Retirement: the Age Pension and seniors cards

To retire in Australia, first check whether you have reached Age Pension age and lived here long enough, and how much you could get. Once you reach your preservation age you can access your super. If you do not get the pension, you may still qualify for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, and each state has its own Seniors Card. Visiting parents usually have no Medicare and need insurance. Each step links to a verified guide and the official source.

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.

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.