Age Pension

Services Australia (Centrelink)Verified 22 Oct 2026Official pages checked daily

The Age Pension is the Australian Government's main income support payment for people aged 67 and over. It is paid by Services Australia through Centrelink. It is not automatic: you must pass an income test and an assets test, and you normally need to have been an Australian resident for 10 years, including at least 5 years in a row. The rates change on 20 March and 20 September each year. If you get the Age Pension, you automatically get a Pensioner Concession Card.

Key facts

Age: 67 or over. The website says there are currently no plans to increase it further¹
Residence rules: On the day you claim, you must live in Australia, be in Australia, and be an Australian resident (a citizen, a permanent visa holder, or a protected New Zealand SCV holder). You normally need to have been an Australian resident for at least 10 years in total, including at least 5 years in a row⁵
Maximum rate, single, per fortnight (from 20 September 2026): Base pension A$1,135.40 + Pension Supplement A$88.20 + Energy Supplement A$14.10 = A$1,237.70 in total (before tax)²
Maximum rate, couple, per fortnight (from 20 September 2026): Each person A$855.90 + A$66.50 + A$10.60 = A$933.00 each, or A$1,866 for the couple. A couple separated due to illness get the single rate of A$1,237.70 each²
When the rates change: On 20 March and 20 September each year, set by the Department of Social Services²
Income test: free area and taper: Single: income up to A$226 per fortnight does not affect your pension; above that, it reduces by 50 cents for every dollar. Couple: combined income up to A$396 per fortnight does not affect it; above that, it reduces by 25 cents for every dollar for each person³
Income test: cut-off limits: Single: A$2,701.40 per fortnight. Couple living together: A$4,128.00 combined per fortnight. The limits are higher if you get Rent Assistance or have a Work Bonus balance³
Assets test: limits for the full pension: Single homeowner A$333,000; single non-homeowner A$600,000. Couple combined, homeowners A$499,000; non-homeowners A$766,000. Above these limits, the pension reduces gradually⁴
Assets test: cut-off limits (from 20 September 2026): Single homeowner A$745,750; single non-homeowner A$1,012,750. Couple combined, homeowners A$1,121,000; non-homeowners A$1,388,000. A couple's assets are combined⁴
Work Bonus: A$300 of Work Bonus is added to your balance every fortnight, up to a maximum of A$11,800. It offsets your wages and self-employment income before the income test is applied. You do not need to apply; it is applied automatically when you report your work income. It does not apply if you get the transitional rate⁶
How super is treated: The income test counts all income of you and your partner, including financial assets such as savings, shares and super. These are converted to income under the deeming rules³
Tax: The Age Pension is taxable income. Centrelink does not take tax out automatically, but you can ask them to²
Social security agreements with Asian countries: The Services Australia page for Asian countries lists only India, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Many countries, China for example, have no agreement with Australia⁷

Who is this for, and what are the requirements?

You are 67 or over.
On the day you claim, you live in Australia, are in Australia, and are an Australian resident (a citizen, a permanent visa holder, or a protected SCV holder).
You normally need to have been an Australian resident for 10 years in total, including 5 years in a row. Years you lived or worked in a country that has no social security agreement with Australia (China, for example) do not count. Check the Services Australia website to see whether your country has an agreement.
Refugees and former refugees are not subject to the 10-year rule. A widow who was an Australian resident for 2 years before claiming, and whose partner died while both were Australian residents, may also qualify.
Your income and assets are within the limits. For a couple, both partners' income and assets are assessed together, even if only one person claims.
If you are legally blind (and do not get Rent Assistance), you can get the pension without the income and assets tests. You need a report from an ophthalmologist.

How do I do it? Steps and process

Check that you qualify and estimate your rate
Check your age, years of residence, income and assets. You can use the Payment Finder on the Services Australia website to get an estimate. If you have financial questions, you can book a free appointment with the Financial Information Service.
Get your documents ready early
According to the website, you can submit your claim up to 13 weeks before you reach Age Pension age. You need documents that prove your age, bank account, TFN, Australian residence status (not needed for citizens born in Australia), your relationship, and your income and assets. If you have lived overseas, you may need to complete the Residence in Australia and other countries form.
Set up myGov and a Centrelink online account
If you do not have a Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN), you must prove your identity first. If you and your partner both claim, each of you needs your own myGov account linked to Centrelink.
Submit your claim online
Sign in to myGov, then go to Centrelink, Make a claim or view claim status, Make a claim, Older Australians, Get started, and follow the prompts. Once you start a claim, you must submit it within 13 weeks, or it expires and you have to start again. If both partners are claiming, you can choose a combined partner claim at the Review and Confirm stage; your partner then has 3 days to complete their part in their own account. If you cannot claim online, call the Centrelink older Australians line on 132 300, book an appointment at a service centre, or fill in the Claim for Age Pension and Pension Bonus form (SA002) and the Income and Assets form (SA369).
Track your claim and provide more documents
After you submit, you get a claim ID and an estimated completion date. If Centrelink needs more documents, they will call you or send a letter to your myGov Inbox. Provide them within 14 days, or your claim may be rejected.
After approval
The decision is sent to your myGov Inbox or the Express Plus Centrelink app. After approval, your Pensioner Concession Card is posted to you automatically. From then on, you and your partner must report your work income accurately (the Work Bonus is applied automatically) and declare overseas income and assets. Tell Centrelink promptly when your income, assets or relationship changes.

What documents do I need?

Proof of age and identity (documents showing your birth or arrival in Australia, plus primary and secondary identity documents)
Bank account details and TFN
Proof of Australian residence status: passport, citizenship certificate, visa or ImmiCard (not needed for citizens born in Australia)
Relationship details (such as the partner details form)
Income and assets details: bank and term deposit statements, super account statements, income stream schedules, property and mortgage documents, share and managed investment statements, tax returns for investment properties, and similar
If you have lived overseas: the Residence in Australia and other countries form. If you have work income: tax returns, payslips, separation certificates and similar

What should I watch out for?

Social security agreements: the Services Australia page International social security agreements between Australia and countries in Asia lists only India, Japan and the Republic of Korea. If your country has no agreement with Australia (China, for example), the years you lived there cannot be used to make up the 10 years, and you cannot claim the Australian Age Pension from that country under an agreement. Check the page to see whether your own country is covered. While you wait to reach 10 years, you can check whether you qualify for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (it also requires Age Pension age and has a residence waiting period).
If you have a pension or property overseas, you must declare it. The income test counts income from all sources, and overseas income and assets affect your rate.
You must pass both the income test and the assets test. If you have a partner, both partners' income and assets are combined, even if only one of you claims.
You can keep working on the Age Pension. The Work Bonus of A$300 per fortnight is automatically offset against your wages and self-employment income, and any unused amount builds up to a maximum of A$11,800. You must still report all work income, even if it is below the limit.
If your assets are over the limit, look at the Asset Hardship provisions (for severe financial hardship) or the Home Equity Access Scheme (a government loan secured against your home). If you pay rent, you can also apply for Rent Assistance.
There is no waiting period if you return to live in Australia and then claim, but if you leave Australia within 2 years of being granted the pension, it may stop.
The Age Pension is taxable income. You can ask Centrelink to take tax out so you do not owe tax at the end of the year.
For questions, call the Centrelink older Australians line on 132 300 (Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm). If you prefer another language, the multilingual phone service is available.
This page is an unofficial plain-English summary of public information. Whether you can get the pension, and how much, depends on the assessment by Services Australia and the official website. It is not immigration, legal or financial advice.

What has changed recently?

2026-09-20
The pension rates and the income and assets test limits were updated in the routine adjustment on 20 September 2026 (the facts on this page show the updated figures). The next adjustment is on 20 March 2027.Source: servicesaustralia.gov.au ↗

Common questions

At what age can I get the Age Pension in Australia?

You can get the Age Pension from age 67. The website says there are currently no plans to increase this further. You must also pass the income test and the assets test, and meet the residence rules, which normally means 10 years as an Australian resident. You can submit your claim up to 13 weeks before you reach Age Pension age.

My parents migrated to Australia. How many years must they live here before they can get the Age Pension?

Normally 10 years as an Australian resident in total, including at least 5 years in a row. On the day they claim, they must live in Australia, be in Australia, and be a citizen, permanent visa holder or protected SCV holder. Refugees are not subject to the 10-year rule. Years spent in a country with no social security agreement with Australia do not count. Before 10 years, they can check whether they qualify for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

How much is the Age Pension per fortnight?

From 20 September 2026, the maximum rate for a single person is A$1,237.70 per fortnight before tax, including the Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement. For a couple it is A$933.00 each, or A$1,866 combined. A couple separated due to illness get the single rate each. Your actual rate depends on the income and assets tests. The rates change on 20 March and 20 September each year.

What are the income and assets limits for the Age Pension?

The income test cut-off is A$2,701.40 per fortnight for a single person and A$4,128.00 combined for a couple living together. The assets test cut-off from 20 September 2026 is A$745,750 for a single homeowner, A$1,012,750 for a single non-homeowner, and A$1,121,000 or A$1,388,000 combined for a couple. You must pass both tests, and a couple's income and assets are combined. The income limits are higher if you get Rent Assistance or have a Work Bonus balance.

Can I keep working while on the Age Pension? What is the Work Bonus?

Yes, you can keep working. The Work Bonus adds A$300 to your balance every fortnight, up to a maximum of A$11,800, and offsets your wages and self-employment income before the income test is applied. You do not need to apply; it is applied automatically when you report your work income. It does not apply if you get the transitional rate. You must still report all work income, even below the limit.

Does Australia have a social security agreement with my country? Can the years I lived overseas count towards the 10 years?

It depends on the country. The Services Australia page for Asian countries lists only India, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Many countries, China for example, have no agreement, so years lived there cannot be used to make up the 10 years, and you cannot claim the Australian Age Pension from that country under an agreement. Check the page to see whether your country is covered. Overseas pensions and property must be declared and affect your rate.

When and how do I apply for the Age Pension in myGov?

You can submit your claim up to 13 weeks before you reach Age Pension age. Sign in to myGov, go to Centrelink, Make a claim or view claim status, Make a claim, Older Australians, Get started, and follow the prompts. Once you start, you must submit within 13 weeks. If you cannot claim online, call the Centrelink older Australians line on 132 300 or use forms SA002 and SA369. Provide any extra documents within 14 days.

Can I get the Age Pension if I have super?

Yes, having super does not stop you getting the Age Pension, but it affects your rate. The income test counts all income of you and your partner, and financial assets such as savings, shares and super are converted to income under the deeming rules. You must also pass the assets test. You will need to provide super account statements and income stream schedules. For financial questions, you can book a free appointment with the Financial Information Service.

Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.

Where can I check the official information?

Who can get Age PensionServices Australia · servicesaustralia.gov.au
How much Age Pension you can getServices Australia · servicesaustralia.gov.au
Income test for Age PensionServices Australia · servicesaustralia.gov.au
Assets test for Age PensionServices Australia · servicesaustralia.gov.au
Residence rules for Age PensionServices Australia · servicesaustralia.gov.au
How a Work Bonus worksServices Australia · servicesaustralia.gov.au
International social security agreements between Australia and countries in AsiaServices Australia · servicesaustralia.gov.au

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Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and state Seniors Cards

If you have reached Age Pension age but do not get the Age Pension, you can apply to Services Australia for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC). With the card you pay the concession price for PBS medicines, doctors may bulk bill you, and you may get higher Medicare Safety Net benefits. It has an income test only, with no assets test. Separately, each state government has its own Seniors Card (from age 60 in NSW and VIC). State cards are based on your age and your weekly work hours, and the benefits (public transport, business discounts) differ from state to state.