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.
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.
Asset limits for a full Age Pension
| Relationship status | Maximum basic rate per fortnight1 |
|---|---|
| Single | $1,200.90 |
| Couple (combined)2 | $1,810.40 |
Source: Services Australia, valid from 20 March 2026 to 19 September 2026
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
Generally, 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 Services Australia to find out more.
Services Australia 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 current asset limits are itemised in the tables below.
Asset limits for a full Age Pension
| Your situation | Home owner | Non-home owner |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $321,500 | $579,500 |
| Couple (combined)2 | $481,500 | $739,500 |
No age pension if your assets exceed
| Your situation | Home owner | Non-home owner |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $722,000 | $980,000 |
| Couple (combined)2 | $1,085,000 | $1,343,000 |
Here’s a general overview of assets that may be taken into account:
Income limits for a full Age Pension
- 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.
Income limits for a full Age Pension
| Your situation | To receive the maximum Age Pension, your income must be below: |
|---|---|
| Single | $218 a fortnight |
| Couple (combined)2 | $380 a fortnight |
If your income is above the thresholds in the above table, you may still be eligible for a part Age Pension. The table below shows the maximum income you can earn to still be eligible to receive a part pension payment.
The amount of Age Pension for which you are eligible reduces by 50 cents for every dollar earned over the lower threshold for a single person, and 30 cents for every dollar for a couple, until it cuts off completely when your income exceeds the figures below. The cut-off limits are higher if you qualify for rent assistance or the work bonus.
Income limits for a part Age Pension
| Your situation | You won’t receive the age pension if your income exceeds |
|---|---|
| Single | $2,619.80 |
| Couple (combined)2 | $4,000.80 |
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 1.25% applied. Anything over $64,200 is deemed to earn 3.25%.
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 1.25% applied. Anything over $106,200 is deemed to earn 3.25%. For details visit the Services Australia website.
The Work Bonus
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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 from working, and save any unused amount up to a maximum of $11,8003 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.
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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. If you and your partner are both claiming Age Pension, you may be able to submit a combined partner claim online. Please visit Services Australia to apply.
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 options4. They can help you understand how the Age Pension could help you in retirement.
Advice options-
Disclaimers
- 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, 20 March 2026.
- Source: Services Australia, 20 March 2026.
- 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.