
If you're a self-funded retiree who doesn't qualify for the Age Pension, you might feel like you're missing out on government benefits. But there's another valuable concession card you could be eligible for: the **Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)**.

The CSHC can save you thousands of dollars a year on healthcare costs. The best part? It has an income test but **no assets test**.

This guide explains what the CSHC offers, who can get it, and how to check if you're eligible using our new calculator.

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## Table of contents
1. [What is the CSHC?](#what-is-the-cshc)
2. [Key Benefits of the CSHC](#key-benefits-of-the-cshc)
3. [Who is Eligible? (The Income Test)](#who-is-eligible-the-income-test)
4. [How to Check Your Eligibility](#how-to-check-your-eligibility)
5. [Common Questions](#common-questions)

---

## What is the CSHC?

The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card is a concession card for older Australians who have reached Age Pension age but don't receive the Age Pension or a payment from the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

It's designed to make healthcare and medicines more affordable for self-funded retirees whose income is below a certain threshold.

## Key Benefits of the CSHC

Holding a CSHC gives you access to several valuable concessions:

- **Cheaper Medicines:** Get prescription medicines at the discounted Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) rate.
- **Bulk Billed Doctor Visits:** More likely to be bulk-billed by doctors (at their discretion).
- **Bigger Refunds:** Receive a higher refund for medical costs when you reach the Medicare Safety Net.

Depending on your state or territory, you may also get discounts on electricity, gas, water, property rates, and public transport.

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## Who is Eligible? (The Income Test)

To get the CSHC, you must meet four main criteria:

1.  Be of Age Pension age (currently 67).
2.  Meet residency requirements.
3.  Not be receiving any payment from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
4.  Meet the income test.

The income test is the most important hurdle. Unlike the Age Pension, there is **no assets test**. Your eligibility depends solely on your "assessable income".

### How is Income Assessed?

Centrelink uses a specific formula to assess your income. It's a combination of your **Adjusted Taxable Income (ATI)** and a **deemed amount** from any account-based pensions you hold.

- **Adjusted Taxable Income (ATI):** This is your taxable income plus add-backs like reportable super contributions (salary sacrifice), total net investment losses, and certain foreign income.
- **Deeming:** This is a set of rules used to estimate the income you earn from your financial assets. For the CSHC, deeming only applies to account-based pensions. Centrelink assumes these pensions earn a certain rate of income, regardless of what they actually earn.

The income limits are updated annually. For the 2025-26 financial year, the thresholds are:

- **Singles:** $101,105
- **Couples (combined):** $161,768
- **Couples separated by illness:** $202,210

An extra $639.60 is allowed for each dependent child.

> **Ready to see if you qualify?** The rules can be complex, but our calculator makes it simple.
>
> **[Try the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card Calculator](/calculators/commonwealth-seniors-health-card)**

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## How to Check Your Eligibility

The easiest way to see if you meet the income test is to use a specialised calculator.

Our **[Commonwealth Seniors Health Card Calculator](/calculators/commonwealth-seniors-health-card)** is built with the latest 2025-26 rates and deeming rules.

It guides you through entering your income and account-based pension details to give you an instant eligibility estimate. It helps you understand how your income is assessed and how close you are to the threshold.

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## Common Questions

**1. Does my family home count in any test?**
No. The CSHC has no assets test, so the value of your home is not included.

**2. What if my income changes?**
You must notify Centrelink if your income changes and you no longer meet the test. The income test is applied annually.

**3. Do deeming rates change?**
Yes, the government can change deeming rates at any time, which can affect your eligibility. Our calculator is kept up-to-date with the latest rates.

## The Bottom Line

The CSHC is a valuable card for self-funded retirees. If you're not eligible for the Age Pension, it's the next best thing for reducing your healthcare costs.

Given there's no assets test, it's well worth checking if your income falls within the threshold.

**[Run the numbers with our CSHC Calculator today.](/calculators/commonwealth-seniors-health-card)**

---

A complete guide to the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) in Australia for 2026, including the income test, deeming rules, and how to check your eligibility.

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) Guide 2026


Salary sacrificing into super can reduce your income tax today while boosting your retirement balance. This guide explains how it works, key limits, and how to model your numbers using our [Salary Sacrifice Calculator](/calculators/salary-sacrifice).

## Quick recap: how salary sacrifice works
- You ask your employer to redirect part of your pre-tax pay into super.
- Those contributions are generally taxed at 15% in super (or 30% if Div 293 applies).
- Your taxable income falls by the sacrificed amount, which can lower income tax and Medicare levy.
- Contributions count toward the concessional cap (employer SG + salary sacrifice).

## Key numbers to know
- **General concessional cap:** $30,000 per financial year (includes employer SG and salary sacrifice).
- **Contributions tax:** 15% (or 30% if your income for Div 293 exceeds $250,000).
- **Medicare levy surcharge (MLS):** still based on your taxable income after sacrifice.
- **Preservation:** money in super is locked until you meet a condition of release.

## Pros and trade-offs
**Pros**
- Lower taxable income and potentially lower tax.
- More going into super at a concessional rate.
- Automated, "set and forget" saving.

**Trade-offs**
- Reduced take-home pay now.
- Contributions are preserved until retirement conditions are met.
- Caps apply; excess contributions can be clawed back.

## How to size your sacrifice
1) Find your employer's SG amount (pay slip or HR).  
2) Subtract SG from the $30k concessional cap to see headroom.  
3) Decide how much you can give up in take-home pay.  
4) Check MLS and Div 293 thresholds if relevant.  
5) Model it with our [Salary Sacrifice Calculator](/calculators/salary-sacrifice).

## Model your numbers
Use the calculator to see:
- Change in take-home pay per pay period.
- Extra going into super after contributions tax.
- Projected super balance over your chosen timeframe.

Use the [Salary Sacrifice Calculator](/calculators/salary-sacrifice) to plug in your pay, frequency, and sacrifice amount.

## Common pitfalls to avoid
- **Exceeding the cap:** Include employer SG when calculating headroom.
- **Forgetting Div 293:** If income + reportable contributions exceed $250k, contributions tax can lift to 30%.
- **Cashflow shock:** Start small (e.g., $50-$100 per pay) and scale up.
- **Missing review:** Revisit each July or after pay rises/bonuses.

## Frequently asked questions
**Does salary sacrifice affect my HELP repayment?**  
Yes. HELP is based on your "repayment income," which adds reportable super contributions back.

**Can I stop or change the amount?**  
Usually yes - ask payroll. Many employers let you adjust each pay cycle.

**What if I'm close to retirement?**  
Salary sacrifice can still help; just watch the cap and ensure contributions hit before 30 June.

## Next steps
- Decide a trial amount you can spare from take-home pay.
- Confirm employer SG and cap headroom.
- Run your numbers with the [Salary Sacrifice Calculator](/calculators/salary-sacrifice).
- Set a reminder to review each financial year.

Happy sacrificing - and enjoy the tax win today while boosting tomorrow's balance.


Salary Sacrifice Into Super: How It Works (With Calculator)


Planning your retirement income shouldn’t feel like a spreadsheet marathon.  
Our **Account-Based Pension (ABP) Calculator** makes it simple to set an annual income, apply **CPI indexing**, and automatically respect the **legislated minimum drawdown** for your age.

Whether you’re just starting your pension or reviewing an existing one, the calculator shows how your **income, balance, returns, and fees** interact over time.

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## Table of contents
1. [What you’ll need](#what-youll-need)
2. [How to use the calculator](#how-to-use-the-calculator)
3. [Understanding the outputs](#understanding-the-outputs)
4. [Common pitfalls to avoid](#common-pitfalls-to-avoid)
5. [Next steps](#next-steps)

---

## What you’ll need

Before you begin, have these details handy:

- **Opening ABP balance** (e.g. $500,000)  
- Your **current age**  
- Expected **investment return** (per year)  
- Estimated **fees** (per year)  
- Your **preferred annual pension amount**  
- Optional: expected **inflation (CPI)** rate if you want to index payments each year  

These inputs allow the calculator to model realistic income and balance projections under Australian rules.

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## How to use the calculator

1. Open the **[Account-Based Pension Calculator](/calculators/account-based-pension)**.  
2. Enter your starting balance, age, return assumptions, and fees.  
3. Choose your desired **annual pension**.  
   - If it’s below the minimum, the calculator will automatically apply the **legislated minimum** for your age.  
4. Turn on **“Index by inflation (CPI)”** if you want your pension to increase with living costs.  
5. Select your **projection length** and review the results in the charts.

> **Tip:** The calculator displays both **annual income** and **balance projections** side by side, so you can see how withdrawals, earnings, and fees affect your pension over time.

---

## Understanding the outputs

The results help you visualise how your income and balance evolve throughout retirement:

- **Income projection** – shows your pension payments year by year, with CPI adjustments (and minimums enforced).  
- **Balance projection** – tracks how your super balance changes after withdrawals, earnings, and fees.  
- **Totals** – shows total income drawn and your final balance at the end of the projection.  
- **Minimum drawdown table** – displays the current legislated percentage by age group.

> **Example:** A 70-year-old with a $500,000 balance must draw at least 5% ($25,000) in the first year. The minimum increases with age.

---

## Common pitfalls to avoid

Avoid these common mistakes when modelling your pension:

- **Ignoring minimum drawdowns:** The government sets mandatory minimums based on age — the calculator applies them automatically.  
- **Underestimating fees:** Even a 1% annual fee compounds over time, reducing your long-term balance.  
- **Overly optimistic returns:** Run at least one scenario with a lower investment return to stress-test your plan.  
- **Forgetting inflation:** Without CPI indexing, your real spending power can fall each year.

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## Next steps

Once you’ve tested a few scenarios:

- Compare **different CPI rates** (e.g. 2% vs 3%)  
- Model **higher drawdowns** for the first few years of retirement  
- See how **lower returns** affect your future balance  
- Review the results with your **financial adviser or fund representative**

> The goal isn’t just to maximise income — it’s to create a sustainable, flexible plan that lasts as long as you do.

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**Ready to model your plan?**  
Open the [Account-Based Pension Calculator](/calculators/account-based-pension) and explore how small changes in income, inflation, and returns can shape your retirement future.

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*Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consider your personal circumstances and seek professional guidance before making financial decisions.*


A clear, step-by-step guide to modelling your Account-Based Pension (ABP) income, minimum drawdowns, CPI indexing, and projected future balance.

#retirement

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) Guide 2026

Salary Sacrifice Into Super: How It Works (With Calculator)

How to Use an Account-Based Pension Calculator (Australia 2025 Guide)