People receiving Age Pension are generally issued the card automatically.
Concession cards
Pensioner Concession Card explained
The Pensioner Concession Card can provide cheaper health care, medicines and access to some concessions for people receiving qualifying Centrelink payments.
Practical guidanceUnderstand the options before making the decision.
At a glance
What to know first
You do not make a separate application if you are already eligible.
The concessions available can include Commonwealth, state, territory and local benefits.
The practical detail
Work through the part that matters to you.
The card follows a qualifying payment
Services Australia automatically issues a Pensioner Concession Card to people receiving certain qualifying payments, including Age Pension and Carer Payment.
The card is not the same as Age Pension
The card is evidence of concession eligibility. It is not a separate pension payment and it is not the same as the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.
Local concessions vary
Some discounts depend on the state, territory, council or service provider. Check what the card gives you where you live rather than assuming every concession is national.
Check the current rules
Official sources used for this guide.
Government rules and thresholds can change. These links take you to the source material used to prepare this page.
Related Later Life guides
Keep going only where it is useful.
Money & entitlements
Age Pension explained in plain English
Age Pension is the Australian Government’s main income-support payment for older Australians. Reaching the qualifying age is only one part of eligibility.
Read guide →Money & entitlementsCommonwealth Seniors Health Card explained
The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card can help with cheaper health care and some discounts for people who have reached Age Pension age but are not receiving an income-support payment.
Read guide →Money & entitlementsSeniors Cards and concessions: what to check
Australia does not have one national Seniors Card. States and territories run their own programs, with their own eligibility rules and discounts.
Read guide →When general information is not enough
Talk it through with Liz.
Liz can help connect the general rules to the care and support questions in your own situation. For legal, tax or financial decisions, she will point you back to the appropriate professional or government source.