The Law Handbook 2024

Chapter 5.1: Dealing with social security 335 assets test – and who are too young to receive the Age Pension – are eligible for the low-income Health Care Card. Since 1 January 2019, Centrelink has automatically sent students and apprentices a Health Care Card if they receive or are eligible for ABSTUDY, the Austudy Allowance or Youth Allowance. Pensioner Concession Card The Pensioner Concession Card may entitle eligible recipients to: • access hearing services; • access bulk billing (at the doctor’s discretion); • receive a larger refund for medical costs after they reach the Medicare Safety Net; • receive a discount on the cost of redirecting mail through Australia Post; • receive reduced-cost medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. A dependent child of a Pensioner Concession Card holder may also be able to access some of these benefits. The Pensioner Concession Card is automatically issued to people receiving an Age Pension, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, JobSeeker or Youth Allowance, and who are single, caring for a dependent child and looking for work or in receipt of a parenting payment from Centrelink or DVA. People aged over 55 who received the JobSeeker Payment, Parenting Payment partnered, or the Special Benefit for at least nine months are also entitled to the Pensioner Concession Card. Thosewhoreceive the JobSeekerPayment, Parenting Payment or Youth Allowance (job seeker) – and who are assessed as having a partial capacity to work, or who are single principal carers of a dependent child – are also eligible for the Pensioner Concession Card. People whose pension was cancelled on 1 January 2017 because of changes to the pension assets test – and who were sent a non-income tested low-income Health Care Card – regained their entitlement to the Pensioner Concession Card on 9 October 2017. Commonwealth Seniors Health Card A person of Age Pension age or older who does not receive an income support payment from Centrelink or DVA may be entitled to the Seniors Health Card if their adjusted taxable income per year does not exceed $95,400 for singles, $152,640 for couples, or $190,800 for couples who are separated by illness, respite care or prison. The income threshold increases by $639.60 per child for those who have dependent children in their care. There is no assets test. Applicants also need to meet certain residence rules. On the day you apply and to keep using the card you must be living in Australia, an Australian resident or SCV holder and be physically in Australia. International agreements International pension agreements allow residents who move from or to Australia from one of the participating countries to qualify for a pension in the destination country without meeting the normal residential requirements. International agreements are in the Social Security (International Agreements) Act 1999 (Cth). Formal agreements exist between Australia and Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece/Hellenic Republic, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Malta, The Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and the United States. The agreement with the United Kingdom ended on 1 March 2001. For information on claiming UK Pensions, paying voluntary contributions or other matters relating to UK social security, visit the website of HM Revenue and Customs or Department for Work and Pensions or The Pensions Service. These agreements do not apply to all social security payments. The agreement with New Zealand has been amended, with changes taking effect on 1 July 2017. A fact sheet about the agreement can be found at http://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/ files/2023-07/int014-2307en.pdf This is a complex area and any specific queries should be taken to a community legal centre, Victoria Legal Aid or a solicitor. See Chapter 2.4: Legal services that can help, for a list of community legal centres.