1: Commonwealth Seniors Health Card – guide to claim
We’ll guide you through the claim process. Before you claim, check that you’re eligible.
You can’t get this card if you’re younger than Age Pension age or you get a payment from us.
2: Do you have a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card claim in progress?
3: You can track your online claim for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
If you started your claim online
You may need to supply supporting documents to progress your claim.
If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, sign in now to track your claim online.
You can also use the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.
If you’re eligible, the card will display in your digital wallet in the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app. We’ll also post it to you.
If you’re not eligible, we’ll let you know the result of your claim by sending a letter to your myGov Inbox. If you don’t get electronic letters, we’ll send you a letter in the mail.
If you think we’ve made a mistake you can ask us to review our decision.
5: You can claim by form or phone
If you can’t claim online, you can do one of these:
- call us on the Centrelink older Australians line
- print and complete the Claim for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card form
- print and complete the Re-claim for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card form if you had a card and we cancelled it less than 26 weeks ago.
You don’t need to go to a service centre to make a claim. If you're feeling unwell, or need to isolate yourself at home, please don't visit our service centres.
6: After you claim by form or phone
We'll contact you if we need more details.
If you’re eligible, the card will display in your digital wallet in the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app. We’ll also post it to you.
If you’re not eligible, we’ll let you know the result of your claim by sending a letter to your myGov Inbox. If you don’t get electronic letters, we’ll send you a letter in the mail.
If you don’t agree with our decision call the Centrelink older Australians line. If you still don’t agree, you can ask us to review our decision.
7: Do you have a myGov account?
8: Do you have a Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN)?
If you don’t have one or can’t remember your CRN, select No.
9: Create a myGov account and link Centrelink to claim
To claim this card you need a myGov account linked to Centrelink. If you don’t have a myGov account, it’s easy to create one.
Follow these steps.
- Go to myGov and select Create an account.
- Read the Terms of use. If you agree to the terms, select I agree.
- Enter your email address, then confirm this address using a code we email to you. Your myGov account must use a unique email address. You can’t use the same email for another myGov account.
- Enter your mobile number, if you have one. If you enter a number you’ll get a code sent to it each time you sign in to your myGov account.
- Create a password and 3 secret questions and enter answers.
- You’ve created your myGov account, select Continue to myGov.
To link Centrelink you’ll need your Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN).
10: Link Centrelink with your CRN and make your claim
To claim a payment you need a Centrelink online account linked to myGov. If you have a CRN, you can link Centrelink to your myGov account.
Follow these steps to link to Centrelink and make a claim.
- In myGov, select View and link services.
- Under Link a service find Centrelink and select Link.
- Select I have a CRN and follow the prompts to link Centrelink to your myGov account.
- Select Centrelink from your linked services.
- Select Make a claim or view claim status, then Make a claim.
- Under Concession Cards select Get Started.
- Select Apply for a Concession card then follow the prompts to complete your claim.
11: Create a myGov account and prove who you are to link to Centrelink
To claim this card you need a Centrelink online account linked to myGov. If you don’t have a myGov account, it’s easy to create one.
Follow these steps.
- Go to myGov and select Create an account.
- Read the Terms of use. If you agree to the terms, select I agree.
- Enter your email address, then confirm this address using a code we email to you. Your myGov account must use a unique email address. You can’t use the same email for another myGov account.
- Enter your mobile number, if you have one. If you enter a number you’ll get a code sent to it each time you sign in to your myGov account.
- Create a password and 3 secret questions and enter answers.
- You’ve created your myGov account, select Continue to myGov.
After you prove who you are through myGov by entering some details about you, you’ll get a CRN. We’ll check if you already have a CRN or create one and link Centrelink to your myGov account.
12: Prove who you are to link Centrelink
- In myGov, select Continue from the Government support for Coronavirus alert.
- Select I need a CRN.
- Follow the prompts to enter your identity details.
- Enter information from your Medicare card.
- Enter some personal details and we’ll check them against our records.
- We’ll link Centrelink to your myGov account and you’ll then have a Centrelink online account.
- You’ll need identity details from one of these documents:
- current Australian passport
- Australian birth certificate
- Australian citizenship certificate
- Australian visa.
You’ll also need identity details from one of these documents:
- Australian driver licence
- ImmiCard issued by the Department of Home Affairs
- Australian Citizenship by Descent Certificate.
You can now start your claim. Before you can submit your claim, you’ll need to visit a service centre to complete our identity requirements. You’ll need to give us an acceptable photo identity document and any other documents we may ask for.
If you can’t prove who you are online to get a CRN, call us on the Centrelink older Australians line.
13: How to claim after you create your myGov account and link to Centrelink
If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, you can apply online.
To do this:
- Sign in to myGov.
- Select Make a claim or view claim status then Make a claim.
- Under Concession Cards select Get started.
- Select Apply for a Concession card then follow the prompts to complete your claim.
We’ll tell you if you need to do anything else to complete your claim. We may ask you for supporting documents to submit your claim.
14: Is your myGov account linked to Centrelink?
You need to have a Centrelink online account linked to myGov to make your claim.
If you’re claiming for yourself and your partner, you both need a Centrelink online account linked to myGov.
15: Do you have a Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN)?
If you don’t have one or can’t remember your Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN), select No.
16: Sign in to myGov and prove who you are to link Centrelink
To claim a payment online, you’ll need to do both of these:
- link your Centrelink online account to myGov
- prove your identity to Centrelink.
You can do both with a strong Digital Identity.
myID is currently the only Digital Identity provider that provides the strong level Digital Identity required for Centrelink.
Download and use the myID app to get a strong level Digital Identity. You’ll need to enter your personal details, details from your identity documents and verify your photo.
Find out how to set up the myID app on the myID website.
Once you have a strong level Digital Identity, follow these steps to link Centrelink and prove your identity.
Follow these steps:
- Sign in to myGov
- Select View and link services, then select Centrelink.
- Give your consent to share your details with Centrelink.
- Select No to Do you have or know your CRN?
- Select Get started in the Digital Identity (Recommended) box.
- Connect your Digital Identity to myGov.
- Enter other details about you.
If you can’t prove your identity online, call us on the Centrelink older Australian line.
17: How to claim after linking Centrelink to your myGov
Once your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, follow these steps:
- Sign in to myGov.
- Select Make a claim or view claim status, then Make a claim.
- Under Concession Cards select Get started.
- Select Apply for a Concession card then follow the prompts to complete your claim.
We’ll tell you if you need to do anything else to complete your claim. We may ask you for supporting documents to submit your claim.
18: Sign in to myGov and make a claim
Once your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, follow these steps:
- Sign in to myGov.
- Select Make a claim or view claim status, then Make a claim.
- Under Concession Cards select Get started.
- Select Apply for a Concession card then follow the prompts to complete your claim.
We’ll tell you if you need to do anything else to complete your claim. We may ask you for supporting documents to submit your claim.
19: Sign into myGov and link to Centrelink with your CRN to claim
If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, you can claim a Concession card online.
If you have a CRN, follow these steps:
- Sign in to myGov.
- Select View and link services, then select Centrelink.
- Select I have a CRN and follow the prompts to link Centrelink to your myGov account.
- Select Centrelink from your linked services.
- Select Make a claim or view claim status, then Make a claim.
- Under Concession Cards select Get started.
- Select Apply for a Concession card then follow the prompts to complete your claim.
We’ll tell you if you need to do anything else to complete your claim. We may ask you for supporting documents to submit your claim.
20: After you claim
After you submit your claim online, you’ll get a receipt telling you your claim ID.
If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, sign in now to track your claim online.
You can also use the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.
If you’re eligible, the card will display in your digital wallet in the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app. We’ll also post it to you.
If you’re not eligible, we’ll let you know the result of your claim by sending a letter to your myGov Inbox. If you don’t get electronic letters, we’ll send you a letter in the mail.
If you don’t agree with our decision, call the Centrelink older Australians line. If you still don’t agree, you can ask us to review our decision.
Contact numbers available on this page.
Centrelink older Australians line
Use this line if you’re an older Australian and need help with your Age Pension, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, Pensioner Concession Card or another service.
There are other ways you may want to contact us.