How We Source Our Figures
Retirement decisions deserve accurate numbers. This page explains exactly where every figure on this site comes from, how often it's updated, and how you can check any of them against the original government source yourself.
Where the numbers come from
We use primary sources only — the official publications that the figures originate from, never news articles or other websites' summaries:
| Figures | Primary source |
|---|---|
| Age Pension rates, income & assets test thresholds, deeming, Rent Assistance, Work Bonus | Department of Social Services indexation releases and the Services Australia payment guides |
| Superannuation caps, contribution rules, tax rates and offsets | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au) published rates and thresholds |
| Concession cards and supplements | Services Australia |
| Legislated rules and definitions | Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au) |
Where a figure has to be derived (for example, a combined couple rate), the derivation is noted internally and cross-checked against a second published source before release.
How the figures stay current
Every number on this site lives in one central data file — we call it the RC Data Engine. Each page draws its figures from the engine, so when the government indexes a rate, we update it once and every page, table and calculator across the site changes together. There is no possibility of one page showing a new rate while another shows last year's.
Government figures change on a known calendar, and our update cycle follows it:
| Date | What usually changes |
|---|---|
| 20 March | Age Pension rates and pension-linked thresholds |
| 1 July | Superannuation caps, deeming thresholds, income free areas, assets test thresholds, tax settings for the new financial year |
| 20 September | Age Pension rates and pension-linked thresholds |
| 1 January | Youth and student payments and selected supplements |
Historical figures are kept, not overwritten — that's what powers the financial-year selector you'll see on many calculators, and our what-changed comparison at each indexation.
Our verification standard
Before any figure enters the engine it is checked against its primary source. If a figure can't be verified — for example, when a department hasn't yet published a value — we flag it as unavailable rather than estimate it. A dated changelog of every data update is kept with the engine.
What this site is — and isn't
RetirementCalculators.com.au is a factual, educational resource. It shows you the current rules and figures and lets you test scenarios with your own numbers. It does not provide personal financial advice, and no calculator here can weigh up your individual circumstances the way a licensed adviser can. For decisions that depend on your personal situation, use the site to get informed, then book a coaching call or talk to a financial planner.
Found an error?
If a figure looks wrong, we genuinely want to know — that's part of how the site stays accurate. Please contact us with the page title and the figure in question, and we'll check it against the primary source and correct it promptly.