Community Services Card

What Is This Card?

The Community Services Card is an income-tested concession card administered by Work and Income (Ministry of Social Development). It is not a payment — it is a status card that reduces what you pay for primary and community healthcare services.

A key design feature is that it is not restricted to people receiving government benefits. Any New Zealand resident aged 16 or over whose family income falls below the relevant threshold can apply. That includes employees, self-employed people, students, retirees and beneficiaries alike. Many working families and employed individuals qualify without realising it.

NZ Super clients receive higher income thresholds than equivalent non-NZ-Super households. A single NZ Super client not sharing has a threshold of $39,796 compared to $37,116 for a non-NZ-Super single — a difference of $2,680. For a NZ Super couple the threshold is $59,694 versus the standard couple threshold of $55,501, a difference of $4,193. This recognises that NZ Super is a fixed entitlement and that retirement income is often supplemented from other sources.

Unlike NZ Superannuation or the SuperGold Card, the CSC is not a permanent entitlement. It is issued for a 12-month term and must be renewed before expiry. MSD sends a renewal reminder, but the renewal obligation rests with the cardholder. A gap between expiry and renewal means paying the full unsubsidised rate for GP visits and prescriptions during that window.

The CSC can be held alongside virtually any other New Zealand benefit — NZ Super, Jobseeker Support, Sole Parent Support, Accommodation Supplement, and most Working for Families components. Holding another benefit does not disqualify you from the CSC, and holding a CSC does not reduce the amount of any other benefit.

What Does the Card Unlock?

The CSC reduces out-of-pocket healthcare costs in three main areas:

• Subsidised GP visits. GP clinics that are enrolled as Very Low Cost Access (VLCA) providers charge CSC holders significantly less than standard patients. Some practices charge CSC holders $0 per visit; others charge a reduced co-payment. The exact amount varies by practice and enrolment status. Without a CSC, standard GP visits at non-VLCA clinics can cost $40 to $80 or more per consultation.
• Subsidised prescriptions. CSC holders pay a lower co-payment per prescription item dispensed by a pharmacy. The saving applies each time a new prescription is filled. For households with regular prescription medications this can amount to a meaningful annual saving.
• Hospital outpatient clinics. Some Te Whatu Ora district offices charge lower outpatient co-payments to CSC holders for non-acute specialist appointments and procedures. The applicable reduction depends on the district and the service type.

What the CSC is not: it is not the same as the SuperGold Card. The SuperGold Card is for people aged 65 and over and provides discounts on public transport and participating businesses. The CSC is about healthcare costs and has no age floor beyond 16. Both cards can be held at the same time and serve entirely different purposes. Confusing one for the other is a common error — see Common Mistakes below.

Eligibility Conditions

Three conditions must all be met simultaneously. There is no partial qualification.

1. Age: age >= 16. You must be 16 years of age or older. Children under 16 are covered through their parent or guardian's card.
2. Residency: residency in {citizen, permanent_resident, qualifying_visa}. You must be ordinarily resident in New Zealand and hold New Zealand citizenship, a permanent resident visa, or a qualifying visa as defined by Work and Income. Temporary visas such as tourist or student visas do not qualify unless specifically listed as qualifying visas.
3. Income test: familyAnnualIncome <= communityCardThreshold(householdType). Your total annual family income must be at or below the threshold for your household size and type. Family income includes your income and your partner's income. The thresholds are:

   Household type	Annual income limit
   Single, not sharing accommodation	$37,116
   Single, sharing or boarding	$34,974
   NZ Super client, single, not sharing	$39,796
   NZ Super client, single, sharing	$37,372
   Couple (2 adults, no children)	$55,501
   NZ Super client couple	$59,694
   Sole parent + 1 child (family of 2)	$67,791
   Family of 3	$83,444
   Family of 4	$96,266
   Family of 5	$108,860
   Family of 6	$122,724
   Each additional person over 6	+$12,440/year

   Family income is calculated on an annual basis: your income plus your partner's income multiplied by 52 (if weekly) or the equivalent annual figure from your IR3 or payslips.

How To Apply

Channels: You can apply online through Work and Income's eligibility checker, in person at a Work and Income office, or by phone. Applications can also be initiated through MyMSD if you already have an account.

Evidence to have ready:

• IRD number.
• Proof of identity (NZ passport, driver licence, birth certificate, or RealMe verified identity).
• Proof of residency status if you are not a New Zealand citizen (e.g. visa documentation).
• Income evidence: recent payslips, an IR3 return, or a benefit entitlement letter from MSD or IRD covering the most recent 12-month period.
• Household composition details: names, dates of birth, and IRD numbers for your partner and any dependent children.

Processing timeline: Applications are typically assessed within 5 to 10 working days. Once approved, the card is mailed to your address and usually arrives within one week of the approval decision.

Annual renewal: The CSC is issued for a 12-month term. MSD will send a renewal reminder before expiry, but it is your responsibility to renew in time. Submit the renewal with updated income evidence. A gap between the old card expiring and the new card being issued means paying full rates during that period. Do not wait for the reminder — note the expiry date and initiate the renewal at least three weeks before it lapses.

Official Work and Income page for the Community Services Card →

Rule-Based Scenarios

Scenario 1 — Employed single person under the single threshold

Indira is 34, a New Zealand citizen living alone in a rented flat. She works part-time as a retail assistant and earns $35,000 per year gross. She does not share her accommodation. The applicable threshold for a single person not sharing is $37,116 per year. Indira's income of $35,000 is $2,116 below that limit. She meets the age condition (34 >= 16), the residency condition (NZ citizen), and the income condition. Indira qualifies for the Community Services Card. At her enrolled GP clinic, she pays a $0 co-payment per visit as a CSC holder, compared to the $50 standard rate — a saving every time she books an appointment.

Scenario 2 — Family of four well below the family threshold

Jovan and Katia are a couple with two children aged 7 and 10. Jovan earns $55,000 per year and Katia earns $35,000 per year, giving a combined family income of $90,000. The applicable threshold for a family of 4 is $96,266 per year. Their combined income of $90,000 is $6,266 below the limit. Both adults are permanent residents and both are aged over 16. The whole family qualifies for the CSC. Each family member is listed on the card, meaning all four benefit from reduced GP co-payments and lower prescription charges — a meaningful saving when two school-age children have GP visits during the year.

Scenario 3 — NZ Super couple whose income exceeds the standard couple threshold but is below the NZ Super couple threshold

Ludovico and Marta are both 68 and receive NZ Superannuation. Their combined income from NZ Super and a small private pension totals $58,000 per year. Under the standard couple threshold of $55,501 they would be over the limit and ineligible. However, because both are NZ Super clients, the applicable threshold is $59,694 — the NZ Super couple rate. Their income of $58,000 is $1,694 below that higher limit, so they qualify. If Ludovico and Marta had incorrectly used the standard couple threshold to self-assess, they would have concluded they were ineligible and missed out on the CSC entirely.

Common Mistakes

• Assuming the CSC is only for beneficiaries. The CSC is an income test, not a benefit-receipt test. Any employed person earning under $37,116 per year (single, not sharing) or any family of four with combined income under $96,266 per year can qualify, regardless of whether they receive Jobseeker or any other MSD payment. Many working New Zealanders never apply because they assume the card is only for people on benefits.
• Forgetting to renew annually. The CSC expires after 12 months. If you do not renew in time, you pay full GP and prescription fees until a new card is issued. MSD sends a reminder but late renewal creates a coverage gap. Note your expiry date and start the renewal process at least three weeks before it lapses.
• Applying individual income instead of family income. The income test uses total family income — your income and your partner's combined. A couple where each person earns $30,000 ($60,000 combined) exceeds the standard couple threshold of $55,501 even though each person individually would qualify as a single below $37,116. Always use the combined figure against the household-size threshold.
• Confusing the CSC with the SuperGold Card. The CSC provides healthcare subsidies (lower GP and prescription costs). The SuperGold Card provides transport and business discounts for people aged 65 and over. They are separate cards with separate eligibility tests, issued by different parts of government. Holding one does not give you the benefits of the other; they can both be held at the same time.
• Not rechecking after a family size change. Each additional family member raises the income threshold. A family of 3 with a threshold of $83,444 becomes a family of 4 with a threshold of $96,266 after a new child arrives. Some households are over the threshold at family size 3 but comfortably under it at family size 4 — they should re-apply after the child is born or after a child joins the household.
• NZ Super clients using the standard couple threshold. NZ Super clients have a separate, higher couple threshold of $59,694 rather than the standard $55,501. Using the standard figure underestimates eligibility by $4,193 per year. If you and your partner both receive NZ Super, use the NZ Super couple row in the threshold table, not the standard couple row.

Related Benefits

• New Zealand Superannuation — NZ Super clients have higher CSC income thresholds ($39,796 vs $37,116 for single not sharing; $59,694 vs $55,501 for couples), so if you receive NZ Super you should apply the correct elevated threshold when self-assessing.
• SuperGold Card — a separate concession card for people aged 65 and over covering free off-peak public transport and participating business discounts; the CSC and SuperGold Card serve different purposes and can both be held simultaneously.
• Jobseeker Support — Jobseeker recipients typically have family incomes well below the CSC thresholds and qualify for the CSC; holding both is common for working-age adults on low incomes.
• Sole Parent Support — sole parents on SPS often qualify for the CSC; the sole parent plus one child (family of 2) threshold is $67,791 per year and sole parents with more children face higher thresholds still.
• Accommodation Supplement — a weekly payment for low-income households facing high accommodation costs; both the Accommodation Supplement and the CSC can be held at the same time and together reduce both housing and healthcare costs.
• KiwiSaver Government Contribution — a separate IRD-administered benefit; KiwiSaver member contributions do not count as income for CSC purposes, so contributing to KiwiSaver does not reduce your eligibility for the CSC.