Concessions in South Australia

This page is about concessions available to DVA clients in South Australia (SA).

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 Veteran Gold 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 20 September 2024.

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. For more information, please visit: www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/pharmaceutical-benefits-scheme.

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, email hearing [at] health.gov.au (hearing[at]health[dot]gov[dot]au) or visit their website at: hearingservices.gov.au.

Ambulance

PCC holders receive a discount on ambulance cover membership fees. For more information contact the SA Ambulance Service on 1300 136 272 or visit their website at: www.saambulance.com.au.

SA Dental Services Clinic

PCC holders can access dental care at SA Dental Service clinics. For more information visit their website at: www.sahealth.sa.gov.au.

GlassesSA

GlassesSA helps eligible South Australians obtain low cost glasses or, for those with serious eye conditions, no cost contact lenses. To find out more visit www.sa.gov.au/concessions/GlassesSA or contact the GlassesSA Hotline on 1300 762 577 (TTY (08) 8226 6789) between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.

Transport Concessions

Incapacitated Ex-Service Personnel Travel Concession Card

This card entitles card holders to free bus, tram and train travel within Adelaide. DVA clients who hold a Veteran Gold Card with TPI embossed receive a Disability Compensation Payment at 100%, Intermediate or Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) rates or have been assessed under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) at 60 or more impairment points are eligible for the card.

For more information, please contact Adelaide Metro on 1300 311 108 or visit: Adelaide Metro fares and tickets.

Other public transport concessions

PCC and Veteran Gold Card holder may receive discounts on public transport when using metropolitan services or recognised regional city transport services. For more information, contact the SA Government Concessions Hotline on 1800 307 758 or visit: www.sa.gov.au/topics/care-and-support/financial-support/concessions/transport-concessions.

South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme (SATSS)

The SATSS provides subsidised taxi fares for people with permanent and severe disabilities. For more information call 1300 360 840 or visit their website at: https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/driving-and-transport/disability/taxi-fare-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 Veteran Gold Card, Veteran White Card and Veteran Orange Card holders. For more information contact Australia Post on 13 76 78 or visit 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 www.telstra.com.au/home-phone.

Cost of Living Concession

The Cost of Living Concession provides eligible card holders with a maximum annual payment per household to put towards their greatest needs, whether that is electricity, gas and water bills or council rates.

The following DVA clients are eligible for the concession payment:

• Pensioner Concession Card holders
• holders of a Veteran Gold Card embossed with ‘TPI’, ‘EDA’ or ‘War Widow’;
• Veteran Gold Card holders who have been assessed under the MRCA at 80 or more impairment points; and
• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

For more information contact the Concessions Hotline on 1800 307 758 or visit their website at: www.sa.gov.au/concessions.

Other Household Concessions

A number of additional concessions are available for eligible card holders to provide assistance with expenses such as energy, water and sewerage. For more information including the eligibility criteria contact the Concessions Hotline on 1800 307 758 or visit their Concession Finder website: www.sa.gov.au/concessions.

Vehicle Concessions

Drivers’ Licences & Registration – Pensioner concession

PCC holders are eligible for a 50% reduction in the registration fee, exemption from the payment of stamp duty on Compulsory Third Party (Bodily Injury) Insurance (This is not a reduction in the insurance premium) and a 50% reduction in the Drivers Licence fee. For more information, contact Service SA on 13 10 84 or visit their website at: https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/driving-and-transport/motoring-fees/registration-and-licence-concessions.

Drivers’ Licences & Registration – Incapacitated ex-service person’s concession

Veterans receiving TPI and EDA pensions and Veterans who, as a result of eligible military service, are blind, or have lost a leg or foot are entitled to this concession, which provides discounts on registration and drivers licence fees and exemption from the payment of stamp duty on Compulsory Third Party (Bodily Injury) Insurance. (This is not a reduction in the insurance premium). For more information, contact the Service SA on 131 084 or visit their website at:www.sa.gov.au/topics/driving-and-transport/motoring-fees/registration-and-licence-concessions.

Stamp Duty - Motor Vehicles Exemption

An exemption from stamp duty is available on an application to register a motor vehicle in, or transfer the registration of a motor vehicle to, the name of a person who is an eligible ex-serviceperson and has been assessed by Veterans’ Affairs as having a disability level of 70% or more.

This exemption is only available with respect to one vehicle registered in the name of the incapacitated person, at any one time.

For further information please phone: (08) 8204 9888 or visit: www.revenuesa.sa.gov.au.

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

SA Seniors Card

The SA 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 SA Seniors Card on 1800 819 961 or visit their website at: www.sa.gov.au/topics/seniors/seniors-card.

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.