What is a concession card — and which one do you get?

There are three cards issued through Centrelink:

• Pensioner Concession Card (PCC): For Age Pension, DSP, Carer Payment, and some other pension-type payments. Gives the widest discounts.
• Health Care Card (HCC): For JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy, Parenting Payment and other allowances. Covers PBS medicines and some other concessions.
• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC): For self-funded retirees of Age Pension age who don't receive the Age Pension. Covers cheaper medicines and some services.

Source: Services Australia — Concession cards.

With a PCC you get:

• Cheaper medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) — a single co-payment of around $7.70 per item (from 1 Jan 2026)
• Bulk billing priority for GP visits (at the doctor's discretion)
• State government concessions on electricity, gas, council rates, vehicle registration and public transport (varies by state)
• Free hearing services through the Australian Government Hearing Services Program

With an HCC you get:

• Cheaper PBS medicines (same co-payment as PCC)
• Bulk billing at GP discretion
• Some state government discounts — these vary and are usually fewer than the PCC

The HCC does not give access to the hearing services program or transport concessions in most states.

Your card is usually issued automatically when your Centrelink payment starts. It arrives by post within 2–3 weeks. If yours hasn't arrived, check your details in myGov and request a replacement through your Centrelink online account.

You can also view your card digitally in the Express Plus Centrelink app.

See also: How the income test works · Current payment rates · All payments overview