No Age Pension? You May Still Be Entitled to Concessions
Reaching Age Pension age without qualifying for an Age Pension can feel like a fairly clear message from Centrelink: you are expected to fund your own retirement. But that does not necessarily mean you have missed out on government concessions and other assistance.
Age Pension age is currently 67, and whether you receive a pension depends on eligibility requirements including income and assets tests. Current figures show that a single homeowner, for example, can have assessable assets above $733,500 and receive no Age Pension, while the cut-off for a homeowner couple is $1,102,500 combined.
However, the rules for concession cards and other benefits can be quite different. That means reaching Age Pension age is a good time to investigate what else might be available - even if your Age Pension entitlement is exactly $0.
Check the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
For many self-funded retirees, the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) should be one of the first things to investigate.
Services Australia specifically says that if you are not eligible for the Age Pension, you may be able to receive a CSHC. To qualify, you generally need to have reached Age Pension age, meet residence and identity requirements, not receive certain Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs income-support payments, and satisfy an income test. Importantly, unlike the Age Pension, the CSHC does not have an assets test.
As at August 2026, the annual CSHC income limits are $101,105 for a single person, $161,768 combined for a couple and $202,210 combined for an illness-separated couple. An additional $639.60 applies for each dependent child. These limits are scheduled to be indexed on 20 September each year.
The income test is also different from simply looking at how much money lands in your bank account each year. It generally considers adjusted taxable income plus deemed income from certain account-based pensions.
Why bother applying? The CSHC can provide cheaper PBS medicines, potential bulk billing at your doctor's discretion and access to Medicare Safety Net benefits. State, territory and local governments — and sometimes private businesses — may provide additional concessions.
In other words, being too wealthy for a part Age Pension does not automatically make you too wealthy for a Seniors Health Card.
Don't overlook the Low Income Health Care Card
There is another card that can sometimes slip under the radar: the Low Income Health Care Card (LIHCC).
This can be particularly relevant where your current income is relatively modest, even though your overall assets prevent you from receiving the Age Pension. The LIHCC is income tested rather than assets tested, although financial investments and account-based pensions can generate deemed income for the assessment.
For the period from 1 July to 19 September 2026, the new applicant or renewal income limit for a single person with no children is $811 per week, assessed over an eight-week period. For a couple with no children, the combined limit is $1,385 per week. Different limits apply in other family situations.
If eligible, the card can help with costs such as PBS medicines and Medicare expenses. Depending on where you live, it may also open the door to other concessions.
The interesting point here is that the CSHC and LIHCC use different income-testing rules. The attached concession-card guide notes that someone meeting the requirements may potentially qualify for both cards.
So don't simply assume, “I don't qualify for the Age Pension, therefore I won't qualify for a Health Care Card.” Centrelink rules rarely reward assumptions — they reward checking the actual rules.
Look beyond Centrelink to state and local concessions
Your search should not stop with Services Australia.
State and territory governments have their own Seniors Card programs, and their eligibility rules are different from the Age Pension. The attached concession-card guide notes that these cards are generally free and can provide public transport concessions and discounts on a range of government and business services. Eligibility varies between states and territories and commonly considers age, residency and the amount of paid work you undertake.
This is especially relevant for self-funded retirees because you do not necessarily need to receive an Age Pension to qualify.
Depending on your state, council and the particular concession card you hold, it is worth investigating discounts or concessions relating to electricity and gas, water and council rates, public transport, vehicle registration, health services and other everyday expenses. Services Australia confirms that additional state-government assistance may be available even when you are not eligible for the Age Pension.
CFS also highlights state and territory Seniors Cards, which can provide discounts on public transport and other services, including leisure and entertainment.
None of these savings individually needs to be enormous to be worthwhile. A few smaller concessions across transport, healthcare and household bills can add up over a year — and unlike investment returns, saving $100 on a bill does not require taking any market risk!
Review your eligibility again when circumstances change
Perhaps the most important lesson is that being ineligible today doesn't necessarily mean being ineligible forever.
Investment values move, income changes and people restructure their retirement arrangements. A large one-off taxable event can also make one year look very different from the next. The CSHC rules recognise some changes in circumstances. For example, where retirement or certain other qualifying events mean the previous year's income does not reasonably represent current income, Services Australia may allow an income estimate to be used in particular circumstances.
Age Pension eligibility itself is also worth revisiting periodically. A person who initially retires with assets above the pension cut-off may later become eligible for a small part pension as their assessable assets reduce or circumstances change. Even a relatively small Age Pension entitlement can be important because eligible Age Pension recipients automatically receive a Pensioner Concession Card.
That card can provide cheaper PBS medicines and other health-related benefits, with further concessions potentially available for expenses such as utilities, rates, public transport and vehicle registration depending on where you live.
The practical message is simple: reaching Age Pension age without receiving a pension shouldn't be the end of your Centrelink conversation. Consider checking the CSHC, Low Income Health Care Card and your state or territory Seniors Card, and review your Age Pension position periodically.
A little paperwork may not be anyone's idea of an exciting retirement activity, but neither is paying more than you need to.
The information provided in this article is general in nature and has been prepared without considering your personal objectives, financial situation, or needs. It does not constitute financial advice. Before making any decisions, you should assess its appropriateness and seek professional financial advice tailored to your circumstances. Additionally, ensure you review the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before deciding on any financial product.