Fill Out Health Care Card Claim (SS050) Online
Claim for a Health Care Card form
Services Australia
Paper claim for a Low Income Health Care Card giving access to cheaper prescription medicines and concessions.
Reviewed July 2026
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Form SS050 is the Services Australia paper claim for a Health Care Card. It covers two card types: the Low Income Health Care Card, which gives the cardholder and listed dependants concessions on prescription medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and on some government and private services, and the Health Care Card for a foster child in your care. Services Australia treats the online claim through a Centrelink online account as the faster route, so the paper form is the alternative.
You can fill out SS050 in the Universal PDF editor. Work through the questions on screen, review your answers, then download the completed PDF to sign and lodge with your supporting documents.
What is Form SS050 used for
The claim collects the personal, residence, and income details Services Australia needs to assess eligibility for a Low Income Health Care Card, which is subject to residence rules and an income test. For a Foster Child Health Care Card, the claim instead focuses on the child in your care, and the card provides concessions for that child rather than for the carer.
The form pairs with the Information Booklet (Ci010), which explains the documents to provide. If you are making a claim, all supporting documents should be returned at the same time as the claim form, or the claim may not be accepted, unless you are waiting on evidence from a third party.
Who uses Form SS050
People on lower incomes who are not already receiving a payment that comes with a concession card commonly claim the Low Income Health Care Card, subject to the income test and residence rules Services Australia applies. Carers use the foster child stream to get a card for a foster child, or another child in their care who is not their own, so the child's concessions do not depend on the carer's circumstances.
If you have a partner, the claim asks for their details too, and it includes an optional permission for your partner to make enquiries about your claim with Services Australia.
How to fill out Form SS050
Have your income records for the assessment period handy before you start:
- Choose which card you are claiming: the Low Income Health Care Card or a Health Care Card for a foster child.
- Enter your personal details, Customer Reference Number if you have one, and your residence information.
- Provide income details for yourself and your partner for the period the form asks about, since the Low Income card is assessed on recent gross income.
- List the dependants or the foster child to be covered by the card.
- Decide whether to give your partner permission to enquire, which lets them ask Services Australia about the claim but not act on your behalf.
- Work through the checklist of supporting documents, then sign and date the declaration.
How to submit Form SS050
Return the claim and supporting documents online using your Centrelink online account (identity documents excluded), by post to Services Australia, Centrelink, PO Box 7800, Canberra BC ACT 2610, or in person at a service centre. Claiming online through myGov is available as an alternative to the paper form entirely.
Forms are revision dated and Services Australia can reject superseded versions, so confirm you have the current SS050 on servicesaustralia.gov.au before lodging.
Frequently asked questions
Concessions on prescription medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, plus concessions on some Australian Government, state, territory, local government, and private organisation services. What each organisation offers cardholders varies, so check with the provider.
The claimant and the dependants listed on the card. The foster child stream works differently: the card is issued for the child in your care and covers that child's concessions.
Services Australia applies residence rules and an income test based on your gross income over a recent assessment period. The current thresholds and rules are published at servicesaustralia.gov.au/lic.
Yes. Sign in to myGov, open your Centrelink online account, and start the claim under Payments and claims. The paper SS050 is the alternative for people who cannot claim online or prefer paper.
It lets your partner ask Services Australia about things like your rate of payment and why it changed, and use more self service functions. It does not let them act on your behalf, sign forms for you, apply for payments, or attend appointments for you, and you can change the permission at any time.
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This form is reproduced from official Australian Government sources, © Commonwealth of Australia, and where applicable is used under a Creative Commons Attribution licence. Universal PDF is not affiliated with or endorsed by any Australian government body; always confirm you have the current version on the official site.