Help with cost of living expenses
Once you retire, there are many concessions and rebates that can help lower your day to day living expenses, covering housing, transport, energy and more.
Housing costs
Depending on your situation, you may be able to get help with the cost of rent and moving, or access to housing for low income earners:
- Rent Assistance – you’ll automatically get this if you get certain income support payments such as the Age Pension, and pay either rent, retirement village fees, board and lodging or site or mooring fees
- help with rent and moving costs in the private rental market at the NSW Department of Communities and Justice
- housing and homelessness assistance at the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.
Concession cards
You’ll automatically get a Pensioner Concession Card from Services Australia or the Department of Veterans' Affairs if you’re over 60 and get certain income support payments, including the:
- Age Pension
- Service Pension
- Income Support Supplement
- Carer Payment
- Disability Support Pension.
The card gives you discounted medical care and medicine.
The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card is available if you’re the Age Pension age and unable to get an income support payment. You’ll need to meet an income test and residency rules. The concession card gives you discounts on medical care and medicine.
You can get a NSW Seniors Card or Senior Savers Card if you’re 60 years or older. Which one you get will depend on if you’re working more than 20 hours a week of paid work across a 12-month period. Both cards get you discounts and special offers at businesses across NSW.
Transport discounts
You can get discounted travel on public transport if you have either a NSW Seniors Card or a Pensioner Concession Card.
If you're a pensioner, you may be eligible for concessions on your vehicle registration.
Energy bill rebates
There are different rebates available that can help with the cost of energy bills. Your eligibility depends on the income support payment you get or the type of concession card you have.
If you get certain income support payments, including the Age Pension, you'll automatically get the Energy Supplement.
If you're an independent retiree who holds a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, you can apply to get the Seniors Energy Rebate to help with the cost of electricity.
If you have a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veteran Gold Card, you may be eligible for:
- Low Income Household Rebate (retail) – if you get your energy bill directly from the energy company
- Low Income Household Rebate (on supply) – if you get your energy bill from your residential community, retirement village or strata
- Gas Rebate (retail) – if you get your gas bill directly from the energy company
- Gas Rebate (on supply and bottled gas) – if you buy bottled gas or get your gas bill from your residential community, retirement village or strata
- Pensioner water rebate – if you're the owner occupier of your own home or have a unit in a retirement village with a life term lease.