C28/1998 ISSUE OF 1998/99 COMMONWEALTH SENIORS HEALTH CARD (CSHC)

Purpose of instruction

To correct the income limits advised in paragraphs on page 3 of the Departmental Instruction C25/98, issued 27 May 1998.  The corrected amounts are in bold.

The CSHC income test

The CSHC income test specifies that a person must have ordinary income of less than specified limits (which depends on the person's family situation).

The current CSHC ordinary income test limits are as follows:

• single - $21,320
• partnered - $35,620
• illness separated - $42,016
• plus an additional amount per year for each dependant child - $624.

1/1/1999 change to CSHC income test

With the 1998 Federal Budget announcement, from 1 January 1999 the income test will change from one based on current income to one based on taxable income.  The income limits will be almost doubled, from $21,320 to $40,000 for single person, from $35,620 to $67,000 for a couple and from $42,016 to $73,396 for a couple being separated due to ill health.  This will increase the number of the CSHC recipients from 1 January 1999.

It is intended to conduct a bulk issue in late December 1998 or early January 1999 to include the newly entitled CSHC clients.  The Budget implementation team will issue a separate DI in relation to this additional bulk run closer to the date.  For further information on this matter please contact Marion Springer on

(02) 6289 6703.

Contact Officers

Further queries on this matter should be directed to:

Ferri Ghazi                                               Martin Dibb

Tel:  (02) 6289 6436          OR                Tel:  (02) 6289 6751

Fax:  (02) 6289 6553                               Fax: (02) 6289 6553

LAN: Ferri Ghazi                                       LAN:  Martin Dibb