Concessions in the Australian Capital Territory

Last updated:

9 August 2024

This page is about concessions available to DVA clients in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

Who is eligible for concessions?

The organisation that offers the product or service, e.g. your local council, decides what sort of concession is offered and to whom it is offered. DVA Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) and Gold Veteran Card holders are usually eligible for concessions, but it is important to contact the organisation offering the concession to confirm your eligibility.

Health concessions

Treatment Cards

If you have a Veteran Gold or White Card you should always use this card for medical, hospital, pharmaceutical and allied health services. You can use your physical card or a digital version. You can access a digital version of the White Card and the Gold Card in MyService. If you have linked your MyService account to myGov, you can also add your Veteran Card to the wallet in the myGov app.

If you don’t have a MyService account it is easy to get one. Go to the MyService page to find out how.

Once you have a MyService account, you can add your Veteran Card to the myGov app. This video explains how to do so.

Transcript: How to add your Veteran Card to the myGov wallet.

Concession providers can find out more in myGov community resources.

Pharmaceutical benefits

The rates quoted are current from 1 January 2025.

PCC holders are eligible for medication under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) at $7.70 per prescription. Your pharmacist can tell you which medicines are listed under the scheme. Premiums charged by manufacturers may apply to some alternative brands/medicines. Once you have spent the PBS Safety Net threshold amount on PBS medicines, you will receive free PBS medicines for the rest of the year.

National Diabetes Services Scheme

You can receive a range of Australian Government approved products at a reduced price. For more information contact the scheme on 1300 136 588 or visit their website at: www.ndss.com.au.

Hearing services

The Office of Hearing Services provides vouchers which enable you to get hearing assessments and devices from hearing service providers of your choice. This includes the cost of fitting the device. For more information contact the Office of Hearing Services on 1800 500 726, or email hearing [at] health.gov.au (hearing[at]health[dot]gov[dot]au) or visit their website at: hearingservices.gov.au.

ACT Spectacles Subsidy Scheme

ACT residents who hold a PCC are eligible for a subsidy of up to $200 once every two years under the ACT Spectacles Subsidy Scheme. Dependants of cardholders are also entitled to assistance under the scheme if their name appears on the card. For more information contact the ACT Revenue Office on 02 6207 0028 - select option 5, ACT Community Assistance Scheme or visit their website at www.act.gov.au/assistance.

Low Vision Aids Scheme

This scheme gives a subsidy to people who suffer from a range of degenerative eye conditions. For more information contact Vision Australia on 1300 84 74 66 or the Canberra Blind Society on (02) 6247 4580, or visit the ACT Revenue Office website at http://www.revenue.act.gov.au/community-assistancel/low-vision-aids-scheme.

Ambulance

PCC holders can get free emergency and non-emergency ambulance services within the ACT. For more information please visit the ACT Ambulance Service website at: esa.act.gov.au/ambulance.

Transport Concessions

Public transport

PCC and Gold Card Holders can get a concession of around 50% of normal public transport fares. Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) and Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) veterans (and their attendants) get free travel on public transport. For more information contact Transport Canberra MyWay on 131 710 or visit their website at https://www.transport.act.gov.au/tickets-and-myway/fares/concessions.

ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme

This scheme assists people who have a severe disability that prevents them using public transport for a minimum period of 6 months. The scheme provides a subsidy towards the cost of taxi transport. For more information contact the ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme on (02) 6207 0028 (Selection Option 5, Sub Option 1), or visit their website at http://www.revenue.act.gov.au/community-assistance/taxi-subsidy-scheme.

Household Concessions

Australia Post

Australia Post offers a 40% discount on postage stamps, discounts on re-directing mail and deliver some items that aid the sight of people with a vision impairment free of charge, or at a discounted rate, for Gold, White and Veteran Orange Card holders. For more information contact Australia Post on 13 76 78 or visit their website at www.auspost.com.au/.

Telstra

Telstra offer a number of concessions to PCC holders, including a discount on new telephone service connection fee and a reduction in your home line plan costs. For more information contact Telstra on 1800 676 442 or visit their website at www.telstra.com.au/home-phone.

Energy (Gas & Electricity)

A rebate (Utilities Concession) is available to PCC holders, Gold Card Holders (prisoner of war (POW), War Widow or Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) embossed) for energy provided to their principle place of residence. The account must be in the card holder's name. Further information regarding Utilities Concession can be found on the ACT Revenue Office website at https://www.revenue.act.gov.au/community-assistance/utilities-concession or by calling (02) 6207 0028. You may also contact your energy supplier for more information. Registered providers of energy (gas and electricity) under the energy concession scheme are:

ActewAGL Retail Phone: 13 14 93 (TTY 13 36 77)
Origin (including former Country Energy customers) Phone: 13 24 61
Energy Australia (including former TRUEnergy customers) Phone: 13 34 66

Life Support (Energy & Water)

Who is Eligible?

People who use life support equipment may get a rebate on their electricity use. If the equipment depends on a fresh supply of water, the residential property owner may get a reduction in their water usage charges. Contact your energy supplier for more information.

Rates

PCC and Gold Card holders are eligible to receive a rebate of up to 50% (up to a maximum amount) on their principal place of residence. For more information contact the ACT Revenue Office on (02) 6207 0028 or visit their website at https://www.revenue.act.gov.au/home-owner-assistance/rates-assistance.

Vehicle Concessions

Drivers' licences and motor vehicle registration fees

PCC holders are entitled to a 100% discount on vehicle registration. This means that you do not pay for the registration component but must pay the full fee for compulsory third party insurance, road rescue fee, road safety contribution, lifetime care and support levy and short term registration surcharge if applicable.

You must complete a Concession Validation Consent form or provide a letter from DVA confirming the concession entitlement, which is dated no earlier than 14 days before the transaction. The concession can only be provided to the card holder and applies to one light vehicle registration in the card holder's name.

PCC and Gold Card holders are entitled to 100% fee discount upon issue or renewal of provisional, full or national heavy vehicle licence. Full fees are payable for learner, probationary and restricted driver licences.

For more information, contact Access Canberra on 132 281 or visit their webpages on concessions for:

Motor Vehicle GST exemption

Once every 2 years or 40,000 km, eligible veterans are entitled to GST exemption on the purchase of a new car. GST exemption is also available on spare parts necessary for the running of a motor car. For more information refer to Supply of Cars and Car Parts GST Free.

More Information about Concessions

ACT Seniors Card

The ACT Seniors Card is issued free and provides access to savings on a range of goods and services provided by participating businesses. For more information contact the Council on the Ageing (COTA) on (02) 6282 3777 or visit their website at: www.actseniorscard.org.au/.

Moving Interstate

If you have recently moved interstate, and not received a new concession or treatment card reflecting your state of residence, please contact us. Some state government concessions require your card to match your state of residence.