The Australian Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) has stipulations on savings and retention for the year 2025 aimed at assisting qualifying pensioners while avoiding misuse. The card has health care, medical, and utility concession benefits, however, these benefits are repealed based on the eligibility and income situation of the cardholder.
Savings and Income Rules for 2025
Entitlement to the PCC is associated with receiving a qualifying income support payment from Services Australia. Income and assets of the cardholder, along with deemed income from specific financial investment or superannuation, are used to establish eligibility. Starting from September 20, 2025, new deeming rates and income caps shift the number of eligible people.
Individuals are now permitted to earn close to 95,400 dollars while couples can earn a combined total of 152,640 dollars and still qualify based on adjusted taxable income and deemed income from account based pensions. Furthermore, the assets thresholds for pension eligibility have also been modified to a range from 321,500 dollars to over a million based on household circumstances. These thresholds impact a pensioner’s ability to retain the card and continue receiving concessions.
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Benefits | Health care, medical, and utility concessions tied to eligibility and income |
| Eligibility Criteria | Qualifying income support payment from Services Australia; income and assets, including deemed income, assessed |
| Income Limits (from Sept 20, 2025) | Individuals can earn up to ~$95,400; couples up to ~$152,640 (adjusted taxable and deemed income considered) |
| Asset Thresholds | Range from $321,500 to over $1 million based on household circumstances |
| Card Retention After Payment Stops | Typically up to 24 weeks for most; Disability Support Pension holders working 30+ hours/week retain for 52 weeks |
| Job Seeker recipients 60+ retain for 26 weeks post-payment cessation due to employment | |
| Special Case Retention | Age Pension recipients with employment income can retain card up to 24 months for gradual income/employment changes |
| Overseas Absence Validity | PCC valid for up to 6 weeks outside Australia; card not retained if absence exceeds 6 weeks |
Pension Cease Payments and Card Retention Rules
The cardholder may still retain the PCC for a diminishing period of time. In most cases, cardholders are allowed to retain the card for a maximum of 24 weeks where the cardholder has stopped payment due to employment. There are some cardholders, for example those with a Disability Support Pension who start working 30 hours a week or more who retain the card for up to 52 weeks. Likewise, Job Seeker recipients 60 years of age or older are entitled to retain the card for 26 weeks after payment cessation due to new employment.
There are some special cases, for example Age Pension recipients who has some employment income, the retention period can extend up to 24 months allowing for gradual increases in income and shifts in employment. Presuming that the cardholder is residing outside of Australia, the PCC is generally valid for 6 weeks out of the country, but does not retain card if the absence is more than 6 weeks.
