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Current Centrelink Rates & Thresholds for Australian Pensioners
Trying to find the latest Centrelink rates without wading through five different government pages?
Centrelink rates and thresholds change three times a year for some payments, annually for others, and on a Minister's discretion for deeming rates. Services Australia publishes them across many separate pages. This is a single, plain-English reference that brings them all together — and it updates automatically when the data engine refreshes.
Use the year selector below to view rates that applied at any indexation event from 20 September 2019 onwards. Rates that update on dates between two indexation events (such as 1 July threshold changes or 1 January Carer Allowance and PBS updates) are shown as the values that were in effect on or after your selected indexation date — no averaging.
Choose any 20 March or 20 September to view the rates that applied on that date. Default: most recent indexation.
What changed at the latest indexation
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Age Pension — Maximum Rates
The Age Pension is the foundational income-support payment for Australians who have reached pension age and meet residency, income, and assets tests. The maximum rates below are the headline figures published by Services Australia — they include the base rate, Pension Supplement, and Energy Supplement combined. This is the amount Services Australia deposits into your bank account each fortnight if you qualify for the full pension.
| Rate | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, maximum | — | — | — |
| Couple, each (combined ÷ 2) | — | — | — |
| Couple, combined | — | — | — |
What's inside the headline rate?
The headline rate above is the sum of three components: the base rate, the Pension Supplement (which helps with general expenses like utilities and phone bills), and the Energy Supplement (a smaller amount frozen since 2015). You don't need to apply for the supplements — they're automatically included in your fortnightly payment if you receive the Age Pension.
| Component | Single | Couple, each |
|---|---|---|
| Base rate | — | — |
| Pension Supplement (max) | — | — |
| Energy Supplement | — | — |
| = Headline rate | — | — |
Pension Supplement is paid at the maximum rate to full pensioners and reduced for part pensioners until it reaches a minimum amount. Energy Supplement is paid at the same rate whether you receive a full or part pension — but it is not available to people who first received a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card after 20 September 2016.
Income Test
The income test reduces your pension by 50 cents for every dollar of fortnightly income above the income free area. Income includes deemed income on financial assets, employment income (subject to the Work Bonus), and certain other sources.
| Threshold | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income free area — single | — | — | — |
| Income free area — couple combined | — | — | — |
| Cut-off — single | — | — | — |
| Cut-off — couple combined | — | — | — |
| Income taper rate | 50 cents per $1 over the free area (unchanged since 2009) | ||
See the full income test guide → · Use the income test calculator →
Assets Test
The assets test reduces your pension by $3 per fortnight for every $1,000 of assessable assets above the full-pension threshold. Your home is generally exempt if you live in it. Different thresholds apply to homeowners and non-homeowners, and to singles and couples.
| Threshold | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-pension threshold — homeowner single | — | — | — |
| Full-pension threshold — homeowner couple | — | — | — |
| Full-pension threshold — non-homeowner single | — | — | — |
| Full-pension threshold — non-homeowner couple | — | — | — |
| Part-pension cut-off — homeowner single | — | — | — |
| Part-pension cut-off — homeowner couple | — | — | — |
| Part-pension cut-off — non-homeowner single | — | — | — |
| Part-pension cut-off — non-homeowner couple | — | — | — |
| Assets taper rate | $3.00 per $1,000 above threshold, per fortnight | ||
See the full assets test guide → · Use the assets test calculator →
Deeming Rates & Thresholds
Centrelink "deems" your financial assets to earn a fixed rate of return, regardless of what they actually earn. This deemed amount is then counted as income under the income test. Deeming rates were frozen at COVID-era lows from May 2020 until September 2025; they now reflect more typical interest-rate conditions.
How the rates and thresholds work together: the lower deeming rate applies to financial assets up to your threshold (which depends on whether you're single or a couple). Anything above your threshold is deemed at the higher rate. For example, a single pensioner with $100,000 in financial assets would have the first — deemed at the lower rate, and the remainder deemed at the upper rate.
| Item | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower deeming rate | — | — | — |
| Upper deeming rate | — | — | — |
| Deeming threshold — single | — | — | — |
| Deeming threshold — couple | — | — | — |
See the deeming guide → · Use the deeming calculator →
Rent Assistance
Rent Assistance is paid on top of the Age Pension to people who pay private rent above a threshold. The maximum rates below are paid in full to people whose rent exceeds the upper rent threshold.
| Rate | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum — single | — | — | — |
| Maximum — couple, each | — | — | — |
See full Rent Assistance guide →
Work Bonus
The Work Bonus lets pensioners earn employment income without having it counted under the income test. Each fortnight, an exempt amount accrues into a "bank" that you can use to offset employment income up to the maximum balance.
| Item | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortnightly accrual | — | — | — |
| Maximum bank balance | — | — | — |
| Starting balance — new pensioners | — | — | — |
Age Pension Eligibility
Pension age
Current Age Pension age: —. You must have reached pension age and meet Australian residency requirements (generally 10 years' residence, with 5 years continuous).
The pension age was progressively raised from 65 to 67 between 2017 and 2023; it has been steady at 67 since 1 July 2023.
See the full eligibility guide →
Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)
Automatically issued with the Age Pension
If you receive any amount of Age Pension — including a part-pension — you are automatically issued a Pensioner Concession Card. There is no separate application.
The PCC provides cheaper PBS prescriptions, bulk-billed GP visits where doctors choose to bulk-bill PCC holders, and a range of state-government concessions on energy, transport, water, and council rates.
See full PCC concessions guide →
Health Care Cards
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)
For self-funded retirees of Age Pension age who don't qualify for the Age Pension. Income-tested only (no assets test).
| Threshold | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income limit — single | — | — | — |
| Income limit — couple combined | — | — | — |
| Minimum age | Age Pension age (currently —) | ||
Low Income Health Care Card (LIHCC)
For Australians on low incomes (any age). Assessed on income averaged over the previous 8 weeks.
| Threshold | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income limit — single, weekly | — | — | — |
| Income limit — couple combined, weekly | — | — | — |
| Assessment period | Income averaged over the previous 8 weeks | ||
See full Low Income Health Care Card guide →
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
The PBS subsidises the cost of prescription medicines. Concession card holders (including Age Pension recipients with a PCC) pay a lower co-payment per script than general patients. After your annual co-payment total reaches the Safety Net threshold, scripts become cheaper or free for the rest of the calendar year.
Note: Services Australia publishes only current calendar year PBS rates and overwrites them each 1 January. Historical PBS rates are not retained, so the year selector does not affect this section.
| Item | Current | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Concession co-payment per script | — | ||
| General co-payment per script | — | ||
| Safety Net threshold — concession | — | ||
| Safety Net threshold — general | — | ||
| Co-payment above Safety Net — concession | — | ||
| Co-payment above Safety Net — general | — | ||
Carer Allowance & Carer Supplement
Carer Allowance is a fortnightly supplementary payment for carers who provide additional daily care to someone with a disability, medical condition, or who's frail aged. Many Age Pension recipients also receive Carer Allowance for caring for a sick spouse. Carer Allowance is supplementary and stacks with the Age Pension — it is not the same as Carer Payment, which is income-replacement and cannot be received alongside Age Pension.
| Item | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carer Allowance — fortnightly | — | — | — |
| Adjusted family income limit (annual) | — | — | — |
| Carer Supplement — annual lump sum | — — paid automatically each — to anyone receiving Carer Allowance for a period including 1 July. Not indexed. | ||
See full Carer Allowance guide →
Indexation Calendar — When Rates Change
Different Centrelink payments change on different dates. The calendar below tells you when each payment is updated.
- Age Pension rates & Rent Assistance 20 March and 20 September each year
- Age Pension assets thresholds & deeming thresholds 1 July each year
- Deeming rates Changed at Ministerial discretion (frozen May 2020 to September 2025)
- Energy Supplement Frozen since January 2015
- Work Bonus Permanent at $300/fortnight since December 2022
- CSHC income limits 20 September each year
- LIHCC income limits 20 March and 20 September each year
- Carer Allowance 1 January each year
- Carer Supplement ($600/yr) Not indexed — fixed since introduction
- PBS co-payments & Safety Net thresholds 1 January each year
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do Centrelink rates change?
Age Pension rates and Rent Assistance change on 20 March and 20 September each year, in line with movements in the Consumer Price Index, Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index, and Male Total Average Weekly Earnings.
Asset thresholds (the dollar values that determine whether you're eligible for a full or part-pension) change on 1 July each year. Deeming rates change at the Minister's discretion and were frozen at COVID-era lows from May 2020 to September 2025.
CSHC income limits update annually on 20 September. LIHCC limits update on 20 March and 20 September. PBS co-payments and Safety Net thresholds change on 1 January each year. Carer Allowance is indexed annually on 1 January.
What's the difference between the assets test and the income test?
Centrelink runs both tests on every Age Pension recipient and pays you the LOWER result. Whichever test produces the lower pension is the binding test for your situation.
The income test looks at deemed income from financial assets plus actual income from employment (subject to the Work Bonus), super income streams, and certain other sources. The assets test looks at the total value of your assessable assets — bank accounts, super in pension phase, shares, second properties, vehicles, contents, and so on. Your home is generally exempt from the assets test if you live in it.
For most retirees with modest financial assets, the income test is binding. For retirees with substantial financial assets but low income, the assets test is binding.
I receive Carer Allowance — can I also receive Age Pension?
Yes. Carer Allowance is supplementary, not income-replacement, so it stacks on top of the Age Pension. Many people caring for a sick spouse receive both at the same time.
Carer Payment is different. That is an income-replacement pension paid at the same maximum rate as the Age Pension and using the same income and assets tests. You cannot receive Carer Payment and Age Pension at the same time — you receive whichever pension you're entitled to under the relevant rules.
If you receive Carer Allowance, you also receive an annual Carer Supplement of $600 each July automatically.
How do these rates affect YOUR pension?
Rates are useful as a reference. To see how the latest indexation actually affects your fortnightly Age Pension, use our impact calculator — it personalises the answer to your situation in under a minute.
Accuracy Note: Whilst every effort has been made to provide current and accurate information, I am only one person and there's a very good chance that I'll miss something. If you spot a factual error, or if a calculator breaks or gives incorrect answers, I'd be really grateful if you could let me know via the Contact Us page so I can fix it ASAP.
Disclaimer: This is general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice. Rates and thresholds shown are sourced from the Services Australia and DSS rates lists and are kept up to date by the data engine, but you should always confirm current rates against your own Centrelink statement or the official Services Australia website before making decisions.
Centrelink data current as of 20 March 2026. Page last reviewed: May 2026.