Concessions and discounts for veterans

Find Victorian Government concessions and discounts available to veterans, and their families or carers. This includes discounts through the Veterans Card - Victoria.

Veterans Card - Victoria

The digital Veterans Card - Victoria entitles all past and present ADF members living in Victoria to discounts and benefits.

The Victorian Government offers a variety of concessions to veterans, including those available through the new Veterans Card - Victoria.

Veterans Card - Victoria

All past and present ADF members can access discounts and benefits through the Veterans Card - Victoria.

This includes:

  • $100 discount on the registration of one vehicle
  • free public transport on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day
  • free trailer and caravan registration
  • fishing licence exemption
  • free boating (marine) licences
  • access to Victorian Government veteran-specific employment programs.

For more information on the Veterans Card - Victoria and how to apply, visit Service Victoria.

Other concessions available to veterans

To check your eligibility, visit the websites below:

Municipal rates concession

Provides a 50% deduction on council rates up to a yearly maximum of $235.150 for 2019-20 (amount indexed yearly).

Website: services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/municipal-rates-concession

Eligibility

  • DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card marked TPI, War Widow(er), EDA and POW

Concession provider

Application forms available from local councils.

Note: This concession is NOT available to generic DVA Gold Card holders, only those indicated.

Stamp duty concession

No stamp duty on a new home worth $330,000 or less. Partial discount on houses worth between $330,001 and $750,000. This is a once only concession.

Eligibility

  • DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card holders

Concession provider

Application forms available from the State Revenue Office.

Annual electricity concession

17.5% of electricity usage and service costs.

Eligibility

  • DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card holders

Concession provider

Provided by all electricity retailers.

Website: services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/annual-electricity-concession

Excess electricity concession

For households with electricity bills above $2,890.45 for the annual concession period to ensure the 17.5% discount continues to apply above that threshold.

Eligibility

  • DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card holders

Concession provider

Provided by electricity retailers.

Website: services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/excess-electricity-concession

Controlled load electricity concession

Available to those households that access off-peak rates for separately metered electric hot water or slab heating. Provides a 13% discount off their controlled load electricity bills.

Eligibility

  • DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card holders

Concession provider

Provided by electricity retailers.

Website: services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/controlled-load-electricity-concession

Electricity transfer fee waiver

Waives the fee that is normally payable to electricity retailers when cardholders move into a new house.

Eligibility

  • DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card holders

Concession provider

Provided by electricity retailers.

Website: services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/electricity-transfer-fee-waiver

Life support concession

Quarterly rebate on electricity and/or water bills where a household uses an eligible life support machine.

The discount is equal to 1,880 kilowatt hours of electricity a year for qualifying machines.

Eligibility

  • DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card holders

Concession provider

Application forms available from hospitals, electricity retailers and DHHS.

Website: services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/life-support-concession

Medical cooling concession

17.5% discount on summer electricity costs where a member of the household has a medical condition that affects the body’s ability to regulate temperature (in addition to the annual electricity concession). This concession is available from 1 November to 30 April each year.

Eligibility

  • DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card holders

Concession provider

Application forms available at energy retailers, MS office, or via the Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521.

Website: services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/medical-cooling-concession

Service to property charge concession

Provides a discount on electricity service charge where a household has very low electricity usage. The discount reduces the service charge to the cost of the total electricity usage for the billing period.

Eligibility

  • DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card holders

Concession provider

Provided by electricity retailers.

Website: services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/service-property-charge-concession

Winter gas concession

17.5% discount off mains gas bills during the winter period of 1 May to 31 October each year.

Eligibility

  • DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card holders

Concession provider

Provided by gas suppliers.

Website: services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/winter-gas-concession

Excess gas concession

Enables applicants to continue the discount concession on gas for households whose gas bills are in excess of $1,587.82 for the six-month winter period (1 May to 31 October 2019).

Eligibility

  • DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card holders

Concession provider

Provided by gas suppliers.

Website: services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/excess-gas-concession

Non-mains energy concession

Offers concessional rebates for those households that rely on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), firewood or heating oil for domestic heating, cooking or hot water, or who access non-mains electricity via an embedded network or who rely on a generator.

Eligibility

  • DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card holders

Concession provider

Application forms available from LP Gas suppliers; or local councils; or via the Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521.

Website: services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/non-mains-energy-concession

Fire services property levy concession

Discount of $50 off the Fire Services Property Levy. Only one concession applies per property.

Eligibility

  • DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card embossed TPI and War Widow(er)

Concession provider

Available through local councils. Visit the State Revenue Office fire services property levy for more information.

Water and sewerage concession

50% discount on water and sewerage charges up to an annual maximum of $328.90 for 2019-20.

Customers who are billed for a single service, for example, water only, will receive 50% off water charges up to a maximum of $164.45.

Eligibility

  • DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card

Concession provider

Claimed directly from water supplier.

Website: services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/water-and-sewerage-concession

Non-mains water concession

Assists cardholders who are not connected to mains water with the costs of purchasing non-mains water for domestic usage.

Eligibility

  • DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card

Concession provider

Application forms available from water suppliers or from the Concessions information Line on 1800 658 521.

Website: services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/non-mains-water-concession

Utility relief grant scheme and utility relief grant scheme (non-mains)

For cardholders who are unable to pay their mains, electricity, gas or water bill due to a temporary financial crisis. Capped at 6 months’ worth of usage up to a maximum of $500. This grant is available to both private renters and home owners.

Eligibility

  • DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card

Concession provider

Provided by gas, electricity and water retailers.

For non-mains energy only (LPG, heating oil, etc), application forms available from water suppliers or from the Concessions information Line on 1800 658 521.

Website: services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/hardship

Water and sewerage connection scheme

Grant covers the full cost of connection to a mains water and sewerage service under the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program for applicants that have no savings to cover cost of connection. Only available to home owners.

Eligibility

  • DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card

Concession provider

Claimed directly from water supplier.

Website: services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/water-and-sewerage-concession

War veterans travel pass

Free public transport travel pass (Myki).

Eligibility

Customers must:

  • have undertaken war / peacemaking / peacekeeping service overseas, and
  • provide a copy of 1 of the following:
  • Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA ) Gold or White card, OR
  • evidence of ongoing compensation from DVA, or
  • lump sum compensation from DVA for an injury/illness related to this service, and have their treating doctor sign the application form confirming the illness/injury is due to service and that locomotion is significantly limited
  • be a resident of Victoria

Concession provider

Available through Public Transport Victoria

EDA/TPI Ex-service personnel pass

Concession travel pass (Myki) for public transport.

Eligibility

Customers must:

  • hold a Department of Veterans Affairs Gold or White Card or previously be entitled to a DVA Victorian War Widow(er) Transport Concession Card
  • have documentary evidence of their partner/spouses overseas war/ peacemaking service
  • not be entitled to any other type of concession card/li>
  • be a resident of Victoria

Concession provider

Available through Public Transport Victoria

Concession for vehicle registration and Transport Accident Commission (TAC) charge

50% off registration fee and 50% off TAC charge (for DVA Gold Card holders not marked with dependent).

No registration fee and 50% off TAC charge (for DVA Gold Card holders embossed with TPI).

Eligibility

  • Pensioner Concession Card
  • Health Care Cards
  • DVA Gold Card holders (not marked with dependant)
  • DVA Gold Card embossed with “TPI” or “EDA”

Concession provider

Available through VicRoads.

For information on how to apply for this concession phone Vic Roads on 13 11 71 or visit VicRoads website

Ambulance

Free ambulance transport in an emergency.

Eligibility

  • Pensioner Concession Card (excluding dependants and spouses)
  • DVA Gold Card holders
  • DVA White Card holders
  • Pensioner Concession Card

Concession provider

Ambulance Victoria.

Phone: 9840 3500

Website: www.ambulance.vic.gov.au

Free eye examinations and low cost glasses

Can be accessed at the Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, the Victorian College of Optometry or rural Victorian Eye Care Services.

Eligibility

  • Pensioner Concession Card
  • DVA Gold Card holders
  • DVA White Card holders

Concession provider

Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital; Victorian College of Optometry; Victoria Eye Care Services

To access VES or for more information contact ACO on (03) 9349 7400 or visit www.aco.org.au/eye-care-services/eye-care-in-melbourne/do-i-qualify

Multi-purpose taxi program

Half price taxi fares, up to $60 per trip with a cap of $2180 per year.

Membership cards to access the program cost $16.50.

Eligibility

  • DVA Gold Card holders
  • DVA Gold Card holders embossed TPI or EDA are exempt from the annual caps

Concession provider

Available from the Victorian Taxi Directorate

Website: cpv.vic.gov.au/passengers/mptp

Pharmaceutical benefits

Eligible for $6.10 per prescription under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Premiums charged by manufactures may apply to some alternative brands/medicines. Once you have spent the PBS Safety Net threshold on PBS medicines, you will receive PBS medicines free for the rest of the year.

Eligibility

Pensioner Concession Card.

Concession provider

Website: www.pbs.gov.au

National diabetes services scheme

You can receive a range of Australia Government approved products at a reduced price.

Eligibility

Pensioner Concession Card.

Concession provider

Phone: 1300 136 588

Website: www.ndss.com.au

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.

Eligibility

Pensioner Concession Card.

Concession provider

Phone: 1800 500 726

Website: hearingservices.gov.au

Dental

Dental Health Services provides emergency and general dental care for PCC holders. Waiting lists apply for general dental care. Emergency relief of pain is generally available within 24 hours.

Eligibility

Pensioner Concession Card.

Concession provider

Phone: 1300 360 054

Website: www.dhsv.org.au

Australia Post

Australia Post will give discounts on re-directing mail for PCC holders who change their address and deliver some items that aid the sight impaired free of charge, or at a discounted rate.

Eligibility

Pensioner Concession Card.

Concession provider

Phone: 131 318

Telstra

Telstra offers a number of concessions to PCC holders, including a discount on new telephone service connection fee and a reduction in your home line plan.

Eligibility

Pensioner Concession Card.

Concession provider

Phone: 132 200

Recreational fishing licenses

PCC holders and TPI veterans are entitled to this concession. This means you do not need to purchase a fishing license. It does not apply to inland amateur netting licenses.

Eligibility

Pensioner Concession Card.

Concession provider

Website: agriculture.vic.gov.au/fisheries/recreational-fishing/fishing-licence

Pet registration

PCC holders may be eligible for this for concessions on cat and dog registrations. The concessions vary between councils.

Eligibility

Pensioner Concession Card.

Concession provider

Find your local council here

Australian Partners of Defence (APOD)

APOD is a veteran membership program that offers discounts and benefits to veterans and their family members.

Eligibility

APOD membership is available to all serving personnel, reservists, veterans, allied military personnel and their immediate family members. Existing DVA card holders can join for free.

To find out more and join visit the APOD website.

Downloads

Concessions available to eligible Victorian veterans
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Veterans Card Victoria – Stakeholder pack
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Veterans Card Victoria - A4 Poster
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Veterans Card Victoria - Social Media Package (ZIP 9.39 MB)

Veterans Card Victoria - Email Banner

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