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Seniors Supplement

Helps older Australians pay regular bills such as energy, rates, phone and motor vehicle registration.

The Seniors Supplement is provided to eligible Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders. It is a non-taxable payment that is paid each quarter.

You need to be a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holder in order to get the Seniors Supplement.

Eligibility for Seniors Supplement

You qualify for Seniors Supplement if you:

hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
have given us details of a bank account into which we can make the payments
are in Australia or temporarily absent for less than 13 weeks

Payment rates for Seniors Supplement

The Seniors Supplement is updated on 20 March and 20 September each year.

Family situation	Payment rate per year
Single	$852.80
Couple	$642.20 each or $1284.40 combined
Couple separated due to ill health, or in respite care or with a partner in prison	$852.80 each

The supplement is paid each quarter, shortly after 20 March, 20 June, 20 September and 20 December.

It is not taxable; nor is it income or assets tested. It is only payable while you are entitled to the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

Calculating the payment rate

The Seniors Supplement is a daily-based payment. To determine the rate, the annual amount is divided by 364. This amount is then multiplied by the number of days in each quarter, which may vary slightly:

Quarter 1—20 June to 19 September = 92 days
Quarter 2—20 September to 19 December = 91 days
Quarter 3—20 December to 19 March = 90 days (leap year 91 days)
Quarter 4—20 March to 19 June = 92 days

If your Seniors Supplement entitlement begins or ends within a quarter, you will only be paid for the days on which you were entitled to it.

Payment adjustments

The Seniors Supplement is adjusted in March and September each year, in line with upward movements in the Consumer Price Index—that is, in line with increases in the costs of living.

Claiming Seniors Supplement

Your eligibility for Seniors Supplement is automatically assessed when you claim a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. You do not need to make a separate claim for the supplement.

You must provide details of a bank account into which we can pay your supplement.

If you get Seniors Supplement, you will also get the Clean Energy Advance.

If you do not want to get the supplement, you should tell us as soon as possible. You can:

call us on 132 300
visit your nearest DHS Service Centre

If you disagree with a decision we make

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

Change of circumstances while receiving Seniors Supplement

You need to tell us if your circumstances change while you are receiving Seniors Supplement. For example, you need to tell us if:

you are going overseas
you move house
your or your partner’s adjusted taxable income reaches or exceeds the income limits for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
your relationship status changes (i.e. you become partnered or single)

If you do not tell us about changes, you may be overpaid, and you will probably have to pay the money back.

If you deliberately don’t tell us about changes, you could be charged with fraud.

Payments paid while outside Australia

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