How does the PBS Safety Net work for families?

The PBS Safety Net is a family scheme — scripts filled for your partner and dependent children under 25 in full-time study all count toward the same annual threshold. Once your family's combined spending reaches the threshold ($277.20 for concession families in 2026, $1,748.20 for general patients), the co-payment drops to $0 for concession or $7.70 for general patients for the rest of the calendar year.

Does the PBS Safety Net reset?

Yes. The Safety Net resets on 1 January every year. Any spend from the previous year does not carry over.

Do my children's scripts count toward the Safety Net?

Yes, dependent children under 25 who are in full-time study count as part of your family unit for the PBS Safety Net.

Do I need to register for the PBS Safety Net?

You need to keep track of your scripts and ask your pharmacy for a Safety Net card or record. Most pharmacies track your tally automatically when you fill scripts there consistently.

What counts toward the PBS Safety Net threshold?

Your PBS co-payment for each script counts toward the threshold. Only your share (the co-payment) counts — not the full drug price. Some medications are not subsidised under the PBS and do not count at all.

What happens after we reach the Safety Net?

For concession families, scripts become free (no co-payment) for the rest of the calendar year. For general patients, the co-payment drops to the concession rate ($7.70 in 2026) for the rest of the year.

PBS Safety Net Calculator 2026 — Will Your Family Reach It This Year?

Free interactive tool: enter your family's scripts per month and find out if you'll reach the PBS Safety Net threshold in 2026, and which month scripts become cheaper.

Download on the App Store