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Age Pension Eligibility: Do You Qualify?
To receive the Age Pension, you must pass four key tests: age, residency, income, and assets. Most people aged 67 or over will qualify for at least a part pension — but the means tests determine exactly how much. This guide explains every eligibility rule in plain English.
💡 Want to know how much you'd actually get?
If you've already confirmed you meet the age and residency rules, you can skip straight to the How Much Age Pension Can I Get? calculator — it runs both means tests for you and shows your fortnightly entitlement.
Test 1: Age Requirement
You must be 67 years of age or older to be eligible for the Age Pension. The qualifying age is the same for men and women, and there are currently no plans to increase it further.
The Age Pension age was gradually increased from 65 to 67 between 2017 and 2023. The final step to age 67 occurred on 1 July 2023 for those born on or after 1 January 1957. If you were born before that date, you have already reached pension age.
💡 Plan Ahead: Apply Up to 13 Weeks Early
You can submit your Age Pension claim up to 13 weeks before you reach the qualifying age. Doing this early means your payments can start from the date you turn 67 — rather than waiting until after you've applied. It's one of the most common ways people inadvertently miss out on payments they're entitled to.
Test 2: Residency Requirements
To qualify for the Age Pension, you must be an Australian resident at the time of claim and have lived in Australia as a resident for a minimum of 10 years total, including at least 5 continuous years. There are some important nuances:
🇦🇺 Australian Resident
You must be living in Australia and be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or a protected Special Category Visa holder (New Zealanders who arrived before 26 February 2001).
📅 10-Year Residency Rule
At least 10 years of Australian residence are required, of which 5 years must be a single continuous period. The years don't all need to be continuous — they can be accumulated over your lifetime.
🌏 International Agreements
Australia has social security agreements with many countries. Time lived in those countries may count toward your Australian residency requirement. See the Services Australia agreements list.
ℹ️ About Temporary Absences from Australia
Short trips overseas don't break your residency status for the purpose of qualifying for the Age Pension. Once you've been granted the pension, your payment continues if you travel — but the rules about which parts of your payment continue, for how long, and at what rate are detailed (with different thresholds at 6 weeks and 26 weeks, and country-specific variations for nations with a social security agreement with Australia). You must notify Centrelink before leaving Australia, regardless of trip duration. For the full picture see our Going Overseas with Age Pension guide.
Test 3: Income Test
The income test determines how much Age Pension you receive based on your regular income from all sources. You can have some income without affecting your payment — this is the income-free area. Above that level, your pension reduces gradually.
| Situation | Income-Free Area (per fortnight) | Pension Reduces By |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $226 | 50 cents per $1 over the limit |
| Couple (combined) | $396 | 25 cents per $1 per person over the limit |
Income that counts includes employment income, superannuation pension payments, investment returns (including deemed income from financial assets), rental income, and overseas income.
✅ Work Bonus for Employed Pensioners
If you earn income from employment or self-employment, the Work Bonus allows you to earn up to $300 per fortnight — or up to $11,800 annually — without it counting toward the income test. See our Work Bonus Explained guide for full details.
The income test has upper limits — once your income rises above a certain level, your pension reduces to zero. See the Income Test Explained guide for the full reduction tables and worked examples.
Test 4: Assets Test
The assets test checks the total value of everything you own — savings, investments, vehicles, business assets, and real estate (other than your principal home). Your home is exempt from the assets test, regardless of its value.
| Situation | Full Pension Below | No Pension Above |
|---|---|---|
| Homeowner — Single | $333,000 | $733,500 |
| Homeowner — Couple | $499,000 | $1,102,500 |
| Non-homeowner — Single | $600,000 | $1,000,500 |
| Non-homeowner — Couple | $766,000 | $1,369,500 |
Between the full pension threshold and the cut-off, your pension reduces by $3 per fortnight for every $1,000 of assets above the lower limit. See the Assets Test Explained guide for a detailed breakdown and worked examples.
💡 The Lower Test Wins
Centrelink applies both the income test and the assets test simultaneously and pays you the lower of the two calculated amounts. This means even if your income is very low, a high level of assets can still reduce your pension — and vice versa.
Special Situations
Legally Blind Pensioners
If you are legally blind (as certified by an ophthalmologist), your Age Pension is paid at the full rate without the income or assets test applying to the base pension. You will need to provide an ophthalmologist's report when you apply.
DVA Recipients
If you or your partner receive certain payments from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA), you may not be eligible for Age Pension — or it may affect how much you receive. DVA service pension recipients who have reached pension age are generally not eligible for Age Pension at the same time. Contact Services Australia or DVA directly to check your situation.
Couples with a Younger Partner
If you are eligible for Age Pension but your partner is under 67, your partner does not automatically receive Age Pension. Your partner may be eligible for other payments such as Carer Payment, JobSeeker, or DSP depending on their circumstances. See our Younger Partner Hub for a full guide to your options.
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
If you have reached Age Pension age but don't qualify due to the income or assets tests, you may still be entitled to a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC), which provides access to cheaper medicines and other concessions.
ℹ️ Superannuation and the Age Pension
Your super balance and super pension payments are counted under the means tests once you reach Age Pension age. If your super is in an account-based pension (ABP), it is assessed as a financial asset (subject to deeming under the income test) and counted under the assets test. If you haven't yet reached pension age, super held in the accumulation phase is not assessed by Centrelink — which can be a powerful planning strategy for couples.
How Much Will You Receive?
The maximum Age Pension rates (including the Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement) for the 2026-27 financial year are:
Single Pensioner
$1,200.90
per fortnight ($31,223.40 per year)
Couple (combined)
$1,810.40
per fortnight ($905.20 each)
Pension rates are indexed on 20 March and 20 September each year. For previous indexation periods or other Centrelink rates, see the Centrelink Rates & Thresholds reference page.
Ready to Check Your Entitlement?
Once you've confirmed eligibility, the How Much calculator runs both means tests and shows your fortnightly pension. Or get personalised guidance from a retirement specialist.
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Last reviewed: 8 May 2026 · All rates shown above are current. For previous indexation periods or other Centrelink rates, see the Centrelink Rates & Thresholds reference page.