Service Pensioners who can get a Veteran Gold Card

This page explains which Service Pension recipients under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) are eligible for the Veteran Gold Card.

The rates on this page are effective from 20 September 2024.

What is the Veteran Gold Card?

The Veteran Gold Card gives you access to a wide range of public and private health care services, for the treatment of all your medical conditions. This treatment is provided at the expense of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).

Who is eligible?

Service Pensioners are eligible for the Gold Card if one of the following applies:

• are permanently blind in both eyes
• satisfy the treatment benefits income and assets test
• the rate of their Disability Compensation Payment is 50% of the general rate or higher
• they have an impairment from one or more service injuries or diseases that constitutes at least 30 impairment points under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA).

What is the Treatment Benefits Income/Assets Reduction Limit?

You satisfy the treatment benefits income and assets test if your income/assets do not exceed the limits set out below. If either your income or assets exceed the limits set out below, you will lose eligibility for the Gold Card. However, ‘period of grace’ provisions may apply to you (refer to the section below).

The current income and asset limits are:

What if my income or assets increase above the cut off limits?

If you are paid Service Pension under the income test and your income goes over the treatment benefits limit you may be able to retain your Gold Card for a period of up to 13 weeks under the ’period of grace’ provisions.

The ‘period of grace’ provisions enable you to retain your Gold Card for 13 weeks subject to the following rules:

• if as a result of the increase in your income the rate of your Service Pension is reduced by no more than 150% of the income limit set out above, eligibility for the Gold Card continues for the full 13 weeks and then is lost
• if within the 13 week period your income reduces again to below the treatment benefits income limit, the period of grace provisions cease to apply and your eligibility for treatment benefits continues
• if your income rises at any time during the 13 week period and results in a reduction in the rate of your Service Pension by more than 150% of the income limit set out above, eligibility for treatment benefits ceases immediately.

The ‘period of grace’ provisions do not apply for treatment benefits lost in the following circumstances:

• where your pension is being paid under the income test and there is an increase in your assets which results in your pension becoming payable under the assets test
• where you are being paid under the assets test and there is either:
  • an increase in assets
  • a decrease in assets resulting in the pension becoming payable under the income test.

For more information on the income test refer to Income Test and for more information on the assets test refer to Asset Test.

If at any time you lose eligibility for the Gold Card, you will be notified in writing and your Gold Card will be recalled.

Do I retain my Veteran Gold Card during bereavement period?

A Gold Card holder's income/assets may exceed the reduction limit when their partner dies. In this case, the person retains the Gold Veteran Card during the 98 day bereavement period. Veteran Gold Card eligibility is lost at the end of the bereavement period.