5.7.2 CSHC Eligibility

Last amended: 25 August 2014    

Who is eligible for a CSHC?

The following persons are eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) from DVA:

• Australian, Commonwealth or allied veterans with qualifying service,
• Australian and allied mariners of World War 2 with qualifying service,
• the partners (including widows and widowers) of veterans or mariners with qualifying service, and
• war widows/widowers.

To be eligible for a CSHC, the person must also:

• be of pension age, (or qualifying age if a war widow/widower),
• be an Australian resident,
• not be receiving a service pension, income support supplement or age pension from DVA,
• not be receiving a pension or benefit or CSHC from Centrelink, and     
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  DFISA and nil rate of social security payments

  5.9.2/Social Security Payments Payable at Nil Rate

   

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• satisfy the CSHC income test.    
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  CSHC Income Test

  Section 5.7.3

   

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Note: A person who holds a pensioner concession card (PCC) from either DVA or Centrelink is not eligible for a CSHC. The PCC already entitles them to the concessions available with the CSHC.

Eligibility for Norfolk Island residents

Norfolk Island is regarded as part of Australia for CSHC purposes. Residents of Norfolk Island may therefore be issued with a CSHC if all of the eligibility criteria are met.

Lodging a claim

Although a person may meet the eligibility criteria for CSHC, such a person will not be granted a CSHC unless:

• they are in Australia on the day the claim is lodged; and
• they lodge a proper claim. This requires the person (or another person on their behalf) to complete DVA Form D3056 Application for Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

Provision of tax file number

CSHC holders are required to provide DVA with their and their partner's tax file number. The provision of a tax file number is necessary for the data matching program. If the tax file number is not provided with the claim or when requested, the person is not entitled to the CSHC, unless the requirement to provide the number is waived by the Secretary or an exemption applies.     

Portability of CSHC

CSHC eligibility is not affected if the holder departs Australia temporarily. However, CSHC eligibility ceases for those who depart Australia permanently. CSHC holders will have portability of payment of the seniors supplement (SSup) and energy supplement (ES) affected if they are absent from Australia for greater than 6 weeks.     

CSHC for age pensioners who lose payability

DVA has delegation under the Social Security Act 1991 (SSA) to grant a CSHC to an age pensioner who:

• was being paid the age pension by DVA,
• lost payability for the age pension because of the income or assets test,
• meets the qualification criteria for CSHC (qualifying service is not required for CSHC claims under the SSA), and
• completes the Centrelink CSHC claim form SA296/0509.

The rationale is to remove the need for these pensioners to go to Centrelink to apply for a CSHC and then return to DVA if their income or assets reduce making them again eligible for age pension.

CSHC holder's obligations

CSHC holders must notify changes in their circumstances that may affect either their entitlement to the CSHC, or to the SSup and CES paid to them.     

Changes of circumstances that must be notified include when a person:

• changes address,
• goes overseas permanently or intends to go overseas for more than 6 weeks,
• changes relationship status,
• has a change in the number of dependants,
• is granted a pension, benefit or concession card from Centrelink,
• commences a new account‑based income stream, or
• has income exceeding the CSHC income limit.    
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  CSHC Income Test

  Section 5.7.3

   

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Refusal or failure to comply with obligations

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In the case of refusal or failure to comply as far as the person is capable, the penalty is imprisonment for six months. In the case of a person knowingly giving information that is false or misleading, the penalty is imprisonment for twelve months. Under subsections 4B(2) and 4B(3) of, the Crimes Act 1914, a court may impose an appropriate fine instead of, or in addition to, a term of imprisonment.