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A Low Income Health Care Card is valid for 12 months. You must meet the income test each year so we can confirm you’re still eligible for one and then we issue you a new card.
There are 2 income test limits you need to meet for a Low Income Health Care Card:
- the income test limit for when you claim or renew a card.
- the income test limit for when you already have the card.
Income test when claiming and renewing a card
You must meet an income test, when you submit a claim for a Low Income Health Care Card for the first time, or when you renew your card.
We assess the gross income you earned before tax, from the 8 weeks before you submit your claim for a new card or to renew your card.
Your gross income before tax must be less than the amount for your situation in the table.
| Status | Weekly income | Income in an 8 week period |
|---|---|---|
| Single, no children | $811.00 | $6,488.00 |
| Couple combined, no children | $1,385.00 | $11,080.00 |
| Single, one dependent child | $1,385.00 | $11,080.00 |
| Couple combined, one child | $1,419.00 | $11,352.00 |
| For each extra child, add | $34.00 | $272.00 |
Income test to keep the card
The income limit you need to meet when you already have a card is different from when you submit a claim for a new card or renew your card.
Once you get a card, you must meet an income limit to keep using your card.
You can keep using your card until it expires if your gross weekly income is less than the income limit for your situation.
We’ll cancel your card, if your income is more than the income limit for your situation in any 8 week period before your card expires. We’ll send you a letter to let you know.
| Status | Weekly income | Income in an 8 week period |
|---|---|---|
| Single, no children | $1,013.75 | $8,110.00 |
| Couple combined, no children | $1,731.25 | $13,850.00 |
| Single, one dependent child | $1,731.25 | $13,850.00 |
| Couple combined, one child | $1,773.75 | $14,190.00 |
| For each extra dependent child, add | $42.50 | $340.00 |
If you have additional children, add the extra child rate for each child for your situation in the table. This gives you the amount your income should be below to qualify to keep the card.
You must tell us if your income changes, or if your circumstances change. We’ll work out if you can keep your card.
Types of income we assess
Examples of income we assess are:
- employment income, such as wages, salary and self-employment income
- employer provided fringe benefits
- rental income
- reportable super contributions, salary sacrifice
- Centrelink pensions, benefits and some supplementary payments
- Paid Parental Leave payments
- Self-Employment Allowance
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs payments.
We also assess:
- deemed income from financial investments, such as bank accounts, managed investments and shares
- deemed income from account-based income streams
- deemed income from the sale of your principal home you intend to use to purchase, build, rebuild, repair or renovate another principal home
- income from income stream products, such as super pensions and defined benefit income streams
- foreign income
- income from private trusts and companies
- compensation payments, including periodical and lump sum
- lump sum payments such as redundancy, leave, or termination payments.
How we assess lump sum payments
We assess lump sum payments as income from the date you get them. This includes:
- compensation payments
- redundancy payments
- lump sum leave payments.
We’ll assess redundancy and lump sum leave payments as income. This is only if you take leave and don’t return to the same employer once it’s ended.