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Low Income Health Care Card: Eligibility and How It Works
If you're not on the Age Pension and not yet at the qualifying age, but your income is on the lower side, the Low Income Health Care Card may apply to you. It's the most flexible of the three Australian concession cards — there's no age limit, no asset test, and the eligibility test averages your income over 8 weeks rather than locking in a single snapshot. This page walks through how the income test actually works, what the card unlocks, and how to apply.
What's covered on this page
How the 8-week income averaging works in practice, what the card unlocks at federal and state level, the annual renewal process, and how to apply through myGov.
The Headline Numbers
Income limits effective from —. Limits are indexed twice yearly. Add — per week to the limit for each dependent child.
Key Point 1: How the 8-Week Income Test Actually Works
Unlike the other cards, the LIHCC doesn't use your tax return or a single fortnight's income. Instead, Centrelink looks at your gross income across the 8 weeks immediately before you apply, totals it, and divides by 8 to get a weekly average. That average is what's compared to the threshold.
This averaging matters because it means short bursts of higher income (a one-off contract, a busy fortnight at work) can be offset by lower-income weeks. The example below shows how:
How averaging can work in practice
Imagine someone whose 8 weekly incomes look like this — variable from week to week, with one notably high week:
What counts as income for this test
- Gross wages, salary and self-employment income (before tax)
- Rental income (gross, before expenses)
- Foreign pensions or income
- Income from a trust or partnership
- Most Centrelink payments other than the LIHCC itself
- Deemed earnings on financial investments (savings, term deposits, super in pension phase)
What doesn't count
- One-off lump sums (e.g. inheritances) — though these become assets afterwards
- Reportable fringe benefits (treated separately)
- Tax refunds
Important: the Work Bonus does NOT apply to the LIHCC test
If you're used to thinking about Centrelink income, you may know about the Work Bonus, which excludes a portion of work income from the Age Pension test. The Work Bonus does not apply to the LIHCC. Wages are fully assessable for this card. It's a different test, run for a different reason.
Key Point 2: What the LIHCC Actually Unlocks
The LIHCC unlocks federal benefits in full, and most state-government concessions too — but state coverage isn't quite as comprehensive as the Pensioner Concession Card. Here's the breakdown:
PBS and Medicare benefits
Same as the other two cards at the federal level:
- PBS prescriptions at the concession rate of — per script (versus the general rate of —)
- PBS Safety Net — once your annual prescription spend reaches —, further scripts are free
- Bulk-billed GP visits at participating practices
- Subsidised hearing services through Hearing Services Program
Most state concessions apply
Most state and territory schemes recognise the LIHCC, including:
- Public transport concession fares
- Discounted vehicle registration (varies by state)
- Some utility rebates (varies — not all states extend these to LIHCC holders)
- Discounted entry to government-run cultural venues
For specifics in your state, see your state concessions guide.
Council concessions — generally not extended
Most council rate concessions are reserved for PCC holders. LIHCC holders may still qualify for some council services at a reduced rate — check directly with your local council.
💡 What you might save (indicative)
Most cardholders save several hundred dollars a year, depending on their state and their medication usage. Heavy prescription users see the biggest PBS benefit. State-level savings vary considerably — the LIHCC is most valuable in states that extend their concession schemes broadly. For specific dollar values where you live, see your state concessions guide.
Key Point 3: The 12-Month Renewal Cycle
The LIHCC differs from the other cards in another important way: it's reissued every 12 months, not held indefinitely. Centrelink reviews your income annually and asks you to reconfirm that you still meet the threshold. This isn't paperwork to dread — it's usually a few questions in your myGov inbox — but it's worth understanding before you apply.
What happens at renewal
- About 12 months after issue, Centrelink sends a renewal request through your myGov inbox
- You confirm your current income (or provide updated income details)
- If still under the threshold, the card is reissued with a new expiry date
- If you're now over the threshold, the card lapses — but you can reapply later if your income drops back
What can affect your renewal
- A pay rise that pushes weekly income above the threshold
- Starting a new job after a period of low income
- A change in family situation (gaining or losing a dependent)
- Reaching Age Pension age — at which point you may be better off on the PCC (if eligible) or the CSHC
✓ Lost it? Reapply when your income drops
Losing the card isn't permanent — if your circumstances change again and you're back under the threshold, you can reapply. The 8-week income window resets, so a recent drop in income will be reflected in the assessment.
How to Apply for the LIHCC
The application is short — most people complete it in under an hour, including the supporting documents. Here's the practical sequence.
Step-by-step
- Set up myGov and link Centrelink if you haven't already. You'll need a Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN); if you don't have one, the linking process will create one.
- Gather 8 weeks of income evidence. Payslips, business income summaries, rental statements, foreign pension statements — anything that documents what you've earned in the previous 8 weeks.
- Start the claim through myGov. Select "Make a claim" and choose the Low Income Health Care Card option. The form asks about your household, your income, and your contact details.
- Upload supporting documents. PDFs or clear photos work. Centrelink will request follow-ups if anything is missing or unclear.
- Submit and wait. Most LIHCC claims are decided within 4–6 weeks. The card is backdated to your claim lodgement date, not the decision date — meaning savings start accruing as soon as you've applied (just keep receipts in case retrospective adjustment is needed).
For the full document checklist and form-by-form detail, see the Step-by-Step Application Guide.
How the LIHCC Compares With the Other Cards
| Card | Income test | Asset test? | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) | Tied to Age Pension means tests | Yes (via pension) | Continuous while on pension |
| Low Income Health Care Card (LIHCC) | 8-week weekly average — single — / couple — | No | Every 12 months |
| Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) | Annual ATI — single — / couple — | No | Annual ATI review |
If you're approaching Age Pension age, run the eligibility check for both the PCC (via the Age Pension calculator) and the CSHC — once you reach the qualifying age, one of those is usually a better fit than the LIHCC.
About state concession amounts
Concession amounts vary considerably by state, council and individual circumstance. Use this page for the framework and the federal-level PBS figures (which are the same Australia-wide); for specific dollar values where you live, check your state's concessions guide. State concession schemes also change year-to-year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the 8-week income test calculated?
Centrelink looks at your gross income over the 8 weeks immediately before you apply, divides by 8, and compares that weekly average to the threshold. Short bursts of higher income that are offset by lower-income weeks may still leave you eligible. Wages are fully assessable for the LIHCC test — the Work Bonus does not apply.
Do I need to be a certain age to qualify?
No. The Low Income Health Care Card has no minimum or maximum age requirement. It's particularly useful for people under Age Pension age, or for those who don't qualify for the pension or the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. The only test is the 8-week income average.
How often do I have to renew the card?
Every 12 months. Centrelink reviews your income annually and will ask you to reconfirm that you still meet the limit. If your income has risen above the threshold, the card will not be renewed — but you can reapply later if your circumstances change.
Are there any assets test requirements?
No. The Low Income Health Care Card uses an income test only — there is no assets test. You can have substantial savings, super or property and still qualify, provided your weekly income (averaged over 8 weeks) is under the threshold.
What happens if my income changes during the year?
You're required to notify Centrelink within 14 days if your income rises above the threshold. The card may be cancelled if your circumstances change. If your income then drops back down, you can reapply. The 8-week averaging at application time is a snapshot — it doesn't lock in the card if your situation changes substantially.
Where to Next
The LIHCC is the most flexible of the three Australian concession cards — useful if you don't yet qualify for the Age Pension or the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, but want help with prescriptions and most state concessions. The 8-week averaging makes it forgiving of variable income, and the application is straightforward through myGov. If you're close to Age Pension age, run the eligibility check for the other cards too — at that life stage, the PCC or CSHC may apply instead.
Not Sure Which Card You Qualify For?
Five minutes with the eligibility calculator screens you for all three cards at once — including the LIHCC.
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Last reviewed: 9 May 2026 · All figures pulled live from the RC Data Engine. For previous indexation periods, see the Centrelink Rates & Thresholds reference page.