The CSHC is intended to assist those retirees and other eligible veterans, war widow(er)s and their partners of pension age who fail to qualify for an income support pension from DVA or a pension or benefit from Centrelink. The card entitles the holder to pharmaceuticals listed on the PBS at a concessional rate and seniors supplement.

An allied veteran means a person who:

• has been appointed or enlisted as a member of the defence force established by an allied country; and
• has rendered continuous full-time service as such a member during a period of hostilities

An allied veteran does not include a person who has served at any time:

• in the forces of a country that was, at the time, at war with Australia, or in forces engaged in supporting or assisting the forces of such a country, or
• in the forces that were, at the time, engaged in war like operations against the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Australia

See section 5c(1) VEA

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 person's 'partner' is someone who is a member of a couple with that person.

A widow is a woman who was:

• the partner of a person immediately before the person died; or
• legally married to a man and living with him immediately before he died; or
• legally married to a man and living separately and apart from him on a permanent basis, immediately before he died.

A widower is a man who was:

• the partner of a person immediately before the person died: or
• legally married to a woman and living with her immediately before she died; or
• legally married to a woman and living separately and apart from her on a permanent basis immediately before she died.

For the purposes of Part VI of the VEA, a reference to a veteran is taken to be a reference to:

• a veteran as defined in subsection 5C(1) of the VEA;
• a member of the Forces as defined in subsection 68(1) of the VEA; or
• a member of a Peacekeeping Force as defined in subsection 68(1) of the VEA.

For the purposes of Part VII of the VEA, according to subsection 5C(1), veteran means a person (including a deceased person):

• who is taken to have rendered eligible war service, or
• in respect of whom a pension is, or pensions are, payable under subsection 13(6) and
• in Part III and Part VIIC of the VEA includes a person who is:

• a Commonwealth veteran, or
• an allied veteran, or
• an allied mariner.

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

• a veteran; or
• a person who was a member of the forces; and
• who is receiving:
• a war widow's/widower's pension; or
• a pension that is payable under the law of a foreign country that is, in the opinion of the Commission, similar to a war widow's/widower's pension.

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:

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).

An Australian resident is a person who:

• resides in Australia; and
• is one of the following:

• an Australian citizen;
• the holder of a permanent visa;
• the holder of a special category visa who is likely to remain permanently in Australia;
• the holder of a special purpose visa who is likely to remain permanently in Australia.

Australia is defined in the Acts Interpretations Act 1901 and includes the following territories and Islands:

• Christmas Island
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Subsection 5Q(1) of the VEA provides specifically that the definition of Australia includes the external territories for many VEA purposes including Part III, IIIAB, some parts of Part IIIB, Parts IIID, VIIA, VIIC and sections 52ZO, 58A, and 132.  Norfolk Island is currently the only external territory of Australia. For the above VEA sections, which cover service pension, [glossary:income support supplement:118], pension bonus, pension loans scheme, Veterans supplement, pension supplement and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card purposes it is considered to be part of Australia. The test of residing in Australia does not by itself satisfy the full definition of Australian Resident, as residency also requires Australian citizenship or the holding of a specified visa.

Papua New Guinea and Nauru have both previously been external territories of Australia.  Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island, formerly regarded as separate islands, are now part of mainland NSW and Tasmania respectively.

A service pension is an income support payment broadly equivalent to the social security age and disability support pensions. It may be paid once a veteran or partner has reached the nominated age or is incapacitated for work.

ISS is an income support payment that may be paid to eligible war widows and widowers under the VEA and persons receiving wholly dependent partners' compensation under the MRCA, and who satisfy the means tests. It is an indexed rate, increased twice-yearly in March and September in line with changes to the cost of living and/or average wages. Income Support Supplement (ISS) legislation commenced on 20 March 1995. It is a payment created to replace the ceiling rate income support age, carer, wife and disability support pensions, paid to war widows/widowers by Centrelink.

An age pension is a means tested income support payment paid by Centrelink  or DVA on behalf of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. The majority of age pensions are paid through Centrelink. However, eligible veterans  who have an accepted disability or receive a Disability Compensation Payment from DVA, but do not have qualifying service, may be paid their age pension by DVA. Their partner may also receive their age pension from DVA, if eligible.

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.

A TFN is a number issued by the Australian Taxation Office to individuals, partnerships, trusts or companies. Each taxpayer has unique TFN which must be declared when you:

• loge a tax return,
• apply for certain income assistance or support payments,
• make or receive payments under Prescribed or Reportable Payment System,
• start or change jobs,
• have savings accounts or investments that earn income, or
• study at a tertiary institution under the HECS Scheme.

Seniors supplement was paid to Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) and eligible Gold Card holders until it ceased on 26 June 2015. It was paid quarterly and commenced on 20 September 2009, replacing the seniors concession allowance and telephone allowance.

The energy supplement is a fortnightly or quarterly payment designed to help recipients meet the cost of electricity and gas bills.

An age pension is a means tested income support payment paid by Centrelink  or DVA on behalf of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. The majority of age pensions are paid through Centrelink. However, eligible veterans  who have an accepted disability or receive a Disability Compensation Payment from DVA, but do not have qualifying service, may be paid their age pension by DVA. Their partner may also receive their age pension from DVA, if eligible.

A dependant of a veteran (including a deceased veteran) is:

• the partner;
• non-illness separated spouse;
• widow(er) (other than a widow(er) who marries or remarries); or
• a child of the veteran.