How to apply for the Low Income Health Care Card (LIHCC)
Please note that all images, answers, etc are an example only. Always answer accurately with information that reflects your personal circumstances.
STEP 1: Log in to myGov.
Check Centrelink is linked to myGov
You will need to link your Centrelink to myGov, if you have not already done so.
Once you have logged in to myGov, your linked Centrelink account should appear:
If it does not appear, see step-by-step on how to Link your Centrelink to myGov.
When applying for the Low Income Health Care Card:
Once Centrelink is linked to myGov...
STEP 2: Go to Centrelink
1. Go to Centrelink via myGov.
2. In Centrelink portal, go to 'payments and claims' and select 'Make a claim'.
STEP 3: Make a Claim
1. This will take you to your online claims. Select 'Make a claim'
2. This will redirect you to Make a Claim. Select 'Get Started' under Concession Cards.
3. This will redirect you to Concession cards. Select 'Apply for a Concession card'
STEP 4: Check your eligibility
Go through the prompt screens; inputting your details and agreeing where required.
Ensure your information is entered accurately and is true to your personal circumstances, as this will affect eligibility. The below images are examples only.
In this example, they are not in receipt of a DVA payment or concession card. The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card referred to in this prompt is a DVA card - issued with this eligibility criteria.
If you do receive any of the below from DVA, answer "yes" and go through the relevant prompts.
STEP 5: Start Application for LIHCC
Now that your eligibility has been assessed, your eligible concession cards should appear.
1. Select 'Apply for Low Income Health Card'
Select next & continue through.
STEP 6: Your LIHCC claim has been started - complete Steps 1-5
Go through the prompt screens; inputting your details and agreeing where required.
Ensure your information is entered accurately and is true to your personal circumstances, as this will affect the successfulness of your claim. The below images are example only.
STEP 1: Your Personal Details
This information should pre-fill based on your Centrelink contact info.
1. Check the details merged are correct, and edit if required. Select 'Next' once correct.
2. Enter residency and citizenship info.
3. Enter home info & children info
Go through the prompt screens; inputting your details and agreeing where required.
Ensure your information is entered accurately and is true to your personal circumstances, as this will affect the successfulness of your claim. The below images are example only.
STEP 2: Your Circumstances
Click Start.
1. Enter your employment and study details
Select the most relevant description for you. If you are fully retired and draw an income from your Account-based Pension, select "Self funded retiree"
If you do receive any government payments from an Australian Government department or agency (other than Centrelink), select "Yes" and complete relevant info required.
Go through the prompt screens; inputting your details and agreeing where required.
Ensure your information is entered accurately and is true to your personal circumstances, as this will affect the successfulness of your claim. The below images are example only.
STEP 3: Your financial details
1. Enter savings details
2. Enter Investment details
The below relates to your managed investments (if any). To complete this, you will require your recent investment account details. Please contact us and we can provide this to you. If you have been sent this guide as part of the Concession Card project, we have attached your current investment account balance to the email regarding applying for this card.
CFS FirstNet:
The Investment Account summary looks like this...
These details may pre-merge. If so, check they are correct and edit where required. Add any other accounts or direct investments that your own (fully or partially).
2. Enter super details.
The below relates to Superannuation accumulation funds, Retirement savings accounts, SMSF and SAF funds only. Do not include Account-Based Pension details.
The below relates to your Superannuation account (if any). To complete this, you will require your recent super account details. Please contact us and we can provide this to you. If you have been sent this guide as part of the Concession Card project, we have attached your current super account balance to the email regarding applying for this card.
CFS FirstNet:
The Super Account summary looks like this...
3. Enter Account-Based Pension details.
The below relates to your Account-Based Pension (if any). To complete this, you will require your CFS Centrelink/DVA Schedule. Please contact us and we can provide this to you. If you have been sent this guide as part of the Concession Card project, we have attached your Centrelink/DVA Schedule to the email regarding applying for this card.
The Centrelink/DVA Schedule looks like this...
Repeat until all of your Account Based Pension have been added.
4. Enter any Share information for public company's
This example did not have any shares.
5. Enter any funeral bonds or funeral investments
6. Continue to answer questions with accurate information for your circumstance. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
7. Enter business, trusts and companies, real estate info.
8. Enter income info.
9. Enter real estate info, excluding home.
10. Enter other government or DVA payment info.
11. Enter any compensation info.
12. Continue to answer questions.
STEP 4: Review and Confirm
STEP 5: Next Steps
Select 'Upload' and upload the Centrelink/DVA Schedule.
Repeat until you have added all required Centrelink/DVA Schedules.
STEP 7: All Done!
