NBN plans for seniors and pensioners: discounts, concessions and the cheapest way to pay

Do you need a seniors plan?

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.

Provider seniors and concession offers

These are the offers we could verify on the providers' own pages, as at the dates in the footnote. Providers change offers often, so confirm the current terms before you sign up.

Telstra internet plans for pensioners and seniors

Telstra doesn't sell a seniors NBN plan, but it has more concession offers than most providers. On its concession offers page (checked 2 October 2026), eligible health care and concession card holders can get a Starter Internet Plan with 50GB of data and unlimited standard calls, and a monthly discount on its Ultimate Voice or Upfront Home Phone plan. Separately, its Pensioner Discount takes money off one home phone line for eligible pensioners billed directly by Telstra.

Telstra's Access for Everyone program adds a complimentary six-month Pre-Paid recharge with 70GB of data for eligible people, Centrepay deductions from Centrelink payments, and free national calls and Wi-Fi at Telstra payphones. For mobiles, Telstra takes 10% off selected Upfront Mobile Plans for eligible card holders; see Telstra mobile plans for seniors. A 50GB plan suits light use, so check it covers your household before choosing it over an unlimited plan.

Government help with internet costs

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:

• Pension Supplement, paid with the Age Pension and other pensions, is described by Services Australia as a regular extra payment to help with utility, phone, internet and medicine costs.
• Telephone Allowance is a quarterly payment to help with phone and internet costs for people on certain payments, including JobSeeker Payment, Parenting Payment, Farm Household Allowance and Disability Support Pension (under 21 with no children), each with its own conditions. Age Pension is not on its list. From 20 September 2026 the basic rate is $39.40 a quarter. A higher rate of $57.80 is available to some recipients, such as those on Farm Household Allowance, who also have internet in their or their partner's name.
• Telstra's Access for Everyone program lists concession offers, a free six-month pre-paid recharge for eligible people, Centrepay bill payments and free payphone calls and Wi-Fi.

How to find a cheaper NBN plan as a senior

Whether or not a seniors offer suits you, these steps usually save more than the discount itself, and they work whichever providers you compare NBN plans from:

• Check your current bill. If your plan's introductory discount has ended, or you are on an old plan you haven't reviewed in years, you are probably paying more than new customers.
• Choose the tier for your busiest hour, not the fastest available. Browsing, email, video calls with family and one TV stream fit comfortably on Home Standard, and often on Home Basic II.
• Decide whether you still need a home phone. If you use a mobile for most calls, dropping the landline can reduce the bill. If you keep it, the number can usually move with you to a new provider.
• Use a modem you already own if the new provider allows it, and check what you'd pay for a provider's modem if you left early.
• Compare the ongoing price over 12 to 24 months, not the first-month price. Our NBN total cost calculator adds up the discount period, the modem and any set-up fee for you.

How much data and speed seniors need

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.

Keeping a home phone on the NBN

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.

If you can't pay your internet bill

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.

Help getting confident online

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.