Help with ongoing medical and disability costs
The Community Services Card can help with the costs of visiting your doctor and getting prescriptions. It’s a family card so you can use it for dependent children under 18. If you, your partner or child have a disability, you may be able to get a Disability Allowance. The Disability Allowance helps with the extra costs you, your partner or child have because of a disability that is likely to last at least 6 months.
General Community Services Card criteria
If you get the Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship you'll automatically be sent a card.If you're a student on a Student Allowance you'll automatically be sent a card, except if you're paid a lower rate because your partner is earning. In this case, or if you're on a Student Loan only, you still need to apply for one.
To qualify, your yearly income must be under a certain limit - depending on your personal situation:
| You may be able to get a card if you are: | And your yearly income (before tax) is: |
| Single in shared accommodation | $22,366 or less |
| Single - living alone | $23,712 or less |
| Married or civil union couple - no children | $35,420 or less |
| Family of 2 | $42,507 or less |
| Family of 3 | $50,934 or less |
| Family of 4 | $57,880 or less |
| Family of 5 | $64,678 or less |
| Family of 6 | $72,302 or less |
| For families of more than 6, the limit goes up another $6,482 for each person. |
You may also qualify for a Pharmaceutical Subsidy Card if you or your children need a lot of prescriptions each year. To find out more about this card talk to your pharmacist.
If you don't qualify for a Community Services Card you may be able to get a High Use Health Card if you visit the doctor often for an ongoing medical condition.
You get the same subsidies on visits to the doctor and prescriptions as the Community Services Card - but you can't use it for other family members. Ask your doctor about this card.
How to get more information
For more details on the Community Services Card, call Work and Income's Community Services Card centre on 0800 99 99 99.
General Disability Allowance criteria
The Disability Allowance can help with costs such as ongoing visits to the doctor or hospital, medicines, extra clothing and travel. How much you get depends on your costs.To qualify your weekly income before tax must be under these limits:
| If you are: | Your weekly income before tax must be less than: |
| Single (under 18) with no children | $454.66 |
| Single (18 or over) with no children | $526.23 |
| Married, civil union or de facto couple (with or without children) | $765.65 |
| Single with 1 child | $634.11 |
| Single with 2 or more children |
$668.07 |
Child Disability Allowance
The Child Disability Allowance pays a set amount to people who are caring for a child with a disability at home. The child must be under 18, need constant care and attention and be financially dependent on you. The Child Disability Allowance doesn't depend on your income or costs.How to get more information and apply
For more details on the Community Services Card, call Work and Income's Community Services Card centre on 0800 99 99 99.You need to complete a Disability Allowance application and post or bring it to us.
Our staff will be on campus to take your application, or you can take it to your nearest StudyLink outreach site. If you don't have one nearby, your local Work and Income service centre.
For more details on the Child Disability Allowance, call StudyLink on 0800 88 99 00.