Are you a Pensioner, Partially, or Fully Self-Funded Retiree? These are the Government cards you can get to assist with specific expenses
- Replies 29
We stumbled upon an interesting scenario the other day in The New Daily and we realised that although we often write articles relating to the age pension, we often don’t address the services that are available to members who may be self-funded retirees but are still looking for concessions to assist with the ever-increasing cost of living.
The scenario someone was in, was this: A couple who both had superannuation paid as a pension. They owned their principal residence in a country town and also had an additional residence in a city, which they didn’t rent out because they often needed to use it when they visited the city for health-related appointments. They asked what they needed to do to get some assistance and if they could potentially gain access to the Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card.
The reality is, there are a lot of Australians who are of the age pension age who are not eligible to receive the age pension for a multitude of reasons and are therefore not eligible for the Pensioner Concession Card (PCC), but there are other ways you can receive assistance, and that might be by applying for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC).
Before we dive into what the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card has to offer, we just want to clarify what the Pensioner Concession Card is and who it is available to. According to Services Australia, anyone who is on the following payments is eligible to receive a Pensioner Concession Card:
The Pensioner Concession Card ensures you get:
Other benefits of the Pensioner Concession Card depends on your state or territory government and local council, but you may also receive discounts on:
Now, back to those of you who are not eligible for the Pensioner Concession Card! The good news is, if you are over the age of sixty and are still earning quite a substantial amount of money, you’re still entitled to receive assistance from the government that isn’t just via a state issued Senior Card, and that is by applying for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC).
Your eligibility for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card depends on your circumstances, and according to Services Australia you can get the card if you meet the following conditions:
You may be eligible for this even if you are no longer receiving a pension because of changes to:
Of course, if you already have a Pensioner Concession Card (PCC), you are not eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC).
There are multiple benefits of holding a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and that is why it is a great card to apply for, even if you are a self funded retiree. The benefits include discounts and concessions on health care as well as other living costs.
In regards to health care, with a CSHC you can get cheaper prescription medicines including prescriptions at the concession rate of $7.30 each and free prescriptions once you spend up to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Safety Net limit in a calendar year. To learn more about this limit, we recommend you read this.
Your GP may also be able to bulk bill your medical appointments which is extremely helpful, especially if you head to your GP frequently for checkups.
Additional benefits of the CSHC include discounts and concessions on the below.
Please note that the concessions differ in each state and territory, so to find out exactly what concessions you can access with this card, we recommend reading this website.
The CSHC is very easy to use, all you have to do is show your card each time you visit your GP or pharmacy. If you’re looking to get a concession on eligible bills, you need to apply to the organisation that provides you with that specific service. You can do this by applying for the concessions through the Government concessions in your state or territory here, of course before you do so, you need to ensure you have your CSHC ready when they ask for your details!
So, if you’re a self-funded retiree and believe you’re eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card then you can apply for one by using any of the below services:
So there you have it, folks! If you are eligible for either of these cards, but don’t have one, we recommend applying for one immediately and taking advantage of the concessions that are available to you. Regardless of whether you are on the pension, are a partially, or fully self-funded retiree you deserve to receive discounts and concessions.
Let us know if you found any of this information useful in the comments below!
The scenario someone was in, was this: A couple who both had superannuation paid as a pension. They owned their principal residence in a country town and also had an additional residence in a city, which they didn’t rent out because they often needed to use it when they visited the city for health-related appointments. They asked what they needed to do to get some assistance and if they could potentially gain access to the Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card.
The reality is, there are a lot of Australians who are of the age pension age who are not eligible to receive the age pension for a multitude of reasons and are therefore not eligible for the Pensioner Concession Card (PCC), but there are other ways you can receive assistance, and that might be by applying for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC).
Before we dive into what the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card has to offer, we just want to clarify what the Pensioner Concession Card is and who it is available to. According to Services Australia, anyone who is on the following payments is eligible to receive a Pensioner Concession Card:
- Age Pension
- Carer Payment
- Disability Support Pension
- JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance and are single, caring for a dependent child and looking for work
- Parenting Payment single
The Pensioner Concession Card ensures you get:
- Cheaper medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
- Bulk billed doctor visits, which will depend on your doctor if you are eligible for these a bigger refund for medical costs when you reach the Medicare Safety Net
- Help with hearing services, such as the Hearing Services Program on the Department of Health and Aged Care website
- Discounts to redirect your mail through Australia Post.
Other benefits of the Pensioner Concession Card depends on your state or territory government and local council, but you may also receive discounts on:
- Utility bills
- Property and water rates
- Public transport fare
- Motor vehicle registration
- Train fares
Now, back to those of you who are not eligible for the Pensioner Concession Card! The good news is, if you are over the age of sixty and are still earning quite a substantial amount of money, you’re still entitled to receive assistance from the government that isn’t just via a state issued Senior Card, and that is by applying for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC).
Your eligibility for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card depends on your circumstances, and according to Services Australia you can get the card if you meet the following conditions:
- Be Age Pension age
- Meet residence rules
- Not be getting an income support payment from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs
- Be able to provide Services Australia with a Tax File Number or be exempt from doing so
- Meet the identity requirements of Services Australia
- $90,000 per year if you are single
- $144,000 per year if you are a couple
- $180,000 per year (combined) if you are a couple separated by illness, respite care or prison.
- If you are caring for a child, you can earn an extra $639.60 per year.
You may be eligible for this even if you are no longer receiving a pension because of changes to:
- Your income and assets
- The pension assets test on 1 January 2017.
- You may also be eligible for a CSHC if you are a widowed or separated from a partner who receives either: the age pension or the invalidity service pension.
Of course, if you already have a Pensioner Concession Card (PCC), you are not eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC).
There are multiple benefits of holding a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and that is why it is a great card to apply for, even if you are a self funded retiree. The benefits include discounts and concessions on health care as well as other living costs.
In regards to health care, with a CSHC you can get cheaper prescription medicines including prescriptions at the concession rate of $7.30 each and free prescriptions once you spend up to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Safety Net limit in a calendar year. To learn more about this limit, we recommend you read this.
Your GP may also be able to bulk bill your medical appointments which is extremely helpful, especially if you head to your GP frequently for checkups.
Additional benefits of the CSHC include discounts and concessions on the below.
- Electricity and gas bills
- Property and water rates
- Ambulance services
- Dental treatment
- Eye care
- Public transport fares.
Please note that the concessions differ in each state and territory, so to find out exactly what concessions you can access with this card, we recommend reading this website.
The CSHC is very easy to use, all you have to do is show your card each time you visit your GP or pharmacy. If you’re looking to get a concession on eligible bills, you need to apply to the organisation that provides you with that specific service. You can do this by applying for the concessions through the Government concessions in your state or territory here, of course before you do so, you need to ensure you have your CSHC ready when they ask for your details!
So, if you’re a self-funded retiree and believe you’re eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card then you can apply for one by using any of the below services:
- Apply through Services Australia via this website.
- Apply through your MyService account with the Department of Veterans' Affairs via this website.
- Apply by filling out this form and sending it to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs via mail.
So there you have it, folks! If you are eligible for either of these cards, but don’t have one, we recommend applying for one immediately and taking advantage of the concessions that are available to you. Regardless of whether you are on the pension, are a partially, or fully self-funded retiree you deserve to receive discounts and concessions.
Let us know if you found any of this information useful in the comments below!
Attachments
Last edited by a moderator: