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There is no government discount on NBN plans for seniors, and only a few providers have a seniors or concession offer. Aussie Broadband sells seniors plans to customers aged 60 and over, Telstra has a concession internet plan and a pensioner discount on home phones, and Flip advertises seniors discounts. iiNet's Seniors Card plan is closed to new customers, and Optus says it doesn't currently offer seniors discounts. Some Centrelink customers can also get Telephone Allowance or Pension Supplement to help with phone and internet costs.
For most older Australians the bigger saving comes from not paying for more than you use: a lower speed tier, a plan without an expired discount, and a modem you already own. This page lists the verified offers and government help, and explains how to choose a plan for lighter use.
By Better Rate Mate Editorial Team · Last reviewed
A "seniors" or "pensioner" NBN plan is usually an ordinary plan with a discount or a simpler bundle. It is worth having if it is cheaper than the best standard plan for the speed you need, but that isn't guaranteed. Compare it with standard plans on the same tier, including any home phone you want to keep.
Many older households are online less at the same time than a family with teenagers, so a slower tier such as Home Basic II (nbn 25) or Home Standard (nbn 50) is often enough. Our guide to what internet speed you need helps you check.
These are the offers we could verify on the providers' own pages as at 28 September 2026. Providers change offers often, so confirm the current terms before you sign up.
| Provider | Offer | Who can get it | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aussie Broadband | Seniors plans: nbn 12 speed bundled with a home phone (VoIP), month to month | Customers aged 60 and over (the primary account holder); no concession card needed | Not available on every nbn connection type; described as designed for 1–2 people online at once |
| Telstra | Concession Starter Internet Plan | Eligible health care or concession card holders | Listed on Telstra's concession offers page with the data allowance and price |
| Telstra | Pensioner Discount on a home phone line | Eligible pensioner concession card holders billed directly by Telstra | Applies to one Basic Telephone Service (home phone), not the internet service |
| Flip | nbn plans for seniors with discounts | Seniors (Flip's page sets the conditions) | Check the discount and eligible cards on Flip's seniors page |
| iiNet | nbn Seniors Card plan | Closed to new customers | Existing customers can keep it but can't move it to a new address |
| Optus | No seniors discount | Not applicable | Optus's seniors guide says it doesn't currently offer discounts for seniors |
There is no concession NBN plan from the government or nbn. Consumer group ACCAN has proposed a low-cost 50 Mbps NBN service for households on government support, but as at September 2026 it remains a proposal, not a product you can buy.
What does exist is help through Centrelink payments:
Whether or not a seniors offer suits you, these steps usually save more than the discount itself:
Unlimited data is common on NBN plans; if a plan has a data limit, its Critical Information Summary will show it. Speed usually matters more. Netflix recommends 5 Mbps for full HD and 15 Mbps for 4K streaming, and video-calling services such as Zoom need only a few Mbps for high-quality calls. A couple watching one show while making the odd video call is well within Home Basic II or Home Standard.
Speed on a slow tier can suffer if someone else is streaming or downloading at the same time, for example visiting grandchildren. If that happens often, move up one tier; on a month-to-month plan you can change later.
On the NBN, a home phone runs through equipment that needs mains power. nbn says any equipment connected via the nbn network will not work during a power outage, and a phone will only work in a blackout with a battery backup and a handset that doesn't need mains power. If you have a medical alarm, nbn advises checking with the alarm provider whether it will work over the network in a power outage, and anyone with a life-threatening condition should ask their provider about Priority Assistance and battery backup. When you switch, you can usually keep your number: the ACMA says local number ports are generally completed within 8 to 15 days.
Contact your provider and ask for its financial hardship policy. Since 29 March 2024, the ACMA's financial hardship standard requires phone and internet providers to offer at least six options for help, such as a payment plan or a cheaper plan, and to use suspension or disconnection only as a last resort.
If the provider doesn't help, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman is free and independent. Every provider must be a member.
Be Connected is a free Australian Government program, developed by the eSafety Commissioner, that builds the digital skills, confidence and online safety of older Australians. It has free online courses and free classes through local community organisations, including topics like video calls, online banking and spotting scams.
Not automatically. There is no government NBN discount, but some providers have seniors or concession offers, such as Aussie Broadband's seniors plans for customers aged 60 and over and Telstra's concession internet plan for eligible card holders. Pensioners also receive Pension Supplement, which Services Australia says helps with utility, phone and internet costs.
It changes as providers adjust prices and discounts. The cheapest option is usually a lower-speed plan such as nbn 25 or nbn 50 from a provider offering a seniors or concession discount, or a standard plan with a good ongoing price. Compare the total cost over 12 to 24 months, including any home phone and modem.
No provider is best for every senior. Look for the tier you need at a good ongoing price, a seniors or concession offer if one applies to you, clear phone support, and a plan without a long modem commitment.
Telstra publishes its concession internet plan and pricing on its concession offers page. We don't quote prices because they change; check the page for the current offer and eligibility. Telstra's Pensioner Discount applies to a home phone line, not the internet service.
No. Services Australia doesn't list the Age Pension as a qualifying payment for Telephone Allowance. Age pensioners instead receive Pension Supplement, which is intended to help with utility, phone, internet and medicine costs.
Seniors and concession offers are set by each provider and change without notice. We list only offers we could verify on the provider's own site on the review date shown, and we have no commercial arrangement with any provider named here.
