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Nick Bruining Q+A: How Centrelink’s Low Income Health Care Card works and what you may be eligible to get
Nick Bruining explains how Centrelink's Low Income Health Care Card works and what households may be eligible to get.
Key points
- Couples with two children must have total pre-tax income below $1478 a week, averaged over eight weeks.
- The card gives access to PBS-listed medicines at $7.70 a prescription, plus some bulk-billing and utility discounts.
- Applications can be made online through the myGov portal after linking Centrelink service to an account.
Why it matters. For a household that has lost one income, the card may reduce everyday costs such as medicines and doctor visits, though eligibility depends on income tests.
Financial adviser Nick Bruining says Australians with low incomes can apply for the Centrelink-issued Low Income Health Care Card. For a couple with two children, total pre-tax income must be below $1478 a week, averaged over eight weeks. Cardholders pay $7.70 a prescription for PBS-listed medicines, and income can rise 25 per cent after grant before the card is lost.
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Nick Bruining Q+A: How Centrelink’s Low Income Health Care Card works and what you may be eligible to get
Q+A: Keeping the family finances in check is tough enough these day, even more so when one parent loses a job. But a special discount card is available. See if you’re eligible, and what you can get ... Question My partner recently lost his job in the retail industry. After looking on the Centrelink website, I can see that my income means he would probably not qualify for any payments. While we can just make ends meet with my income, for now, with two young children I am looking for any suggestions to reduce our expenses. A friend told me about a special single income discount card, but I can’t find any information. Can you please help? Answer The card you are referring to is probably the Centrelink-issued Low Income Health Care Card. This is issued to low income-earning Australian residents who satisfy income test conditions. The couple’s income test limit is currently $1410 a week, but each dependent child increases this limit by $34. In your case, total pre-tax income needs to be below $1478 a week. This amount is averaged over an eight-week period, so depending on when your partner’s income stopped you may qualify now, or in the near future. The card allows you to access a range of State and Federal government discounts including PBS-listed medicines at $7.70 a prescription, bulk-billing for some doctors and discounts on utilities such as power, water and services such as pu.