If you have a current Community Services Card (CSC) you are eligible to receive half price fares on public transport through the Community Connect scheme.
An application is required to get this concession processed to a registered Bee card, so we recommend allowing plenty of time before your journey and apply before you travel.
Please allow 5-10 business days for the your concession application to be processed.
If you don't already have a Bee Card, your first one is free with the Community Connect scheme.
Contact the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) for any questions about the Community Services Card.
Please see the step-by-step guides and FAQs below.
Apply for your Community Services Card concession online with Bee Card.
How to apply for Community Connect Concession with an existing Bee Card. Please have your CSC number ready.
1
Apply online
You will need your;
Bee Card Account Login
Ministry of Social Development (MSD) Client Number
Login to the Bee Card website and under ‘Manage cards’, click the ‘Add concession’ button and follow the steps.
2
Receive confirmation
Receive an email confirming the discount application.
3
Tag on and off
To activate your discount, tag on and off as usual to start receiving half price fares.
How to apply for the Community Connect Concession if you don't have an exisiting Bee Card (or have a new Bee Card). Please have your CSC number ready.
1
Apply online
You will need your:
Bee Card Account Login (Email address and password)
Ministry of Social Development (MSD) Client Number
Date of birth
Postal address
You’ll need to set up an account first on the Bee Card website and then click ‘Get a Card’. Once you’ve done this, you’ll need to click the ‘Add concession’ button and fill in your Community Services Card details.
2
Receive your card
Receive a new, free, concession loaded Bee Card in the mail. This should arrive in 10 working days.
3
Top up
You will need to top up your new Bee Card before you can use it for travel.
You can also come and see us at the BUSIT counter in the Hamilton Transport Centre. We’re open Monday-Friday from 8.00am-4.30pm.
Bring your Community Services Card with you and fill out one of our forms. If you’ve got a Bee Card already we can add your concession to it, and if you don’t, we can issue you with one free of charge.
FAQs for Community Services Card holders
You can apply for the conecession if you have a current Community Services Card issued by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). We can only apply one free Community Connect Bee Card for each MSD client number.
The concession is strictly for personal use and cannot be shared with friends or family.
Your Community Connect concession will be valid for as long as you hold an active Community Services Card. If you become eligible again you can reapply for the Community Connect concession.
You can renew the concession online when you get a new Community Services Card by logging into your account, going into the card you wish to renew the concession on, and reapplying for Community Connect.
Please note that you cannot have more than one concession on your Bee Card. Please be mindful if you already have a concession loaded that entitles you to more than half price (ie. the free travel that SuperGold or an Accessiblity concessions offer).
There are number of ways to do this -
Visit the Hamilton Transport Centre- show them your Community Services Card holder, complete application form and come away with a Bee Card ready to go.
Call 0800 205 305 and they can help you complete an application form over the phone, this will then take a couple of day to process and then it will be mailed out to you (allow 7 to 10 days for postage)..
Visit a retailer (find the list here), show the Community Services card as proof of your concession and complete an application form. The retailer will then send this form away to be processed and the card will be posted out to you (allow 7 to 10 days for postage).
The SuperGold Concession in the Waikato Region is the concession that entitles you to FREE travel 24/7 so you can disregard the letter from the Ministry of Social Development.
If you plan to travel outside the Waikato region, it might be a good idea to get a new Bee Card and load your Community Connect Concession on it as different regions have different SuperGold offerings. ie. half price fares during peak times only.
Get a Bee Card and load your SuperGold concession as this entitles you to free travel 24/7 in the Waikato region.
No, unfortunately the Community Connect Concession can only be loaded to the Community Services (CSC) card holder’s Bee Card as this concession is applied for with you MSD Client Number.
Your Client Number can only be applied to one Bee Card only.
However it is best for each child to have their own registered Bee Card as this means that depending on their age they can take advantage of the weekly fare capping available.
If you think your child might be eligibile for thier own CSC, please contact the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to apply. Community Services Card - Work and Income
PH: 0800 999 999
Only one concession can be applied per Bee Card, so we recommend checking if you're eligible for a fare discount with the Community Connect scheme.
You can, however the concession will only be valid for the cardholder, the other passengers tagged on will be charged the full adult Bee Card fare.
Unsure what concession you are eligible for? Follow the flow chart below.
