Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)

Legislative Authority

Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
Sections 118V-118ZZA

Stated Current Purpose/Intent

To provide concessions to retirees of pension age who fail to qualify for an income support pension or a social security pension or benefit.

Current Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a CSHC from DVA, a person must be:

• a veteran with qualifying service;
• a partner (including widows and widowers) of a veteran with qualifying service; or
• a war widow or widower.

The person must also:

• have reached pension age (or qualifying age if a war widow or widower);
• be an Australian resident and residing in Australia;
• not be receiving a service pension, income support supplement or age pension from DVA;
• not be receiving a pension or benefit or CSHC from Services Australia; and
• satisfy the CSHC income test*.

*Clients over pension age whose pension was reduced to nil on 1 January 2017 as a result of changes to the assets test do not need to meet the usual CSHC income test.

Notes

1. CSHC holders are also entitled to pharmaceuticals at the concessional rate under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the Medicare Safety Net threshold.

Date of Introduction

1 July 1994

Original Purpose/Intent

In the 1993 Budget, the Government announced the provision of a Seniors Health Card to assist those retirees who qualified for fringe benefits under the income test, but either failed the assets test or were excluded by the residency requirements.

The CSHC does not give the cardholder direct access to any State, Territory or local government concessions, although some State, Territory and local governments may recognise the CSHC for additional concessions.  To avoid confusion with State Seniors Cards, the prefix 'Commonwealth' was added to the name.

The card originally provided a limited range of health-related concessions and was targeted at those retirees who are asset rich but income poor.