Seniors Card frequently asked questions

No more than 20 hours per week in paid employment. If you work casual hours or on an ad-hoc basis through the year, average your working hours over a 12-month period to determine if you're eligible.

No. When you turn 60 and meet the other eligibility criteria, you can apply for a Seniors Card. Applications can be accepted by post up to one month before your birthday, as long as you meet the other eligibility criteria. Your application can be processed seven days before your birthday. Applications can be accepted online up to seven days before your birthday.

No. Your Seniors Card doesn't expire so it doesn't need to be replaced.

Use Seniors Card member online services if you are an existing Seniors Card member and need a replacement card (ie it has been lost, stolen or damaged).

Alternatively, contact the South Australian Seniors Card Unit:

There is no charge for a replacement card.

Use Seniors Card member online services if you are an existing Seniors Card member and need to change your name or address.

Alternatively, contact the South Australian Seniors Card Unit:

There is no charge for a replacement card.

Seniors Cards are made of strong plastic, similar to a credit card, and with normal use will last many years. Keep it in your wallet or purse. Do not expose to heat, bend or puncture your Seniors Card as this may damage the internal antenna or microchip. Do not expose your Seniors Card to static electricity, water or extremes of temperature (such as a clothes dryer or car dashboard).

Discounts & Deals online

Browse thousands of discounts available to Seniors Card members or search for discounts and deals based on category or location.

Discounts & Deals online

Seniors Card Discount Directory, Your Lifestyle Guide

The hardcopy Seniors Card Discount Directory, Your Lifestyle Guide, lists thousands of places around South Australia where Seniors Card members can access a discount or benefit.

Seniors Card members can pick up a copy of the 2023 Directory from one of hundreds of collection points across the state, such as Catalyst Foundation / Seniors Information Service, or their local council or library.

Find your nearest collection point:

The Catalyst Foundation

1/47 Tynte Street, Adelaide

Public libraries

Visit www.libraries.sa.gov.au and click on the Locate a Library tab. Use the map or download the PDF.

Council offices

Visit www.lga.sa.gov.au and click on SA Councils. Click on SA councils list and map.

Seniors Card Discount Directory, Your Lifestyle Guide

The hardcopy Seniors Card Discount Directory, Your Lifestyle Guide, lists thousands of places around South Australia where Seniors Card members can access a discount or benefit.

Seniors Card members can pick up a copy of the 2023 Directory from one of hundreds of collection points across the state, such as Catalyst Foundation / Seniors Information Service, or their local council or library.

Find your nearest collection point:

The Catalyst Foundation

1/47 Tynte Street, Adelaide

Public libraries

Visit www.libraries.sa.gov.au and click on the Locate a Library tab. Use the map or download the PDF.

Council offices

Visit www.lga.sa.gov.au and click on SA Councils. Click on SA councils list and map.

Discounts & Deals online

Browse thousands of discounts available to Seniors Card members or search for discounts and deals based on category or location.

Discounts & Deals online

Interstate

Yes. Most business supporters of interstate Seniors Card programs will welcome your South Australian Seniors Card. You can also use your SA Seniors Card to access some concessional public transport fares in the state/territory you are visiting.

More about Seniors Card offices interstate.

Overseas

Thanks to a reciprocal agreement between the New Zealand Government and Australian state and territory governments, holders of Australian Seniors Cards are able to access discounts from participating businesses in New Zealand. Additionally, holders of a SuperGold Card (New Zealand's equivalent) can access discounts from participating Seniors Card business partners when travelling to Australia. This arrangement does not include state or nationally funded initiatives such as free public transport.

For details of participating New Zealand businesses, visit www.supergold.govt.nz or phone 0800 25 45 65 (when in NZ).

Additionally, Seniors Cards are often accepted by businesses in other countries as a matter of goodwill. All you need to do is ask.

Yes. Interstate Seniors Card members are welcomed by South Australian businesses and on Adelaide Metro public transport.

The Seniors Card program collects and uses your personal information for the purpose of administering the program. This includes mailing your Seniors Card, providing you with free and discounted public transport services, government information and special offers and information from participating businesses.

The program does not provide your personal information to participating businesses. We use a mail house contractor to administer our mail-outs. Emails are sent by the Seniors Card program.

The Seniors Card program requires its contractors to treat your personal information confidentially and in accordance with the Information Privacy Principles (IPPS) Instruction.

We may provide your information to other Government agencies that provide services to cardholders. We may also disclose personal information with your consent, or if required or authorised by law or our Code of Fair Information Practice.

Contact the Seniors Card Unit (free call 1800 819 961) email seniorscard@sa.gov.au.

All suggestions will be followed up but we can't guarantee that a business will support the Seniors Card program. There are also some businesses who provide a discount to members but choose not to partner with the Seniors Card program.

Try to sort out the problem with the business first. If this isn't possible, contact the Seniors Card Unit (free call 1800 819 961) or email seniorscard@sa.gov.au. All complaints will be registered and followed up and we'll try to let you know the outcome where we can.

Public transport frequently asked questions

Details in the Adelaide Fare Collection System (AFCS) are a subset of the details held by the Seniors Card Unit, and include name, address, date of birth and email address. These details are copied into the AFCS so that:

  • a Seniors Card member can add credit to their Seniors Card through the InfoLine or the website
  • a Seniors Card member can be contacted if the Seniors Card has issues related to its metroCARD function
  • a Seniors Card member can be contacted if any outstanding payments need to be made.

Adelaide Metro's website has more information about Adelaide Metro and metroCARD privacy.

Can I anonymise my details in AFCS?


Yes. Contact the Seniors Card Unit to request it (allow two working days). This does not affect the details held by the Seniors Card Unit.

Once completed, the only record held in the AFCS is the Seniors Card number linked to a metroCARD number and a de-identified date of birth. The name and address fields are blanked out in the AFCS.

What are the consequences of anonymisation?


You won't be able to use the Adelaide Metro website to add credit to your Seniors Card for discounted parking or view its transaction history.

Your Seniors Card is ready to use on Adelaide Metro public transport as soon as you receive it.

You'll need to validate your Seniors Card every time you board an Adelaide Metro bus, train or tram, even though your travel is free.

If you wish to access discounted parking at the Tea Tree Plaza Park ‘n’ Ride, you will need to add credit ($) onto your card.

From 1 July 2022, travel on Adelaide Metro public transport services is free all the time for South Australian Seniors Card members.

Seniors Cards will only require credit if members would like to access discounted parking at the Tea Tree Plaza Park ‘n’ Ride.

Your South Australian Seniors Card entitles you to free Adelaide Metro public transport at all times.

Your Seniors Card is part of Adelaide's metroCARD public transport electronic ticketing system which is operational on all buses, trains and trams. The Seniors Card has the metroCARD technology built in (Seniors metroCARD) which means you only have to carry one card to access discounts on goods and services and public transport.

Your Seniors Card is ready to use on public transport as soon as you receive it.

You'll need to validate your Seniors Card every time you board an Adelaide Metro bus, train or tram, even though your travel is free.

New and replacement Seniors Cards (Seniors metroCARD) are issued through the Seniors Card Unit.

No. The Seniors Card entitles you to discounts and benefits at participating businesses as well as being your Seniors metroCARD for Adelaide Metro public transport. Refer to the Discounts & deals page for business discounts.

Yes. However, from 1 July 2022, you will only need to transfer balance from a old concession or general metroCARD to your Seniors Card if you wish to use it for discounted parking at the Tea Tree Plaza Park ‘n’ Ride. Simply take your old concession or general metroCARD and your Seniors Card into the Adelaide Metro InfoCentre and request that the balance be transferred to your Seniors Card.

If you don't wish to use your Seniors Card for discounted parking, you can take your old concession or general metroCARD and your Seniors Card into the Adelaide Metro InfoCentre and request a refund.

If you are unable to travel into the city, please call the Adelaide Metro InfoLine on 1300 311 108 for assistance (7am-8pm, daily). A customer service representative will assist with processing a refund.

There is no time limit on when you can receive your Seniors Card refund. Please travel to the Adelaide Metro InfoCentre for your refund, at a time that is convenient for you.

If you would like your credit transferred to a different metroCARD, please visit the Adelaide Metro InfoCentre with your Seniors Card and the metroCARD or call the Adelaide Metro InfoLine on 1300 311 108 (7am-8pm daily).

You will only need to add credit ($) to your Seniors Card if you want to access the discounted parking at the Tea Tree Plaza Park ‘n’ Ride.

There are a few ways to add credit to your card.

In person

Recharge your Seniors Card in person at:

Simply present your Seniors Card and pay by cash, credit or debit card. The minimum recharge is $5 and the maximum amount you can store on your card is $200.

By phone

Phone the Adelaide Metro InfoLine on 1300 311 108 and transfer funds from your credit or debit card or set up auto-recharge which involves nominating a credit or debit card and an amount that will be automatically loaded onto your Seniors Card when it falls below the minimum amount.

If the recharge is completed before 9.00 pm, it will generally be available on your Seniors Card when you use it the next morning.

Online

Recharge your Seniors Card online by logging into your metroCARD account on the Adelaide Metro website:

  1. visit www.adelaidemetro.com.au/seniors
  2. click on 'Manage metroCARD'
  3. enter your personal account details.

You can recharge your Seniors Card with a credit card or you can set up auto-recharge. Auto-recharge means nominating a credit card and an amount that will be automatically loaded onto your Seniors Card when your credit falls below the minimum of $15.

You can also check the balance remaining on your card and check transaction histories after you log in.

To access your metroCARD account on the Adelaide Metro website, you need to have a login and password.

Your login is the word 'SENIOR' followed by an underscore (_) and then your seven digit Seniors Card number (eg SENIOR_0000000).

If you need your password reset, please email seniorscard@sa.gov.au and staff will email the details to you.

Once you have logged in for the first time, you should change your password. You can do this by clicking on 'update my details'. New passwords need to be between 8 and 16 characters long.

For more information, please visit www.adelaidemetro.com.au/seniors or call the Adelaide Metro InfoLine on 1300 311 108 (7am-8pm daily).

Hold your card against the validation machine on a bus, train or tram. The machine will then indicate the following:

  • Green = validation success (free)
  • Red = validation unsuccessful (the card is not valid or has been disabled).

In most cases you won't even need to take your card out of your purse or wallet. If your card doesn't validate, speak with the bus driver or an Adelaide Metro staff member.

For more information about how to validate when boarding a bus, train or tram, you can view a series of Adelaide Metro online video tutorials.

No. However, you do need to validate when you enter and exit Adelaide Railway Station.

Yes, you can transfer to another service. Just validate your Seniors Card when you board or pass through barrier gates.

Call Adelaide Metro on 1300 311 108 or visit the Adelaide Railway Station Adelaide Metro InfoCentre on North Terrace and ask Adelaide Metro staff to investigate.

If your card is faulty, use Seniors Card member online services or contact the Seniors Card Unit and a replacement card will be issued at no cost.

Yes. However, it is recommended that you refer to the Adelaide Metro website for more specific information about safe travel for passengers using mobility aids on public transport.

When visiting Adelaide from interstate, if you have a state-issued Seniors Card, you can access a MetroTicket for 14 consecutive days of free off-peak travel during your visit to Adelaide. This excludes National Seniors Card, Seniors Business Discount Card and New Zealand SuperGold Card.

To order a MetroTicket online, you need a scan or photograph of the Seniors Card that clearly shows the card number and member's name, as you will upload it before submitting.

If you need to order tickets for more than one Seniors Card member, you must submit one form per person.

Order an interstate Seniors Card member 14-day free travel ticket.

Please allow 10 days between ordering your ticket and your departure date, to reduce the risk of your ticket not arriving in time.

If you are arriving in Adelaide within the next 10 days, you can present your interstate Seniors Card at one of the following locations to receive a 14-day free off-peak travel ticket:

Interstate Seniors Card members need to pay a concession fare to travel in peak times. If you need to use Adelaide Metro services outside of the free travel times, you will need to buy a concession metroCARD. Use the service finder to locate a metroCARD agent near you.

If you do not have a Seniors Card but you have an Australian Pensioner Concession Card, you are eligible for a concession fare.

International seniors are not eligible for any concessions. Find out more about discounted travel with a Visitor pass.

For more information about visiting Adelaide, visit the Adelaide Metro website.