Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) is targeted at self-funded retirees of Age Pension age who do not qualify for an Age Pension because of assets or income levels. 

The following changes to the CSHC have been enacted:

• Annual indexation of the income thresholds to the Consumer Price Index from September 2014.
  
  
• From 1 January 2015, the deemed income from account based pensions (ABPs) will be included in the CSHC income test.  The assessment of ABPs will be the same for CSHC holders as for Age Pensioners.  However, grandfathering applies to holders of a CSHC on 1 January 2015 with an ABP commenced prior to that

A proposal to cease payments of the Seniors Supplement to holders of the CSHC beyond June 2014 was not passed.

To qualify for a CSHC a person must make a claim for the card, and meet the following criteria:

> not be receiving an income support pension or benefit or a Department of Veterans’ Affairs service pension or income support supplement, and

> be of Age Pension age, and

 > must be living permanently in Australia and be:

        –  an Australian citizen, or

        –  a holder of a permanent visa, or

        –  New Zealand citizen who arrived on a New Zealand passport.

> available to newly arrived migrants after 104 weeks in Australia as an Australian resident or Special Category Visa holder (some exemptions may apply).

> must be in Australia to retain card (From 1 July 2008, the card will remain valid during short-term overseas travel).

> have an annual adjusted taxable income below the relevant thresholds below.

You will get a discount on prescription medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). You may also be required to present your Medicare Card when you purchase PBS medicines.

Other services may include:

> Bulk-billed GP appointments, at the discretion of the GP (the Australian Government provides financial incentives for GPs to bulk-bill concession card holders).

> a reduction in the cost of out-of-hospital medical expenses above a concessional threshold, through Medicare Safety Net.

> in some instances, additional health, household, transport, education and recreation concessions which may be offered by State or Territory and local governments and private providers.  Please note: these providers offer these concessions at their own discretion, and the availability of these concessions may vary from state to state. 

Other allowances you may be entitled to:

Eligible self funded retirees holding a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card received a one off bonus of $1,400 between 8 –19 December 2008.

A one-off bonus of $102.80 was paid by 30 June 2006.