Payments
Payment rates
These payment rates are effective from 1 January 2012.
Pharmaceutical Allowance is paid with your main payment each fortnight.
| If you are | Payment rate per fortnight |
|---|---|
| Single | $6.20 |
| Couples | $3.10 (each) |
Advance payments
You can apply to receive your Pharmaceutical Allowance as an advance of 7 fortnightly payments if:
- you receive Parenting Payment (single) and are under age pension age, or
- you receive Disability Support Pension and are under 21 with no dependent children and you need a lot of medicines.
Note: it is a good idea to keep a record of how much you pay for your prescriptions. Once you have reached the PBS Safety Net threshold, all medicines under the scheme are free for the rest of the year.
Taxation
Pharmaceutical Allowance is not taxed.
Payment adjustments
Pharmaceutical Allowance is usually adjusted on 1 January each year in line with the Consumer Price Index—that is, in line with increases in the costs of living
More information
- Pharmaceutical Allowance section
On the Medicare website