Legislation to increase the income thresholds for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) to $90,000 for singles and $144,000 for couples (combined) has received Royal Assent. The new thresholds will be effective from 4 November 2022.
Clients who are now eligible should submit their application for the card as soon as possible.
The income test for the CSHC card is based on adjusted taxable income and deemed income on account-based pensions (excluding grandfathered account-based pensions). The combination of the increase in the income thresholds and freezing of the deeming rates will increase the number of client’s eligible for the card.
The income thresholds will increase as follows:
| Family situation | Old threshold | Proposed threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $61,284 | $90,000 |
| Couple (combined) | $98,054 | $144,000 |
| Couple separated by illness, respite care or prison (combined) | $122,568 | $180,000 |
The income thresholds for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) will continue to be indexed on 20 September each year based on annual indexation figures.
The CSHC which offers many benefits for seniors including;
This card can also entitle card holders to other concessions from state and local government authorities such as:
The CSHC can provide many discounts for self-funded retirees. The increases in the income threshold means that if your income was too high in the past you may now be eligible for this valuable card.
