The Community Services Card can help you with the costs of health care and public transport. This means you could pay less on some health services, prescriptions and fares for public transport. Always carry your card with you to make it easy to get the benefits.
- You don’t have to be on a benefit to qualify for the card.
- You can also use the card for healthcare services for your dependent children under 18.
Who can get it?
You may get the Community Services Card if you:
- are 16 or over
- either:
- are a New Zealand citizen
- are a permanent resident, or
- have, or have applied for, refugee or protection status
- normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay here.
If you’re a dependent child, you can only get a Community Services Card, if your parent or caregiver is getting the:
- Orphans Benefit
- Unsupported Child's Benefit, or
- Child Disability Allowance.
It also depends on how much income you and your partner get. By income, we mean any money, goods and services you or your partner get from any source, such as:
- wages or salary
- NZ Superannuation
- private pensions (if you get NZ Super and a private pension, only half of your private pension is counted as income)
- overseas pensions
- interest or dividends from investments
- Child support
- Paid Parental Leave
- Working for Families Tax Credits from Inland Revenue
- ACC payments
- income from rents
What the card can help with
The Community Services Card can reduce the cost of:
- visits to a health practitioner (e.g. a doctor or nurse) if you're enrolled at their practice (for yourself, and your dependent children aged 14-17)
- ACC visits to a general practice if you're injured (you may not need to be enrolled at their practice - it depends on the practice)
- subsidised prescriptions - these are free if you have a Community Services Card
- partially or unsubsidised prescriptions, or prescriptions from private specialists
- fares for public transport including trains, buses and some ferries
- fees for after-hours health practitioner visits
- glasses for children under 16
- emergency dental care provided by:
- hospitals, and
- approved dental contractors (ask the dental provider if they are an approved contractor)
- travel and accommodation for treatment at a public hospital you've been referred to outside your area:
- at least 80km away for adults
- at least 25km for children
- home help.
What the card won't cover
If your child is under 14 and visits their health practitioner (for example their doctor) at their enrolled practice, it will usually be free. If the health practitioner has an extra charge, the Community Services Card won't cover it. You'll need to pay for it.
If you need a prescription, there may be part-charges or other pharmacy fees to pay. The Community Services Card won't cover this. You'll need to pay for it.
How to apply
Head to Community Services Card - Work and Income
If you need support applying for a Community Service Card, ask you Primary Care Practice for a free appointment with the Health Coach.
For more information about the Health Coach role, and how they might be able to support you, visit HIPS & Health Coaches | West Coast Health