Seniors Card

Welcome to the About Seniors Seniors Card page. What defines a senior? There is no one answer but you can check whether you might qualify under different circumstances.

A Seniors Card is available to Australians aged 60 and over who are not working full time. The cards are issued free by each State and Territory government and enable holders to get a wide range of discounts on public and commercial activities.

Eligibility criteria and concessions available vary so contact your State/Territory Seniors Card office for details. Also, contact the local Seniors Card office to order a new card to replace one lost or damaged.

Although Seniors Cards are issued by States/Territories, businesses (including tours, attractions and accommodation) in one state will usually recognise cards from another. Shops frequently display a 'Seniors Card Welcome' sticker.

Generally Seniors Cards will not attract concessions on interstate public facilities but there are exceptions. See travel concessions below. There is a web site which has general information on seniors cards and links to State/Territory Seniors Card Offices

Nation-wide Seniors Transport Concession

Launched in January and now fully operational, the National Seniors Transport scheme provides seniors card holders with concessions on transport throughout Australia.

Previously unavailable outside your home state, now your Seniors Card can be used to purchase concession tickets on public transport throughout Australia with all states on board.

Further to this, Senior’s Card holders can receive 25% off standard adult fares on any of Great Southern Rail’s services. Find out more.

Find out how to apply for a Seniors Card.

Seniors health card changes

New changes to the adjusted taxable income test for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card will affect how certain types of income are assessed.

From 1 July 2009 the adjusted taxable income test for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card includes:
· total net investment losses, being the sum of losses from financial investment income and rental property income, and
· reportable superannuation contributions - for example, income that is voluntarily sacrificed into superannuation.

Review forms will be sent to all Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders in July. Customers who have income from these new sources will be asked to provide estimates of their assessable income for the 2009-10 financial year.

These changes have been made to ensure that families and individuals have their income assessed in the same way, regardless of how they receive their income or how they choose to invest their money.

The form needs to be returned by the due date, which is printed on the form. If you do not return the form, your card may be cancelled.

For more information, call the Centrelink Retirement Line on 13 2300 or ask at a Centrelink Customer Service Centre.

Other Concession Cards

• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
  Although there is no national Seniors card there is the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) giving discounts on prescription medicines. Card holders also receive the Telephone Allowance. This card is for people of Age Pension age (65 for men and see table above for women) who do not qualify for the Age Pension and an income less than $50,000 per year for singles and $80,000 for couples. (See the Centrelink page.) The card additionally offers concessions on Great Southern Railways (Indian Pacific, The Ghan and The Overland). You may also be eligible for concessions offered by State Governments on vehicle registration, utility bills and travel. For more details, visit your State Government.
  NSW
  South Australia
  Tasmania
  VIC
  Queensland
  Western Australia
  
  


• Pensioner Concession Card
  The PCC enables pensioners to obtain concessions on prescription medicines and hearing services and, in conjunction with the Medicare card, basic hospital and medical treatment. You also get the Telephone Allowance plus concessions on State and local government charges and from some businesses.
  See the Centrelink page
  


• Health Care Card
  Low income earners may be able to get a Health Care Card to help with the cost of medicines and a limited number of concessions. See the Centrelink page