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5.7.1 CSHC Overview

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Last amended 
16 December 2014
What is the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card?

The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) is intended to assist retirees and other eligible seniors who fail to qualify for an income support pension from DVA or a pension or benefit payable by Centrelink. The card is issued each financial year.

 
Payments available to CSHC holders

The CSHC entitles the holder to a quarterly payment of Energy supplement (ES) to assist with payment of energy, rates, water and sewerage expenses.     

 

 

Concessions available to CSHC holders

CSHC holders may also be entitled to the following concessions:

  • pharmaceuticals (prescription medicines) at concessional rate through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS),
  • PBS Safety Net threshold at concession cardholder rate,
  • Medicare Safety Net threshold at concession cardholder rate,
  • discounted fares for travel on the Great Southern Railway,      More
  • additional concession from state and local government authorities.

These concessions are not determined by DVA.  However, when the cardholder presents their card to claim a concession, they are consenting to their CSHC entitlement being confirmed with DVA by the concession provider.

 
CSHC eligibility

Veterans with qualifying service, their partners (including widows and widowers) and war widows/widowers may be entitled to a CSHC from DVA if they are of pension age or qualifying age and meet other eligibility criteria.     

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CSHC income test

The CSHC income test is based on adjusted taxable income and income deemed on account‑based income streams.  A person is only entitled to a CSHC if their income is below the limit relevant to their relationship status.     

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Commencement, variation and termination of CSHC

The rules for the date of effect of determinations regarding the CSHC are different to those applying to income support pensions.    

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CSHC Eligibility

Section 5.7.2

 

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CSHC Income Test

Section 5.7.3

 

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Date of Effect for CSHC Determinations

Section 5.7.4

 

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Income support pension is:

 

 

Centrelink is a Government service delivery agency responsible for delivering a range of Commonwealth Government services (including social security pensions and allowances) to the Australian community through a network of more than 400 Centrelink offices.

The energy supplement is an ongoing, regular payment designed to help recipients meet the cost of living impact of the carbon price.

 

 

 

Qualifying service is one of the criteria used to determine eligibility for certain benefits under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. Refer to section 7A of the VEA for the full defintion.

 

 

A war widow/widower is generally a person who immediately before their partners death, was the partner of, or was legally married to:

Refer to 5E(1) of the VEA for the full definition.

 

 

Currently, the pension age for a veteran is 60 years of age (VEA 5QA).

The pension age for a non-veteran is determined by the table below:

Date of birth (both dates inclusive)

Age Pension age

1 July 1952 to 31 December 1953

65 years and 6 months

1 January 1954 to 30 June 1955

66 years

1 July 1955 to 31 December 1956

66 years and 6 months

On or after 1 January 1957

67 years

 

Qualifying age is defined in section 5Q(1) of the VEA and is equivalent to the pension age for a veteran which is described in section 5QA VEA as:

  •       60 years for a male,
  •       for females subject to age equalisation (refer to the table in section 5QA VEA).