Commonwealth Seniors Health Card 2026: Eligibility, Income Limits and Benefits
If you’ve reached Age Pension age but don’t receive the Age Pension, the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card is one concession worth checking.
The card is designed primarily for older Australians who aren’t receiving an eligible income support payment but still meet an income test.
There is no assets test, and the income limits are higher than many people realise.
As of 20 September 2026, the annual income limits are:
| Your situation | Income limit |
|---|---|
| Single | Less than $105,048 |
| Couple | Less than $168,076 combined |
| Couple separated by illness, respite care or prison | Less than $210,096 combined |
If you qualify, the card can provide cheaper PBS medicines, access to Medicare-related concessions and potentially additional concessions depending on where you live.
Here’s how it works.
What Is the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card?
The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, often shortened to CSHC, is a concession card provided by the Australian Government through Services Australia.
It’s particularly relevant to self-funded retirees who have reached Age Pension age but don’t receive an income support payment such as the Age Pension.
Unlike the Age Pension, the CSHC doesn’t provide you with a regular pension payment.
Instead, it provides access to cheaper healthcare and some other concessions.
One particularly important difference is that there is no assets test for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.
You could therefore have substantial assets and still potentially qualify, provided you satisfy the other eligibility requirements, including the income test.
Who Can Get the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card?
To qualify, Services Australia says you must:
- have reached Age Pension age
- meet Australian residence requirements
- not be receiving an income support payment from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
- provide your Tax File Number, unless exempt
- meet identity requirements
- satisfy the income test.
The current Age Pension age is 67.
Importantly, simply being over 60 doesn’t make you eligible for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. You need to have reached Age Pension age.
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card Income Limits for 2026
The income limits changed on 20 September 2026.
Your annual income generally needs to be below:
Single: $105,048
Couple: $168,076 combined
Couple separated by illness, respite care or prison: $210,096 combined
Services Australia also allows an additional amount for each child in your care.
These limits are normally reviewed on 20 September each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.
That means it’s worth checking the current limits rather than relying on figures you may have seen in an older article.
Is There an Assets Test?
No.
This is one of the biggest differences between the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and the Age Pension.
The Age Pension considers both income and assets when determining eligibility and payment rates.
The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card has an income test but no assets test.
That makes the card particularly relevant for some self-funded retirees who don’t qualify for the Age Pension because of their financial circumstances.
What Income Does Centrelink Look At?
The CSHC income test isn’t necessarily as simple as looking at the amount of money arriving in your bank account each year.
Services Australia considers your adjusted taxable income and, where applicable, your partner’s income.
This can include things such as taxable income, reportable fringe benefits and certain investment losses.
Services Australia may also include deemed income from certain account-based income streams.
The rules surrounding account-based pensions can be more complicated because circumstances such as when the income stream was purchased and when your card was granted can affect how it is treated.
If you’re close to the income limit, it’s worth checking your circumstances directly with Services Australia rather than trying to estimate your eligibility from taxable income alone.
What Do You Get With a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card?
The biggest benefits are healthcare-related.
Cheaper PBS Medicines
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders can access medicines listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme at the concessional rate.
In 2026, the maximum concessional PBS co-payment is $7.70 per prescription, plus any applicable premiums.
The Australian Government has frozen this concessional maximum at $7.70 until 2030.
For comparison, the maximum general PBS co-payment for Medicare card holders is $25 in 2026.
The actual amount you pay can sometimes be lower depending on the medicine and pharmacy.
A Lower PBS Safety Net
The PBS Safety Net can further reduce medicine costs for people who need a lot of prescriptions during the year.
In 2026, the PBS Safety Net threshold for Commonwealth concession card holders is $277.20.
Once an eligible concession card holder reaches the Safety Net, PBS medicines covered by the arrangements can be supplied without the normal co-payment for the remainder of that calendar year, although some additional charges such as brand premiums may still apply.
Bulk-Billed Doctor Visits
Having a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card can also improve your chances of being bulk billed.
However, holding the card doesn’t guarantee that every doctor will bulk bill you.
Services Australia states that card holders may receive bulk-billed doctor visits, but whether you’re bulk billed is ultimately decided by the doctor.
It’s worth asking your medical practice what arrangements they offer CSHC holders.
Medicare Safety Net
Card holders may also receive increased Medicare benefits for eligible out-of-hospital medical expenses once the relevant Medicare Safety Net threshold is reached.
This can help reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses for people who require substantial medical care.
What About Electricity, Registration and Other Discounts?
This is where things become less straightforward.
Some state and territory governments, local councils and private businesses offer additional concessions to Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders.
But the benefits are not identical across Australia.
Don’t assume that having the card automatically gives you discounted electricity, vehicle registration, council rates or public transport.
Check the concessions available specifically in your state or territory.
This is also different from a state-based Seniors Card.
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card vs Seniors Card
These two cards are easy to confuse.
A Commonwealth Seniors Health Card is issued through the Australian Government and is primarily associated with healthcare concessions.
A Seniors Card is generally administered by your state or territory government and can provide different benefits such as public transport or participating business discounts.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to hold both.
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card vs Pensioner Concession Card
The Pensioner Concession Card is different again.
If you’re eligible for the Age Pension, you will generally receive a Pensioner Concession Card automatically.
The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card is particularly relevant to people who have reached Age Pension age but aren’t receiving an eligible Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs income support payment.
If you’re unsure which concession card applies to you, Services Australia can help determine your eligibility.
How Do You Apply?
You can claim the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card once you’ve reached Age Pension age.
The easiest way for many people is online.
You’ll need a Centrelink online account linked to myGov.
Once logged into Centrelink, look for the option to make a claim and select the concession card section.
If you can’t claim online, Services Australia also provides options to claim using a form or by contacting the Centrelink Older Australians line.
If your application is approved, a digital version of the card can appear in the Express Plus Centrelink app, and Services Australia will also send you a physical card.
What Information Will You Need?
Services Australia may need information to confirm your identity, residence and financial circumstances.
That can include your Tax File Number and information used to determine your adjusted taxable income.
If you have a partner, their financial information may also be relevant because couples are assessed using the applicable couple income limit.
You may also need information about account-based income streams such as certain account-based pensions or annuities.
Having your financial information available before starting the claim can make the process easier.
What If Your Income Changes?
Your eligibility isn’t something you should simply assume will remain the same forever.
Services Australia requires card holders to tell them about certain changes in their circumstances.
The income limits themselves can also change.
If your income changes substantially, check whether you need to report the change to Centrelink.
Likewise, if you previously missed out on the card because your income was too high, it’s worth checking again after the income thresholds are indexed.
What If You Don’t Qualify for the Age Pension?
This is exactly why the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card is worth knowing about.
Someone may have too much income or too many assets to receive an Age Pension but still satisfy the separate rules for the CSHC.
In particular, the absence of an assets test means owning investments, superannuation or other assets doesn’t automatically rule you out.
Your income and the other eligibility requirements still matter.
Is the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card Worth Checking?
If you’ve reached Age Pension age, don’t receive the Age Pension and fall somewhere near the income limits, it’s certainly worth checking whether you’re eligible.
The card is free to claim, and the PBS concessions alone may be useful if you regularly take prescription medicines.
But the value will vary from person to person.
Someone taking several regular PBS medicines may get considerably more value from the card than someone who rarely needs prescriptions.
Additional concessions can also depend on your state, territory, council and individual service providers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income limit for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card in 2026?
From 20 September 2026, the annual income limits are less than $105,048 for a single person and less than $168,076 combined for a couple.
For couples separated by illness, respite care or prison, the combined limit is less than $210,096.
Is there an assets test for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card?
No. The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card has an income test but no assets test.
What age can I get the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card?
You must have reached Age Pension age. The current Age Pension age is 67.
Can self-funded retirees get the card?
Yes. The CSHC is particularly relevant to self-funded retirees who don’t receive an eligible income support payment but meet the other requirements, including the income test.
Can I have a Seniors Card and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card?
Potentially, yes. They are separate programs with different eligibility requirements and benefits.
Does the card give me cheaper prescriptions?
Yes. Eligible CSHC holders can access PBS medicines at the concessional rate. In 2026, the maximum concessional PBS co-payment is $7.70, plus any applicable premiums.
Does the card guarantee bulk billing?
No. Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders may be bulk billed, but individual doctors decide whether they offer bulk billing.
The Bottom Line
The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card can be easy to overlook because it doesn’t provide a regular pension payment.
But for Australians who have reached Age Pension age and don’t receive the Age Pension, it can still provide valuable healthcare concessions.
The most important things to remember in 2026 are:
There is no assets test.
The single income limit is less than $105,048 a year.
The couple income limit is less than $168,076 combined.
You can receive cheaper PBS medicines and potentially other healthcare and state-based concessions.
If you’ve previously assumed you wouldn’t qualify because you’re a self-funded retiree, check the current eligibility rules before ruling yourself out.
Income limits and government rules can change, so always confirm your circumstances with Services Australia before making financial decisions.
This article provides general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Eligibility and concession rules can change. Check current information with Services Australia for your individual circumstances.
