Super and the Government Age Pension
The Government Age Pension is a regular fortnightly payment from the government that helps eligible older Australians pay for basic living expenses. Over 58% of Australians over the age of 65 received all or part of the Government Age Pension in 20231.
If you’re eligible, the Age Pension could complement your savings and give you access to a range of concessions and benefits.
Topping up the Age Pension with your super could allow you to have a more stable and sustainable level of income so you can enjoy what matters most to you.
How much could you receive
The amount you receive depends on your relationship status, whether you own your own home, and your assets and income.
| Relationship status | Maximum basic rate per fortnight2 |
|---|---|
| Single | $1,149 |
| Couple (combined)3 | $1,732.2 |
Age Pension eligibility
Before receiving your first payment, you’ll need to meet the following eligibility requirements.
Have you reached qualifying age
To be eligible for the Government Age Pension, you must be 67 or over.
Are you an Australian resident
You must be an Australian resident living in Australia for at least 10 years, with no break in residence for at least five of those years.
There are a few circumstances where you may still be eligible. Visit the Centrelink website to find out more.
Centrelink use the Assets test and the Income test to work out the pension payments you may receive. The tests are compared, and the one that results in the smaller pension payment is applied.
Assets test
Services Australia will use your assets to determine your Age Pension eligibility and payments.
The thresholds in the table below are valid as at 1 July 2025 and are indexed on a regular basis.
| If you're | Full Age Pension if your assets are below | No Age Pension if your assets exceed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home owner | Non-home owner | Home owner | Non-home owner | |
| Single | $321,500 | $579,500 | $704,500 | $962,500 |
| Couple (combined)3 | $481,500 | $739,500 | $1,059,000 | $1,317,000 |
Here’s an overview of assets that may be taken into account:
- Real estate you own: investment property, holiday home or principle home as a granny flat interest. Your principal residence is generally excluded up to the first 2 hectares of land it’s on. If you own and live on a farm that’s assessed differently.
- Super accounts: owned by you or your partner if/at over pension age. This includes self-managed super funds.
- Income streams: such as an account-based pension, defined benefit schemes and/or annuities.
- Home contents: cars, boats, caravans, household contents and person items such as computers or jewellery.
- Shares: includes any shares you own in Australia and overseas in any public listed, unlisted companies and private companies.
- Gifts: assets or money given away to your family or friends that exceed either $10,000 in a single financial year or a total of $30,000 over five financial years.
- Financial investments: including cash, shares, term deposits, bonds and public and private loans.
Please consider your own circumstances and refer to the Services Australia website for a complete list of assets.
Income test
You may earn up to a certain level of income before your Age Pension payments start decreasing. The Income test includes all sources of income, including but not limited to employment income, investment income, superannuation funds if you've reached Age Pension age, reportable super contributions and some Centrelink payments.
Deeming rules are used to work out income from your financial assets. The income is added to your other income before the income test is applied.
Financial assets that are counted in the income test include super and account-based pensions.
| Family situation | To receive the maximum Age Pension, your income must be below: | You won’t receive the Age Pension if your income exceeds: |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $218 a fortnight | $2,516.00 a fortnight |
| Couple (combined)3 | $380 a fortnight | $3,844.40 a fortnight |
Please consider your own circumstances and refer to the Services Australia website for income that may be assessed.
Social Security deeming rates
A simple rate is applied to ‘deem’ the amount of interest you have earned from your financial assets. The calculation is used to determine how much to include as income under the income test. If you’re single, the first $64,200 of your financial assets has the deemed rate of 0.25% applied. Anything over $64,200 is deemed to earn 2.25%.
If you’re part of a couple and at least one of you get a pension, the first $106,200 of your combined financial assets has the deemed rate of 0.25% applied. Anything over $106,200 is deemed to earn 2.25%. For details visit the Services Australia website.
The Work Bonus
-
What is the Work Bonus
The Work Bonus is a government incentive to keep older Australians in the workforce. You can earn up to $300 a fortnight and save any unused amount up to a maximum of $11,8004 each year before your Age Pension payments are reduced. You may get a $4,000 credit towards your Work Bonus balance when you claim if you’re eligible and haven’t already received one.
This amount isn’t counted under the Income test. So, if you keep working part-time, you could supplement the Age Pension and may use less of your super. Plus, there’s no need to apply, just simply declare your fortnightly income.
For more information about the Work Bonus, visit please Services Australia.
-
See how it could work for you
Bob is retired and a keen gardener. Each week, he works one afternoon at his local café helping with the gardening. From this work, he earns a total of $250 a fortnight, totalling $6,500 for the year.
Bob gets the opportunity to assist at an annual garden show where he’ll work full time for two weeks. He’ll earn $2,600 for the two weeks work. This means Bob’s total employment income for the year will be $9,100.
This is above the $300 per fortnight work bonus allowance by $1,300. However, using his $4,000 work bonus credit the extra income will not count towards the income test for Bob’s Age pension.
In the next year, Bob will again have access to the $300 a fortnight work bonus, plus his remaining work bonus balance of $2,700. This will allow Bob to work again at the garden show next year without it affecting his Age pension.
However, once Bob has used up his once-off $4,000 credit, he’ll be limited to the annual work bonus of $300 a fortnight.
How to apply for the Age Pension
You can apply for the Age Pension up to 13 weeks before you turn 67. Applying early can give you comfort you’ll receive the income payments you’re entitled to.
Here’s some details to help get you started.
Prepare your documents
You’ll need to provide documents that show your:
- age
- bank account details
- Tax File Number
- Australian residence status
- relationship status
- income and assets.
For more information and document samples, please visit Services Australia.
Apply online
The simplest way for you to apply is online. Simply link your Centrelink online account to your myGov account.
Setting up a myGov and Centrelink account is simple and only takes a few minutes. Plus, you and your partner can submit the one application online at the same time.
Steps to apply online:
- Sign in to myGov.
- Select Make a claim or view claim status then Make a claim.
- Under Older Australians, select Get started then follow the prompts to complete your application.
To apply using a paper form or by speaking to Services Australia please visit Services Australia.
Other benefits you may be eligible for
Need help understanding your options
As an AustralianSuper member, you have access to a range of advice options5. They can help you understand how the Age Pension could help you in retirement.
Advice options-
Important information
- Australian Institute of Health & Wellbeing, accessed 22 July 2025.
- Age Pension figures include maximum pension supplement and energy supplements. Figures rounded to the nearest whole dollar.
- Different limits apply for couples separated due to illness Includes the pension supplement and energy supplement and is subject to eligibility. Source: Services Australia, 21 May 2025.
- Source: Services Australia, 20 March 2025.
- Personal financial product advice is provided under the Australian Financial Services Licence held by a third party and not by AustralianSuper Pty Ltd. Fees may apply.