Eligibility basics

  • receiving certain income support payments
  • meet age and work requirements

Eligibility and payment rates

Eligibility for Pensioner Concession Card

You can get a Pensioner Concession Card if you receive any of these payments:

You may also get a Pensioner Concession Card if you are aged over 60 and for more than nine months have been receiving:

You may also get a Pensioner Concession Card if you have a partial capacity to work and you are receiving:

If you find a job, you may be able to keep your Pensioner Concession Card for a short time.

Benefits of a Pensioner Concession Card

A Pensioner Concession Card entitles you to reduced-cost medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

You may also be entitled to various concessions from the Australian Government. These could include:

  • bulk billing for doctor's appointments (this is your doctor's decision)
  • more refunds for medical expenses through the Medicare Safety Net
  • assistance with hearing services through the Office of Hearing Services
  • discounted mail redirection through Australia Post

You may get some of these Australian Government concessions for a dependent child.

You may also be entitled to various concessions from state and territory governments and local councils—these could include:

  • reductions on property and water rates
  • reductions on energy bills
  • reduced fares on public transport
  • reductions on motor-vehicle registration
  • free rail journeys

Pensioner Concession Card concessions are different in each state and territory and vary between local councils.

Residency requirements for a Pensioner Concession Card

To meet residency requirements you must be an Australian resident and in Australia on the day that you lodge your claim.

To be an Australian resident, you must be living in Australia as:

  • an Australian citizen
  • the holder of a permanent resident visa, or
  • the holder of a special-category visa–that is, someone with a New Zealand passport living in Australia, or
  • a New Zealand citizen who was in Australia on 26 February 2001 or for 12 months in the two years immediately before that date, or who was assessed before 26 February 2004 as 'protected'.

Newly arrived residents generally have a two-year waiting period. Some exemptions apply for refugees, holders of certain other permanent visas, Australian citizens, and in some circumstances their partners and dependent children.

Other benefits while receiving a Pensioner Concession Card

If you have a Pensioner Concession Card, you will be receiving a payment or services, such as:

Claiming

Claiming a Pensioner Concession Card

If you are receiving an eligible Centrelink payment, you automatically receive a Pensioner Concession Card.

If you continue to be eligible, we automatically send you a new card each year in the month in which you were born.

You always have the right to appeal any decision we make. Read more about reviews and appeals.

Managing your card

Change of circumstances while receiving a Pensioner Concession Card

You need to tell us if your circumstances change when you are receiving a payment. For example, if:

  • your personal circumstances change
  • you change your address
  • your income changes
  • you do not have to lodge a tax return
  • your care arrangements change
  • your work or study load changes, or
  • you leave Australia

If you stop receiving your Centrelink payment, we will automatically cancel your Pensioner Concession Card.

You may be able to keep your card for a short time after returning to work.

If you do not tell us about the changes within 14 days your payment may be affected. You may be overpaid benefits and you will probably have to pay the money back.

If you deliberately do not tell us about changes, you could be charged with fraud, and a recovery fee may be imposed.

Lost or stolen card

Lost or stolen cards can be replaced. A replacement card will be sent to you by mail. It cannot be issued over the counter at a service centre. You can request a replacement card using online services, phone self service, visiting your nearest service centre or call us.

Payments paid while outside Australia

There are rules about getting your payment when you leave Australia.

Read more about payments paid while outside Australia

Resources

A guide to concession cards booklet

Find out more by reading the A guide to concession cards booklet.

Pensioner Concession Card types

The look of Pensioner Concession Cards changed from August 2012.

Read more about Pensioner Concession Card types