Check whether your income is under the Low Income Health Care Card limit for your family, and what the card gives you.
Key facts
- You can get a Low Income Health Care Card if your gross income over the 8 weeks before you claim is under $826.00 a week (single, no children) or $1,410.00 for a couple.
- Each child adds to the limit: one child takes a single person's limit to $1,410.00, and each extra child adds $34.00.
- Once you have it you keep it while your income stays under a higher limit: $1,032.50 a week single.
- There's no assets test. The card lasts 12 months and you're re-tested each year.
- It gives cheaper PBS medicines, possible bulk billing, a bigger Medicare Safety Net refund, and state and council concessions.
Income limit to claim or renew
| Your situation | A week | 8 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Single, no children | $826.00 | $6,608.00 |
| Couple combined, no children | $1,410.00 | $11,280.00 |
| Single, 1 child | $1,410.00 | $11,280.00 |
| Couple, 1 child | $1,444.00 | $11,552.00 |
| Single, 2 children | $1,444.00 | $11,552.00 |
| Couple, 2 children | $1,478.00 | $11,824.00 |
| Single, 3 children | $1,478.00 | $11,824.00 |
| Couple, 3 children | $1,512.00 | $12,096.00 |
Income limit to keep the card
| Your situation | A week | 8 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Single, no children | $1,032.50 | $8,260.00 |
| Couple combined, no children | $1,762.50 | $14,100.00 |
| Single, 1 child | $1,762.50 | $14,100.00 |
| Couple, 1 child | $1,805.00 | $14,440.00 |
| Single, 2 children | $1,805.00 | $14,440.00 |
| Couple, 2 children | $1,847.50 | $14,780.00 |
| Single, 3 children | $1,847.50 | $14,780.00 |
| Couple, 3 children | $1,890.00 | $15,120.00 |
Gross income before tax. Your card is cancelled if your income is over the keep limit in any 8-week period before it expires.
Common questions
What is the income limit for a Low Income Health Care Card?
$826.00 a week ($6,608.00 over 8 weeks) for a single person with no children, $1,410.00 for a couple combined, and $1,444.00 for a couple with one child, plus $34.00 for each extra child.
Is there an assets test for the Health Care Card?
No. Only your income is tested, but deemed income from savings, shares and account-based pensions counts as income.
What income counts?
Gross income before tax: wages, self-employment income, fringe benefits, rent, salary sacrifice, Centrelink and DVA payments, Paid Parental Leave, deemed income from investments, income streams, foreign income and lump sums such as redundancy or leave payments.
Can my children use my Health Care Card?
Your dependent children can be on your card if you're their main carer or they live with you at least 2 nights a fortnight, and they must be under 19 if they're studying.
See also the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, the Pensioner Concession Card and the Medicare Safety Net.
Sources: Services Australia income test, who can get it and benefits. Checked 22 October 2026.