The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card increased thresholds will take effect today, Friday 4 November 2022.
This will ease some of the financial burden on Territory seniors, allowing them to earn more before their pension payments are affected.
“So many of our Territory seniors have made decades-long contributions to the Territory economy and community as working taxpayers, and now that they’ve reached pension age, they deserve as much support as possible,” said Member for Solomon Luke Gosling.
“We owe them a debt of thanks, and would like them to be able to enjoy their twilight years rather than being gripped with fear due to rising inflation, interest rates, and the cost of living.
““Federal Labor is working hard to combat this difficult economic situation we inherited from the previous Coalition Government, including one trillion dollars of debt.
“But that will not come at the expense of Australian seniors.”
This Bill delivers on an election commitment of the Government to increase the income limits for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC). This will ensure more Australians qualify for the CSHC, easing some of the cost-of-living pressures people are facing.
The annual income thresholds will increase to:
• $90,000 for singles, up from the current limit of $57,761; and
• $144,000 for couples, up from the current limit of $92,416.
The CSHC provides access to Australian Government health concessions, including concessional co-payments for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines, the concessional thresholds for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Safety Net and the Extended Medicare Safety Net, and bulk-billed visits to a GP (at the doctor’s discretion).
The CSHC is available to Australian residents or special category visa holders who:
• have reached Age Pension age or veteran pension age; AND
• do not receive a social security pension or benefit, or veteran’s service pension or income support supplement due to their income and/or assets.
These increased thresholds are part of a suite of measures delivered by the Albanese Labor Government to assist older Australians, along with the largest increase to the aged pension.
