Age qualifications for a Low Income Health Care Card (LIC), Foster Child Health Care Card (FST) or Ex-Carer Allowance (child) Health Care Card (EHC) 101-06040040

Is the child under 16 years of age?

• Yes, go to Step 2
• No, go to Step 3

Is the child in the care of an institution (including Approved Care Organisations (ACOs) and State or Territory Government departments)?

• Yes:
• the institution will need to lodge a LIC claim for the child
• see Low Income Health Care Card (LIC) and Processing Low Income Health Care Card (LIC) claims
• procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 3

Is the child a foster care child?

• Yes:
• the foster carer can lodge a claim for FST
• see Foster Child Health Care Card (FST)
• procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 4

Was the customer a CA care recipient for the child on the day prior to their 16th birthday?

• Yes:
• the ex-care receiver can lodge an EHC claim
• see Ex-Carer Allowance (child) Health Care Card (EHC)
• procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 5

Is the child under 19 years of age and undertaking secondary studies?

• Yes, and they are:
• receiving prescribed education scheme payment, go to Step 6
• not a FTB child, go to Step 6
• an FTB child. The child is not entitled to LIC. Procedure ends here
• No, go to Step 6

The child may qualify for LIC. See:

• Low Income Health Care Card (LIC)
• Processing Low Income Health Care Card (LIC) claims

Dependants must meet certain age qualifications to be included on their parent's LIC. A young person who is under 19, is an FTB child and is a secondary student, is not qualified for a LIC of their own. They may be included on their parent's card instead.

See the References page to determine which dependants are not qualified for a Health Care Card

Procedure ends here.