Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

You must meet an income test to get the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. We review this test on 20 September each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

The income test will look at your:

• adjusted taxable income
• a deemed amount from account based income streams

To pass the income test, you must earn no more than:

• $52,796 a year if you’re single
• $84,472 a year for couples
• $105,592 a year for couples separated by illness, respite care or prison

Add $639.60 to these amounts for each child in your care.

There is no assets test.

Account based income streams

We look at your account based income streams as part of the income test. Account based income streams include account based pensions and account based annuities.

The balance of an account based income stream is subject to deeming. Deeming assumes that financial investments are earning a certain rate of income.

Deeming rules will only apply if:

• you bought or changed it on or after 1 January 2015
• you own it and your Commonwealth Seniors Health Card was granted after 31 December 2014
• your partner owns it and they are 60 years old or more

Read about account based income streams on the Department of Social Services website.

Your adjusted taxable income will be used to assess your eligibility for some payments, supplements, support and benefits.

Read more about adjusted taxable income