduced council rates (vary by local government area)

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) is a federal government card specifically designed for self-funded retirees who have reached Age Pension age but do not receive the Age Pension. It is one of the most underutilised cards available – many eligible Australians do not apply because they assume their assets disqualify them.

There is no assets test for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. Eligibility is based solely on an income test.

To qualify in 2026, you must:

• Have reached Age Pension age (currently 67)
• Not receiving the Age Pension or other qualifying government pension.
• Meet the income test
• Meet residence requirements
• Provide a Tax File Number or be exempt

Key benefits are similar to the Pensioner Concession Card and include discounted PBS medicines, potential bulk billing at participating GPs, and concessions on out-of-hospital medical expenses once you exceed the Medicare Safety Net threshold.

To apply, link your myGov account to Centrelink and complete the online form, or visit a Services Australia service centre. You will need to provide income details, including account-based pension income drawn from your superannuation fund.

Low Income Health Care Card

The Low Income Health Care Card is available to Australians of any age – not just seniors – whose gross income falls below a certain threshold. It is assessed on your income in the eight weeks before you submit your claim, not your full annual income. This means it can be accessible even for people whose annual income appears higher.

2026 income thresholds:

• Single, no children: $811 per week ($6,488 over 8 weeks)
• Couple combined, no children: $1,385 per week ($11,080 over 8 weeks)
• An additional allowance per dependent child applies

Income types included in the assessment are:

• Wages and employer benefits
• Self-employment income
• Rental income
• Super contributions and income stream payments (including account-based pensions)
• Government pensions and allowances
• Deemed income from investments
• Foreign income
• Distributions from private trusts and companies
• Compensation payments
• Lump sums, including redundancy, leave, or termination payments

Veteran Card

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) issues the Veteran Card to eligible veterans and their dependents. The Veteran Card replaced the former separate Gold, White, and Orange cards – though the entitlements linked to each tier remain unchanged:

• Gold Card – covers all healthcare needs and is accepted for treatment of all conditions.
• White Card – covers treatment for accepted service-related conditions only.
• Orange Card – pharmacy benefits for eligible veterans aged 70 and over

Benefits include access to subsidised or free Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines, healthcare services, and discounts from a wide range of participating businesses.

Can You Hold More Than One Concession Card?

Yes, and many seniors do. Because different levels of government issue different cards for different purposes, it is entirely possible to hold multiple concession cards at the same time.

Common combinations include:

• Seniors Card + Pensioner Concession Card – the Seniors Card is state-issued and not means-tested; the Pensioner Concession Card is federal and tied to Centrelink payments. Both can be held simultaneously.
• Seniors Card + Commonwealth Seniors Health Card – for self-funded retirees who don’t qualify for the Pensioner Concession Card but have reached Age Pension age and meet the CSHC income test.
• Seniors Card + Low Income Health Care Card – if your income falls below the threshold, regardless of age.

The Pensioner Concession Card and the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card are generally mutually exclusive. If you receive the Age Pension and hold the PCC, you would not typically hold the CSHC as well.