The Health Care Card is automatically issued to those receiving a social security allowance or benefit. The card is also issued to those receiving the maximum rate of FTB(A) and those receiving Carer Allowance for a child with a disability.

Parents who have a child with a disability who do not receive the Carer Allowance may be issued with a Health Care Card subject to an income test. Low income individuals and families are issued with a Health Care Card if their weekly income does not exceed the set threshold. Income is assessed over eight weeks prior to claim.

The Pensioner Concession Card is issued to those in receipt of a pension, including Parenting Payment (single), from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Newstart Allowance, Parenting Payment (partnered), Sickness Allowance and Special Benefit recipients over 60 years of age who have been receiving the benefit for more than 39 weeks will also be entitled to the Pensioner Concession Card.

Newstart Allowance, Parenting Payment (partnered) and Youth Allowance (job seeker) recipients assessed as having a partial capacity to work, and Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (job seeker) recipients who are single principal carers of a dependent child, are also eligible for a Pensioner Concession Card.

A person of age pension age who does not receive a pension may be entitled to the Seniors Health Card if their yearly income does not exceed the threshold set out in section 1071-12.