In Australia, concession cards are issued to individuals who meet specific eligibility criteria and provide discounts on various goods and services. The eligibility requirements for concession cards can vary depending on the specific card.
Here are some of the common concession cards available in Australia and their eligibility criteria:
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC):
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- You must be of Age Pension age (currently 66.5 years and older for both men and women), or
- You must not be eligible to receive any payment from the Department of Human Services (including the Age Pension) or from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, or
- You’re an Australian resident and you live in Australia (or you hold a special category visa as a New Zealand citizen living in Australia)
- You satisfy an annual income test (different thresholds to the Age Pension income test).
Health Care Card:
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- You must receive specific government payments such as the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, Parenting Payment (single), Newstart Allowance, or Youth Allowance, or
- You must meet income requirements based on your family situation.
Pensioner Concession Card (PCC):
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- You must receive specific government payments such as the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, or Parenting Payment (single) that includes the maximum basic rate.
Low Income Health Care Card:
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- You must have a low income and meet specific income thresholds.
- 19 or older
- younger than 19 and are independent
- younger than 19 and eligible for Family Tax Benefit.
- You’re an Australian resident and you live in Australia (or you hold a special category visa as a New Zealand citizen living in Australia)
- You satisfy an annual income test of less than $1,166 per week for a couple or $680 per week for a single – being your employment & rental income plus salary sacrifice and any allowances plus deemed income from your account based pensions and other financial investments such as bank accounts and shares.
Seniors Card:
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- Generally available to individuals aged 60 years and older, although eligibility age may vary in some Australian states and territories.
It’s important to note that these eligibility criteria are subject to change, and there might be additional requirements or specific circumstances for certain concession cards. It’s recommended to visit the official website of the Australian Government Department of Human Services or relevant state/territory government websites for the most up-to-date information on concession card eligibility.