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.

Are you entitled to any concessions from the government?

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

Sample of the Pensioner Concession Card. Image source: Services Australia.

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

According to Services Australia, If you are a pensioner and/or you meet any of the above requirements you should automatically receive a Pensioner Concession Card. If you haven’t, we recommend you get in touch with Services Australia to enquire about your eligibility. You can do this by calling 132 300. Services Australia are open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm.

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).

Sample of the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. Image source: Services Australia.

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

You are also required to meet the following income test requirements, which include earning less than the following:

• $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!

 

[Meredy Andrew]

In SA the

There is also Low Income Concession Card if working & earning minimum wage, etc), but it doesnt help wit much at all (well not in Vic), one rego discount & small concession on power bill about the only assistance i've been able to use it for so far in the few months i've had it! Council would not assist wit any rates discount. Could not get concession on prescription glasses either unfort so yet another 5yrs without affording to update them wont hurt me i guess

LOW income concession provides discounts to electricity, water rates, pharmaceuticals as well as being eligible to receive the cost of living concession ($449 for us this year)

 

[Senior discount]

The article would have been better if you had researched exactly what each State gave to Commonwealth Seniors Card holders. In Victoria, I think it's only pharmacy prescriptions. Exactly which states give discounts on

• Electricity and gas bills
• Property and water rates
• Ambulance services
• Dental treatment
• Eye care
• Public transport fares

You gave the impression that some States do. Which States??

I agree. As Australia is a "One Nation" it is about time that there is only ONE set of rules, benefits and discounts available. We are so transient so everytime you move to another state or territory, you have to re- assess, notify and reapply.
The amount of paperwork and information required is horrendous. This puts a lot of unwanted stress on people .

 

[Observer]

No but the seniors cards handed out by the state governments do

Which State Government? Not all States are aligned with one another.

 

[viviennemary1951]

As far as I am aware, only the first spouse who becomes eligible for the pension can have the cheap rego the other partner must pay full amount here in QLD. Also other states pay less for their rego and licences than in QLD. I find that so unfair for us.

 

[Observer]

As far as I am aware, only the first spouse who becomes eligible for the pension can have the cheap rego the other partner must pay full amount here in QLD. Also other states pay less for their rego and licences than in QLD. I find that so unfair for us.

As l said, not all States line up with the same expenses. Some States are either cheaper or more expensive than other States as an overall

 

[springburn]

If you are a self funded retiree you may be eligible for a Low Income Health Care card. My wife and I are only drawing minimum pensions from our pension funds and qualify for this card which entitles you to concessions on gas and electricity in NSW plus basically the same other benefits of the CSHC

 

[BabsL]

I don't know what card you are talking about the only Gold, Blue and White card I know of is the Seniors Card which is the one that you show to get discounts across Australia I have that card and I'm 62. I am retired and if I show my DVA pension card I get discounts as well so I think your hairdresser is not being very friendly because she should give a discount if you are a Pensioner.

I do have the Seniors card (blue & Wht).
Just discovered I made a ‘boo-boo’.
The blue-Wht-gold plastic card is in NSW only.
Must hv had a ‘senior’ moment! Like losing the mobile phone last Tuesday night until Saturday afternoon. Found it on a box of books, having put it down to move a ladder I shd not be climbing - ladder wobbly, I’m wobbly.
Even with Seniors card and Disab pension card, traders will not accept. They only discount on the Old Age pension card.

 

[Aussie all the Way]

I do have the Seniors card (blue & Wht).
Just discovered I made a ‘boo-boo’.
The blue-Wht-gold plastic card is in NSW only.
Must hv had a ‘senior’ moment! Like losing the mobile phone last Tuesday night until Saturday afternoon. Found it on a box of books, having put it down to move a ladder I shd not be climbing - ladder wobbly, I’m wobbly.
Even with Seniors card and Disab pension card, traders will not accept. They only discount on the Old Age pension card.

The Senior card is the same for all states because mine is blue, white and gold and I'm in Tassie. I would be giving your hairdresser the flick they are not being very friendly and don't deserve your money, they should be giving you a discount of some sort you have a Pension Card. Sorry they treat you like that.

 

[ElizaKaye]

Some doctors recommend that you take Vitamins. EG. Vit D3, Vit K2, Vit B 12, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, etc. However, these are not considered under the Pensioners Age Packages. Anyone with some extra income are assessed to pay the Age provider a certain amount of money each week, based on a daily rate, including weekends (very unfair) to be able to access the Package deals. if one joined a Package deal and had to pay this weekly fee to the provider, one is unlikely to be able to afford the vitamins recommended. Doctors do not write prescriptions for the Vitamins, therefore are ineligible to get financial supporte from the Package deal. We need Pharmaceutical companies to jcombine their research on Vitamins, and they are then eligible for some finaincail help from the package. We would also have a better idea on the best Vitamins to purchase. EG. Whey is a commond filler in tablets, this puts people who are allergic to dairy at further risk. Pensioners who are able to work have been able to increase their income without penalty, but pensioners who can't work, if they get some extra income eg. interest, etc. the pension is decreased.

 

[Maddison Dwyer]

Some doctors recommend that you take Vitamins. EG. Vit D3, Vit K2, Vit B 12, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, etc. However, these are not considered under the Pensioners Age Packages. Anyone with some extra income are assessed to pay the Age provider a certain amount of money each week, based on a daily rate, including weekends (very unfair) to be able to access the Package deals. if one joined a Package deal and had to pay this weekly fee to the provider, one is unlikely to be able to afford the vitamins recommended. Doctors do not write prescriptions for the Vitamins, therefore are ineligible to get financial supporte from the Package deal. We need Pharmaceutical companies to jcombine their research on Vitamins, and they are then eligible for some finaincail help from the package. We would also have a better idea on the best Vitamins to purchase. EG. Whey is a commond filler in tablets, this puts people who are allergic to dairy at further risk. Pensioners who are able to work have been able to increase their income without penalty, but pensioners who can't work, if they get some extra income eg. interest, etc. the pension is decreased.

@ElizaKaye this is such a fantastic point. Thank you so much for sharing, I couldn't agree more. It just seems unfair that vitamins can't be discounted as well, especially considering a lot of doctors recommend you take them (like you have said!)