The rising cost of living has made managing daily expenses challenging for many Australians, especially seniors, pensioners, and low-income earners. To provide relief, the Australian government offers the Centrelink Concession Card 2025, which helps eligible individuals save on essential services like healthcare, utilities, and transport. These concession cards are crucial in easing financial pressure by offering discounts that significantly lower household costs.

In this guide, you will find everything you need to know about the Centrelink Concession Cards, including who is eligible, how to apply, and the key benefits each card provides.

Overview: Centrelink Concession Card 2025

Concession Card	Benefits	Eligibility Criteria	Application Process
Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)	Reduced PBS medicine costs, transport discounts, utility rebates, hearing services	Age Pension, Carer Payment, DSP, JobSeeker (single with dependents)	Automatically issued
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)	Cheaper PBS medicines, utility and transport rebates, healthcare discounts	Age Pension age, meet income test (below $95,400 single / $152,640 couple)	Apply via myGov or Centrelink form SA296
Low Income Health Care Card (LIHCC)	Discounted PBS medicines, energy bill discounts, healthcare savings, transport savings	Weekly income below $769 (single) or $1,315 (couples combined)	Apply via myGov or Centrelink form SS050

Types of Centrelink Concession Cards Explained

Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)

The Pensioner Concession Card is specifically designed for individuals receiving key Centrelink payments. It helps reduce out-of-pocket costs for essential services, providing real financial relief.

Benefits:

• Access to discounted medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• Possible bulk-billed doctor visits, subject to provider
• Discounts on public transport across all Australian states
• Utility rebates on electricity, gas, and water bills (state-specific)
• Eligibility for hearing services, including assessments and hearing aids

Eligibility: You must be receiving one of these Centrelink payments:

• Age Pension
• Carer Payment
• Disability Support Pension (DSP)
• JobSeeker or Youth Allowance (if single with dependents)
• Parenting Payment (Single)

Additionally, individuals aged 60 or over who have been receiving JobSeeker, Parenting Payment (partnered), or Special Benefit for more than nine months are also eligible.

Application Process: No separate application is needed. Centrelink will automatically issue this card when eligibility is met.

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)

The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card assists retirees who have reached Age Pension age but are not receiving a pension due to their income levels.

Benefits:

• Cheaper PBS prescription medicines
• Possible discounts on utilities like electricity, gas, and water (state-dependent)
• Reduced public transport fares in certain states
• Additional healthcare discounts in some cases

Eligibility: To qualify:

• You must be of Age Pension age
• You must not receive an income support pension
• Your annual income must be below $95,400 if single or $152,640 combined for couples

Application Process: You can apply:

• Online through your Centrelink account linked to myGov
• By submitting a paper form (SA296) at a Centrelink office

Low Income Health Care Card (LIHCC)

The Low Income Health Care Card targets individuals and couples with lower weekly incomes, offering similar benefits to the other cards.

Benefits:

• Cheaper PBS medicines
• Discounts on public transport
• Reduced energy bills
• Healthcare cost savings in select states

Eligibility: Income limits are:

• Single: less than $769 per week
• Couples (combined): less than $1,315 per week

Application Process: Applications can be submitted:

• Online through myGov
• By completing form SS050 at a Centrelink office

Eligibility Criteria for Each Concession Card

The eligibility for each concession card differs based on age, income level, and the type of Centrelink payment received. Factors like your household situation and financial status determine which card you can access.

• PCC: Linked to receiving the Age Pension, Carer Payment, DSP, JobSeeker (single with dependents), or Parenting Payment (Single).
• CSHC: Must meet Age Pension age requirements and pass the income test.
• LIHCC: Income must fall below the specified weekly thresholds.

Benefits of Holding a Centrelink Concession Card

Holding a Centrelink Concession Card opens the door to various cost-saving opportunities.

Healthcare Discounts

All concession cardholders receive discounts on medicines listed under the PBS. Many PCC holders also benefit from bulk-billed doctor visits, and certain states offer free or subsidised dental care.

Utility and Transport Concessions

Cardholders often receive:

• Reduced electricity, gas, and water bills (depending on the state)
• Lower public transport fares across all Australian states and territories

Additional State-Specific Benefits

States and territories provide extra benefits to cardholders, including:

State/Territory	Key Concessions
NSW	Discounts on car registration, public transport fares, electricity rebates
VIC	50% off public transport, energy rebates for seniors and pensioners
QLD	Reduced driver’s license fees, water and gas bill concessions
WA	Free Transperth travel for seniors, lower utility bills
SA	Energy rebates, transport discounts
TAS	Property rate discounts, vehicle registration reductions
ACT	Reduced healthcare costs, public transport concessions

How to Apply for Centrelink Concession Cards

Automatic Issuance for PCC

The Pensioner Concession Card is automatically issued to eligible individuals when Centrelink approves their payments. There is no need to apply separately.

Online and Paper Applications for CSHC and LIHCC

For the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and Low Income Health Care Card:

• Apply online through your Centrelink account linked to myGov
• Alternatively, submit a paper application:
  • SA296 for CSHC
  • SS050 for LIHCC

Tips for Faster Approval

• Ensure your Centrelink and myGov account information is accurate and up to date
• Upload all required income and financial documents clearly
• Follow up with Centrelink if your application remains unprocessed after 21 days

How to Renew Your Centrelink Concession Card

Each card has its own renewal process:

• PCC: Automatically renewed as long as you remain eligible.
• CSHC: Requires annual review. Centrelink reassesses income details every year.
• LIHCC: Reapplication is required after the card expires.

State-Specific Benefits Overview

Apart from national concessions, Australian states and territories provide specific benefits for concession cardholders. These vary based on location but typically include:

• Discounts on public transport
• Utility bill reductions
• Reduced costs for vehicle registration and property rates It’s recommended to check your state’s official website regularly to stay informed about available discounts.

Conclusion

The Centrelink Concession Card 2025 is an essential tool for many Australians seeking to reduce their living costs. Whether you are a senior, pensioner, or low-income earner, these cards offer a range of valuable savings on healthcare, transport, utilities, and more. Understanding eligibility criteria and how to apply ensures that you can access the support you are entitled to.

By combining concession card benefits with the Centrelink Cost Of Living Payment March 2025, eligible individuals can maximise financial relief and better manage rising expenses.

FAQs About Centrelink Concession Card 2025