If you have reached Age Pension age but do not qualify for the Age Pension, you may still qualify for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC). The card can give you access to cheaper medicines, health care and other concessions.
Unlike the Age Pension, there is no assets test for the CSHC. There is an income test, but its limits are considerably higher than the Age Pension income limits.
This guide explains the benefits of the CSHC, who can get one, the income limits that apply from 20 September 2026 and how to apply.
What benefits does the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card provide?
The CSHC can reduce some of your health care costs. Benefits include:
- cheaper prescription medicines listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- access to bulk-billed doctor visits where the doctor chooses to bulk bill CSHC holders
- lower out-of-pocket costs once you reach the relevant threshold under the Medicare Safety Net.
You may also be eligible for state, territory and local government concessions, which are covered later in this guide.
Who is eligible for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card?
To qualify for the CSHC, you generally need to:
- have reached Age Pension age, which is 67
- meet the Australian residence rules
- not be receiving an income support payment from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
- provide your Tax File Number, or be exempt from doing so
- meet Services Australia’s identity requirements
- meet the CSHC income test.
You do not need to be retired to qualify. You can continue working as long as you meet the other eligibility requirements, including the income test.
What is the CSHC income limit?
To qualify for the CSHC, your income must be below the annual limit that applies to your situation.
| Your situation | Annual income limit |
|---|---|
| Single | $105,048 |
| Couple living together | $168,076 combined |
| Couple separated by illness, respite care or prison | $210,096 combined |
Source: Department of Social Services. Limits apply from 20 September 2026.
If you have children in your care, you can add $639.60 a year to the relevant income limit for each child.
The CSHC income limits are indexed on 20 September each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.
There is no assets test. This means the value of your home, superannuation, investments and other assets does not by itself prevent you from qualifying for the CSHC. However, income associated with some of those assets may be included in the income test.
What income counts for the CSHC?
The CSHC income test looks at two main amounts:
- your adjusted taxable income, and your partner’s if you have one
- deemed income from certain account-based income streams.
Your adjusted taxable income
Adjusted taxable income is broader than the taxable income shown on your tax return. Services Australia starts with your taxable income and makes adjustments for certain other types of income and benefits.
For the CSHC, adjusted taxable income can include:
- taxable income
- foreign income, including certain foreign income that is exempt from Australian tax
- total net investment losses, including losses from negatively geared investments
- reportable fringe benefits
- reportable superannuation contributions.
For example, a net investment loss may reduce your taxable income for tax purposes, but it is added back when Services Australia works out your adjusted taxable income for the CSHC.
Deemed income from account-based income streams
The CSHC income test can also include deemed income from account-based income streams, such as account-based pensions and account-based annuities.
Services Australia applies deeming rates to the balance of relevant account-based income streams and adds the resulting deemed income to your adjusted taxable income.
This is different from the Age Pension Income test. For the CSHC, Services Australia does not simply apply deeming to all your bank accounts, shares and other financial investments and add that amount to the CSHC income test. Income from those investments may already form part of your taxable income and therefore your adjusted taxable income.
Special rules apply to some account-based income streams that existed before 1 January 2015. Whether an income stream is subject to deeming depends on when it started and your circumstances.
Which year’s income does Services Australia use?
Services Australia generally uses verified adjusted taxable income from a recent financial year when assessing your CSHC claim. If you have a partner, you generally need to provide income details for the same financial year.
If that income no longer reflects your circumstances, for example because you have retired or your income has fallen significantly, Services Australia may allow you to provide an estimate of your adjusted taxable income for the current financial year.
This can be particularly important for people applying for the CSHC soon after retirement, when their most recent tax return may show substantially more income than they now expect to receive.
Are there additional state and territory concessions?
Possibly. State, territory and local governments can offer additional concessions to CSHC holders, including help with some household, health and transport costs. Some private businesses also offer discounts.
The concessions available, their value and their eligibility requirements vary depending on where you live and can change over time. Check with your state or territory government for the concessions currently available to CSHC holders.
How to apply for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
You can apply for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card through Services Australia. The easiest way is generally to apply online through a Centrelink online account linked to myGov.
Before you apply, have the information and documents Services Australia needs to confirm your identity, income and other relevant circumstances. Depending on your situation, this can include tax returns and notices of assessment, information about your partner’s income and details of any account-based income streams.
If you cannot apply online, you can call the Centrelink Older Australians line to find out about other ways to claim.
What changes do I need to tell Services Australia about?
Once you have a CSHC, you need to tell Services Australia about changes in your circumstances that could affect whether you remain eligible. This can include changes to your income or relationship circumstances, as well as travel outside Australia.
If your card is lost or stolen, tell Services Australia. If you remain eligible, Services Australia will generally renew your card before it expires.
Summary
If you have reached Age Pension age but do not receive the Age Pension, the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card may give you access to cheaper medicines, health care and other concessions.
There is no assets test. Eligibility instead depends on an income test based on your adjusted taxable income plus deemed income from relevant account-based income streams. From 20 September 2026, the annual income limit is $105,048 for a single person and $168,076 combined for a couple.
The information in this guide is general in nature.