Eligibility for a Health Care Card
You will be automatically issued a Health Care Card if you are residing in Australia and you get any of these payments:
- Newstart Allowance
- Sickness Allowance
- Youth Allowance (job seekers only)
- Partner Allowance
- Parenting Payment (partnered)
- Widow Allowance
- Special Benefit
- Carer Payment for short-term or episodic care under six months
- Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment for farmers
- Family Tax Benefit Part A (maximum rate only)
- Mobility Allowance (if you are not receiving Disability Support Pension)
- Carer Allowance (caring for a child under 16 years) (the Health Care Card is for the child in your care only)
Foster carers
You may be eligible for a Health Care Card if you are a foster carer, or caring for another person’s child, including if you are a relative of the child. The card is issued in the name of the child in your care. You can claim online or complete a paper claim form for a Foster Child Health Care Card. Read more about the Foster Child Health Care Card.
Ex-Carer Allowance (child)
If you are a full-time student aged between 16 and 25 years and have a disability or medical condition that previously entitled your carer to a Carer Allowance (Child) Health Care Card, you may be eligible for an Ex-Carer Allowance (Child) Health Care Card. This card is not means tested.
You need to lodge a claim for this card. You can claim online or complete an Ex-Carer Allowance (Child) Health Care Card claim form. Read more about the Ex-Carer Allowance (Child) Health Care Card.
Shared care
If you have a Health Care Card and you share the care of a child, the child’s name will be listed on your Health Care Card if the percentage of shared care is above a certain minimum amount. To find out what the required amount of shared care is to have your child’s name listed on your Health Care Card, please contact us.
If you are a non-custodial parent, you may be eligible for a temporary Health Care Card while temporarily caring for your children who are listed as dependants on the Health Care Card of the custodial parent or guardian. The temporary Health Care Card displays only the child’s name.
Low income earner
You may be eligible for a Low Income Health Care Card if you are a low-income earner and if you meet the Low Income Health Care Card income test. You can claim online or complete a paper claim for a Low Income Health Care Card. Read more about the Low Income Health Care Card.
Returning to work
You may be able to keep your Health Care Card for six months after you return to work if you have participated in a Community Development Employment Project (CDEP) or if you have received one of these payments for more than 12 months: