Pensioner Concession Card

What is the Pensioner Concession Card

The Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) gives you access to cheaper medicines, public transport and utilities. PCCs issued by DVA are the same as those issued by Services Australia.

Who can receive it

We will send you a PCC if you receive one of the following payments from us:

• Service Pension
• Income Support Supplement
• Social Security Age Pension

Generally your eligibility for the PCC stops if your payment stops, however, eligibility is retained if you were receiving one of the above payments and any of the following apply:

• the payment stopped on 1 January 2017 because of changes to the assets test (PCC eligibility is retained for life)
• the payment was suspended on or after 1 January 2023 due to your income, which must include employment income, exceeding the income limit (PCC eligibility is retained for the duration of the period of suspension).

The card will have your name and address on it as the primary cardholder. If you have a partner or dependant, their names will also be on your card. Your partner will receive their own card if they are eligible. Veteran Payment recipients are not eligible for a PCC but may be entitled to a concession card through Services Australia.

What you can receive 

The rates quoted are current from 1 January 2025 to 19 March 2025.

The PCC entitles you to the following benefits from the Australian Government:

• prescription medicines at the concession rate of $7.70 per script through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• free prescription medicines after you have spent $277.20 on prescriptions in one calendar year
• access to cheaper out-of-hospital medical treatment once you have reached a lower Medicare Safety Net threshold
• access to bulk billed GP appointments (at the discretion of the doctor)
• National Diabetes Services
• Hearing Services
• discounts on mail redirection from Australia Post

We do not control the concessions offered by state authorities, organisations and businesses. They decide for themselves what concessions they will give you. Concessions may include discounts on:

• property rates and water charges
• electricity and gas bills
• public transport
• motor vehicle registration fees
• drivers’ licences
• admission to various entertainment or sporting venues

Find concessions in your state or territory.

How to get your Pensioner Concession Card

You do not need to do anything to get a PCC. If you get an income support payment from us, such as a Service Pension, Social Security Age Pension or Income Support Supplement, we will send you one automatically.

If you lose your PCC, or don’t have one and think you should, you can contact us.

Things you should know

• If we stop paying you an income support payment, your PCC will no longer be valid, and you will need to destroy it. You may be eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card instead. As long as you are eligible, we will send you a new PCC every 2 years.
• If you are 60 years or above, check with your state or territory government if you are eligible for a Seniors Card. Local businesses may accept these more often than a PCC. Eligibility is different for each state and territory.
• If you leave Australia to live in another country, your PCC will be cancelled when you depart. If you travel for a short term, your PCC will remain current for up to 6 weeks however cannot be used outside of Australia.

What to tell us

You should tell us if your PCC is lost or stolen, or if you change address.

If you receive an income support payment, there are more things you need to tell us about.

If anything changes that could affect your entitlements, you need to let us know within 14 days (or 28 days if you receive the Remote Area Allowance or live overseas).