Concessions in New South Wales

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This page is about what concessions may be available to DVA clients in New South Wales (NSW).

The rates on this page are effective from 20 September 2024.

On this page

  1. Who is eligible for a concession
  2. Health concessions
  3. Transport concessions
  4. Vehicle Concessions
  5. Household concessions
  6. Other concessions
  7. Moving Interstate

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Who is eligible for a concession

The organisation that offers the product or service, for example, your local council, will decide what sort of concession is offered and to whom it is offered. DVA Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) and Veteran Gold Card holders are usually eligible for concessions, but it is important to contact the organisation offering the concession to confirm your eligibility.

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Health concessions

Treatment cards

If you have a Veteran Gold or White Card you should always use this card for medical, hospital, pharmaceutical and allied health services. You can use your physical card or a digital version.  You can access a digital version of the White Card and the Gold Card in MyService. If you have linked your MyService account to myGov, you can also add your Veteran Card to the wallet in the myGov app. 

If you don’t have a MyService account it is easy to get one. Go to the MyService page to find out how.

Once you have a MyService account, you can add your Veteran Card to the myGov app.  This video explains how to do so. 

Transcript: How to add your Veteran Card to the myGov wallet.

Concession providers can find out more in myGov community resources.

Pharmaceutical benefits

PCC holders are eligible for medication under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) at $7.70 per prescription. Your pharmacist can tell you which medicines are listed under the scheme. Premiums charged by manufacturers may apply to some alternative brands or medicines. Once you have spent the PBS Safety Net threshold amount on PBS medicines, you will receive free PBS medicines for the rest of the year.

National Diabetes Services Scheme

You can receive a range of Australian Government approved products at a reduced price. For more information, contact the scheme on 1800 637 700 or visit National Diabetes Services Scheme.

Hearing services

The Office of Hearing Services provides vouchers which enable you to get hearing assessments and devices from hearing service providers of your choice. This includes the cost of fitting the device. For more information contact the Office of Hearing Services on 1800 500 726, email hearing [at] health.gov.au (hearing[at]health[dot]gov[dot]au) or visit Hearing Services Program.

Ambulance

All PCC, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC), Veteran Gold Card and Veteran White Card (for accepted conditions) holders receive free ambulance transport in an emergency.

For more information, visit NSW Ambulance.

Spectacles

The NSW Spectacles Program funds free glasses and optical aids to financially disadvantaged residents of NSW. The program is available to people who meet the eligibility criteria and receive a full income support payment.

For more information, please contact Vision Australia on 1300 847 466 or visit NSW Spectacles Program.

Dental

Sydney Dental Hospital (SDH) and Oral Health Services (OHS) provide public and oral health services to eligible PCC and CSHC holders. For more information, please contact the Central Oral Health Intake and Information Service (COHIIS) on (02) 9293 3333 or visit Oral Health.

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Transport concessions

The NSW Government provides subsidised or concession travel to a wide range of people, including veterans and war widow(er)s.

For more information about any of the following public transport concessions, please contact Transport for NSW on 131 500 or visit Ticket eligibility and concessions.

Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal Card

NSW PCC holders and DVA Veteran Gold Card holders are eligible for the NSW Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal Card. This card entitles the holder to use public transport services across Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hunter, Illawarra and Southern Highlands at a capped daily price.

NSW war widow(er)s no longer receive a NSW War Widow(er) Transport Concession Card. NSW war widow(er)s use their DVA Veteran Gold Card when applying for a NSW Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal Card.

Interstate seniors can apply for a NSW Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal card on the Opal website or by completing the Application for a Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal card for Interstate Seniors. Interstate seniors will need to apply 2–3 weeks before travelling to NSW.

For more information, contact Opal Customer Care on 131 500 or visit Opal. 

Ex-members of the Defence Force Pass

War veterans who receive a Disability Compensation Payment (DCP) under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) and live permanently in NSW, may be eligible for an Ex-members of the Defence Force pass. Veterans who have been assessed at 10 impairment points or more linked to warlike or non-warlike service under the Military, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) may also be eligible. This pass is also available to certain Commonwealth and allied Second World War veterans who live permanently in NSW. The pass, known as the Transport Concession Entitlement Card, entitles the holder to free travel on public transport in NSW.

For more information, please contact Transport for NSW on 131 500 or visit Ex-members of Defence Force with a disability.

Blinded Soldiers Gold Pass

The Blinded Soldiers Gold Pass entitles the holder to free travel on public transport in NSW.

For more information, please contact Transport for NSW on 131 500 or visit NSW Blinded Soldier Pass.

Regional Seniors Travel Card

The regional seniors travel card program has been suspended and is not accepting new applications from July 2023. This does not affect seniors who already hold a travel card. Active cards can continue to be used until the expiry date printed on the front of the card.

The card provided eligible seniors living in regional, rural and remote areas with a capped pre-paid travel card. It can be used to pay for pre-booked NSW TrainLink Regional trains, coaches, fuel and taxi trips.

For more information, refer to Regional seniors travel card.

Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme

The Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme (TTSS) provides subsidised taxi transport to residents of NSW who are unable to use public transport because of a severe and permanent disability. Strict eligibility criteria must be met.

For more information, contact Transport for NSW on 131 500 or visit Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme.

Note: For taxi travel relating to the treatment of accepted disabilities, you should use your DVA treatment card (Veteran Gold Card or Veteran White Card).

For more information, refer to Reimbursing travel expenses under VEA.

Free Travel for Companions

The NSW Companion Card is valid on most public transport in NSW and provides free travel for an attendant when accompanying the Companion Card holder. The Companion Card holder will pay their normal fare, which will depend on their concession status.

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Vehicle Concessions

Transport for NSW concessions

Fee exemptions or concessions on a wide range of products and services from Transport for NSW are available, such as NSW driver licences, driving tests, registration, motor vehicle tax, transfer fees and stamp duty on motor vehicles and Mobility Parking Scheme (MPS) permits. You’re eligible if you hold a PCC, hold a Veteran Gold Card printed with ‘War Widow’, receive the Disability Compensation Payment at 70% or more, or have 50 or more impairment points under MRCA.

From 1 July 2023, MRCA client details are able to be verified in the Transport for NSW system. You only need to attend a Service NSW (SNSW) service centre if you are a new client; have missed the vehicle registration renewal deadline or are not eligible to renew your driver’s license online.

For further details, contact Transport for NSW on 13 22 13 or visit Transport for NSW vehicle registrations and licences.

Motor Vehicle GST exemption

Once every 2 years or 40,000 km, eligible veterans are entitled to GST exemption on the purchase of a new car. GST exemption is also available on spare parts necessary for the running of a motor car.

For more information, refer to Supply of Cars or Car Parts GST Free.

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Household concessions

Australia Post

Australia Post offers discounted postage stamps, discounts on re-directing mail and deliver some items free of charge to people with a vision impairment, or at a discounted rate for Veteran Gold Card, Veteran White Card and Veteran Orange Card holders.

For more information, contact Australia Post on 13 76 78 or visit Australia Post.

Telstra

Telstra offer a number of concessions to PCC holders, including a discount on new telephone service connection fees and a reduction in your home line plan costs. For more information, contact Telstra on 1800 676 442 or visit Telstra’s Concession offers.

Water, sewerage and storm water rebates

The Sydney Water Corporation and the Hunter Water Corporation offer concessions to eligible pensioners. These concessions are offered to:

  • PCC holders
  • holders of a Veteran Gold Card printed with 'war widow', 'TPI' or 'EDA'
  • veterans receiving a Disability Compensation Payment at the Temporarily Totally Incapacitated (TTI) rate or the Intermediate rate.

Wholly Dependent Partners are required to contact Sydney Water on the telephone number below to receive the concessions. If you are eligible under the MRCA and have received a letter stating otherwise, please contact Sydney Water.

For more information, contact:

Rates

Local councils provide rebates on property rates to those with a PCC or Veteran Gold Card printed with 'TPI' or 'EDA'.

For more information, contact your local council.

The NSW Government provides the following energy rebates:

For more information, contact your energy supplier. 

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Other concessions

NSW Seniors Card

The NSW Seniors Card is issued free and provides access to savings on a range of goods and services provided by participating businesses.

For more information, please contact 13 77 88 or visit NSW Seniors Card.

NSW Photo Card

The NSW Photo Card is a voluntary card for people who do not hold other forms of identification, such as a driver licence. The card can help you access services that require identification.

For more information, contact Transport for NSW on 13 22 13 or visit Driver and rider licences or NSW photo card.

Recreational Fishing Licence

The NSW Government offer concessions on the Recreational Fishing Fee, to eligible pensioners. These concessions are offered to:

  • PCC holders
  • holders of a Veteran Gold Card printed with 'TPI' or 'EDA' 
  • veterans who provide a letter from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs stating that you receive a Disability Compensation Payment of 70% or higher, Intermediate rate or in receipt of or deemed eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) under the MRCA

For more information, please contact 13 77 88 or apply for a recreational fishing licence.

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Moving Interstate

If you have recently moved interstate, and not received a new concession or treatment card reflecting your state of residence, please contact us.  Some state government concessions require your card to match your state of residence.

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