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Your simple guide to state Seniors Cards: How they can save you money

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Everyone loves a bargain, but once they turn 60 many people forget to grab one of the best deals on offer – their state government’s Seniors Card.

Even if you have not fully retired from the workforce, it’s worth checking to see if you are eligible for a Seniors Card, as in many states the rules allow you to undertake some paid work and still receive a card.

Getting a non-means tested Seniors Card gives you access to valuable concessions on transport costs and discounts from participating businesses for a wide range of goods and services.

To help you make the most of this valuable free scheme, check out SuperGuide’s detailed guide to accessing and using a state Seniors Card.

Need to know

Information on eligibility and available benefits contained in this article is current as at 1 January 2020. Always check your state’s Seniors Card website for the current rules and benefits, as these change regularly.

If you’re seeking information on the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC), check out SuperGuide’s article Commonwealth Seniors Health Card: What it is and how to apply.

What benefits are available?

With a state Seniors Card you can access lots of discount offers and this includes generous public transport and government concessions in some states.

The discounts available from participating businesses vary considerably, with many of the benefits related to holidays, travel and hospitality. There are also discounts on everyday items like automotive services, household needs, recreation and professional services.

Although discount offers are available year-round from participating businesses, some states also offer special time limited deals. That means it’s a good idea to regularly check your state’s Seniors Card website for the current deals and offers.

Are you eligible for a state Seniors Card?

The eligibility rules for a Seniors Card are different in each state and territory (and they can change), but the general one to remember is you need to be aged at least 60 to apply for a state Seniors Card.

To work out if you are eligible for a Seniors Card in your state or territory and the benefits on offer, scroll through the comprehensive tables below to find the section covering your state and territory:

You can also click on the links below to go to information on the Seniors Card in your particular state or territory:

Table 1: Who can apply for a state Seniors Card?

State or Territory

Am I eligible for my state’s Seniors Card?

How do I apply for my state’s Seniors Card?

Australian Capital Territory

www.actseniorscard.org.au
  • Aged 62 or over (From July 2020, the eligibility age will be lowered to 60.)
  • Permanent ACT resident
  • Work less than 20 hours per week in paid employment
  • Apply at ACT Government Access Canberra Service Centres, public libraries, COTA ACT and Hughes Community Centre
  • Proof of age and residency required

Northern Territory

www.ntseniorscard.org.au
  • Aged 60 or over
  • Permanent NT resident
  • Apply online
  • Mail or email online form
  • Apply at COTA NT in Darwin

NSW

www.seniorscard.nsw.gov.au
  • Aged 60 or over
  • Permanent NSW resident
  • Holder of green Medicare or DVA Card
  • Online application with green Medicare Card
  • Phone 13 77 88
  • Visit Service NSW Centre

NSW Seniors Card:

  • Work less than 20 hours per week in paid employment (averaged over 12 months)

NSW Seniors Savers Card:

  • Work more than 20 hours per week in paid employment, or 1,040 hours over 12 months

Queensland

www.qld.gov.au/seniorscard
  • Permanent resident
  • Live in Queensland for at least 6 months each year
  • Queensland home address must be shown on driver licence or be registered with DVA, Centrelink or Electoral Commission of Queensland
  • Online application
  • Mail online form
  • Phone 13 74 68
  • Queensland Government service counters
  • Required to provide one of: Centrelink customer reference (CRN) number, DVA file number, Queensland driver licence number or adult proof of age or photo ID card number

Seniors Card or Seniors Card+go:

  • Aged 65 or older and work less than 35 hours per week in paid employment

OR

  • Aged 60-64, work less than 35 hours per week in paid employment and hold Commonwealth Pensioner Concession, Health Care or Seniors Health Card; or DVA Gold, White or Orange card

Seniors Business Discount Card:

  • Aged 60 or over

South Australia

www.sa.gov.au/topics/family-and-community/seniors/seniors-card
  • Aged 60 or over
  • Permanent SA resident
  • Work less than 20 hours per week in paid employment (part-time and casual employees may average hours over 12 months)
  • Online application with number from driver’s licence, Medicare Card or Pension Card
  • Mail online form
  • Mail application form from SA public libraries
  • Proof of age required and application witnessed by non-relative aged over 18

Tasmania

www.dpac.tas.gov.au/divisions/csr/programs-and-services/seniors_card
  • Aged 60 or over
  • Tasmanian resident
  • Work less than 20 hours per week in paid employment
  • Apply at Service Tasmania shops
  • Download application form and apply at Service Tasmania shops
  • Three forms of ID (including proof of age and Tasmanian address) required

Victoria

www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au

 

 
  • Aged 60 or over
  • Permanent Australian resident living in Victoria
  • Online application with green Medicare Card for both cards
  • Application form for Victorian Seniors Card only available at local library

Victorian Seniors Card:

  • Work less than 35 hours per week in paid employment or fully retired

Seniors Business Discount Card:

  • Working over 35 hours per week in paid employment

Western Australia

www.seniorscard.wa.gov.au
  • Aged 63 or above
  • Permanent WA resident
  • Work less than 25 hours per week in paid employment (averaged over 12 months)
  • Online application
  • Mail online form
  • Forms available from WA Seniors Card Centre in Perth or Australia Post outlets

Note: Information in this table is current as at 1 January 2020

Table 2: What benefits are available with a state Seniors Card?

State or Territory 

What government benefits are available if I hold a Seniors Card?

What discounts and benefits are available from private businesses?

Australian Capital Territory
  • Concession fares on Transport Canberra bus and light rail services
  • Free travel if aged 70 or over
  • 10% discount on motor vehicle registration (28% discount for gas and electric vehicles)
  • Linked to non-expiring NSW Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal card allowing travel concession fares in NSW

Northern Territory
  • $55 annual concession on private vehicle registration
  • Free bus travel on public buses in Darwin and Alice Springs

NSW

NSW Seniors Card holders only

Transport concessions

  • Sydney: Concession fares on trains, buses, most ferries and light rail on Opal network with Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal card – $2.50 daily travel cap (Holders are eligible for $13.31 concessional access fare for Sydney Airport station.)
  • Seniors Card must be carried to prove entitlement.
  • Concession includes public transport services to Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hunter, Illawarra and Southern Highlands.
  • Regional NSW: Concession fares on TrainLink Regional services – $2.50 for Country Pensioner Excursion train tickets and Regional Excursion Daily bus tickets
  • Australia wide: Public transport concession fares in other states and territories

Other NSW Government concessions

  • Discount entry to Australian Museum, Powerhouse Museum, Taronga Zoo, Chinese Garden of Friendship, Sydney Observatory, WEA courses
  • Discounted Will Safe deposit fee with NSW Trustee and Guardian

 

NSW Seniors Card and Seniors Saver Card

  • NSW National Parks – 20% discount on annual pass

NSW Seniors Card

NSW Seniors Saver Card

  • Over 7,400 participating businesses
  • Monthly e-newsletter
  • Downloadable regional discount directories
  • Printed regional discount directories available from Australia Post outlets, Service NSW Centres, MP offices and participating Councils and libraries
  • Special offers and competitions
  • Reciprocal rights in other states
  • Online search directory: www.seniorscard.nsw.gov.au/discounts
  • Downloadable Seniors Card App: www.service.nsw.gov.au/seniors-card-app

 

Queensland

Queensland Seniors Card and Seniors Card+go holders only:

  • Concession fares and daily travel caps on public transport in SE Queensland and the Queensland Rail Travel network
  • Eligible to apply for Queensland Government concessions including annual electricity ($340.85) and gas ($73.60) rebates; electricity life support concession; free public dental care; medical aids and equipment subsidies
  • Eligible for concessional motor vehicle and boat registration fees
  • Discount annual fishing permit ($36)
  • Discount entry to Queensland Art Gallery, Queensland Museum and Queensland Performing Arts Trust network

Queensland Seniors Card

Queensland Seniors Card+go

Queensland Seniors Business Discount Card

South Australia
  • Combined with Seniors Metrocard
  • Free Adelaide Metro travel during off-peak weekdays and all weekend and public holidays. Around 50% seniors concession at other times

Tasmania
  • Concession rate ($2.40 cash and $1.92 Greencard) on Metro buses. Greencard gives daily travel cap depending on boarding time.
  • Concession fares on MerseyLink urban buses, non-urban routes and ferries
  • 20% discount on Inland Recreational Angling Licence and Recreational Game Licence
  • 50% discount on Recreational Sea Fishing Licence
  • 50% discount on Annual and Two-Year Seniors All Parks Pass for National Parks
  • Discounted entry and fees for Port Arthur Historic Site, Overland Track, Royal Tasmanian Botanic Gardens, Hastings Experience, Mole Creek Caves and Highfield Historic Site, Cascade Female Factory Historic Site and Three Capes Track
  • Free Will and EPOA preparation if Public Trustee appointed executor
  • Fee concessions for adult education courses

Victoria

 

Victorian Seniors Card holders only:

  • Senior myki card and concession prices (50% discount on full fare) on trains, trams and buses weekdays. Free travel Saturday and Sunday in two consecutive zones and regional town buses
  • Concession fares (50% discount on full fare) on V/Line trains and coaches
  • Two off-peak travel vouchers annually (four for regional card holders)
  • Free travel during Victorian Seniors Festival in October (8 days)
  • Exemption from Fishing License in Victorian waters

Victorian Seniors Card

Victorian Seniors Business Discount Card

  • Over 4,000 participating businesses
  • Discounted (5%) e-Gift cards if purchased online (includes JB Hi Fi, David Jones and Priceline)
  • Special limited time discount offers
  • Regular e-newsletter and magazine
  • Discounts when visiting New Zealand from SuperGold businesses: www.supergold.govt.nz
  • Online searchable directory: www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/discount-directory

Victorian Seniors Card and Seniors Business Discount Card holders:

  • Discounted entry at Melbourne and Immigration Museums, Scienceworks, NGV International, Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Royal Botanic Gardens, Imax Theatre, Queen Victoria Market, Marine Discovery Centre, Heritage Hill Museum, Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre, Frankston Visitor Information Centre, Latrobe Performing Arts Centre, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery

Western Australia

Transport concessions:

  • Fare discounts of up to 60% on standard fares for Transperth bus, train and ferry services, including those operating in regional towns. Combined with the Transperth SmartRider, provides free travel weekdays (9am-3.30pm and 7pm until last service), weekends and public holidays. Concessional travel at other times.
  • 50% discount on regional point-to-point travel with SmartRider. (Also available to interstate Seniors Card holders)
  • Up to 50% discount on Transwa standard regional fares

Other WA Government discounts:

  • Discounted entry to Art Gallery of WA, Fremantle Prison, Perth Mint, greyhound racecourses, Museum of WA, Perth Zoo and Observatory, Rottnest Island accommodation and transport, WA Maritime Museum and National Parks (including camping fees)

Eligible to apply for WA Government concessions:

  • Cost of Living Rebate (2019 – $89.71 singles and $134.52 couples)
  • Up to 25% rebate on local government rates ($100 cap) and 50% ($750 cap) if hold WA Seniors Card and CSHC
  • 25% rebate on Water Corporation services charges (capped), Emergency Services Levy and Underground Electricity Connection Charges. 50% rebate and potential deferment if also hold a CSHC.
  • 50% discount on driver’s licence renewal fee (100% rebate if also hold CSHC)
  • 50% discount on vehicle licence fee if hold CSHC and WA Seniors Card
  • 50% discount on WA Photo Card fee (free if also hold CSHC)
  • 50% discount on Recreational Fishing Licence
  • Up to $54.34 off pair of spectacles every two years

Note: Information in this table is current as at 1 January 2020.

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Heading interstate? Take your state Seniors Card

If you’re travelling interstate, it’s well worth taking your state Seniors Card, as most states and territories give interstate seniors concessional public transport fares if they present their Seniors Card. For example, interstate Seniors Card holders visiting the ACT can show their card or apply for an Interstate Seniors MyWay Card to receive similar concession fares to ACT seniors.

Need to know

Always check the rules on the relevant state’s Seniors Card website before you travel, as the rules and concessions on offer can change.  

To receive concessional transport fares in NSW, interstate card holders (excluding ACT) need to apply three to four weeks before travelling to receive a Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal Card. More information and an online application form is available here.

If you hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC), Queensland Seniors Business Discount Card, National Seniors Card or New Zealand SuperGold Card you are not eligible for a NSW Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal Card.

Travelling overseas? Pack your Seniors Card

Thanks to a reciprocal agreement with the New Zealand Government, Australian state Seniors Card holders can access discounts from thousands of participating businesses through New Zealand’s SuperGold Card program.

This arrangement does not include state or nationally funded programmes, such as the free off-peak public transport available to New Zealand SuperGold Card holders. For more information, see www.supergold.govt.nz.

It can also be worth taking your Seniors Card if you travel to countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, USA and Canada, as many overseas businesses accept seniors cards if they offer discounted prices to their own seniors.

For information about other benefits in retirement, in particular, the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC), see SuperGuide articles:

Need to know

Each state’s Seniors Card is valid for your lifetime and does not need to be renewed.

If your state Seniors Card is damaged, lost or stolen contact the state agency that issued your Seniors Card for a replacement.

The following SuperGuide articles cover each states and territories:

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Learn more about retiree concessions in the following SuperGuide articles:

Learn more about seniors cards in the following SuperGuide articles:

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