Guide
How do I apply for the Age Pension?
Claim online through myGov linked to Centrelink, from up to 13 weeks before you reach Age Pension age (67). You prove your identity, answer questions about residence, income and assets, upload supporting documents, and track the claim in your Centrelink online account.
Key facts at a glance
- Claims can be lodged up to 13 weeks before you reach Age Pension age.
- The fastest route is myGov with a linked Centrelink online account.
- You need a Customer Reference Number (CRN) and proof of identity to start.
- Couples must supply financial details for both partners.
- Payment starts from your eligibility date if you claim within the 13-week window.
- Decisions can be reviewed free of charge within 13 weeks (Services Australia).
All figures correct as at 20 March 2025, sourced from Services Australia. Next indexation: 20 September 2026.
Before you start: check the date you become eligible
Everything in a claim keys off your Age Pension age. Work out the exact date first, then count back 13 weeks — that is the earliest day you can lodge.
Age Pension Age Calculator
Your exact eligibility date, and the date claims open, from your birth date.
Age Pension age is 67 for everyone born on or after 1 January 1957. Earlier birth dates use the transitional ages that applied between 2017 and 2023.
This is an estimate based on the published rules and rates of Services Australia, correct as at 20 March 2025. Confirm your actual entitlement with Services Australia — your circumstances may include assessments this tool does not model.
Step-by-step: claiming the Age Pension
- Check your Age Pension age and eligibility. Confirm the date you reach Age Pension age — 67 for anyone born on or after 1 January 1957 — and check the residence, assets and income rules before you start.
- Set up myGov and link Centrelink. Create a myGov account at my.gov.au and link a Centrelink online account. If you have never dealt with Centrelink, you will be issued a Customer Reference Number (CRN) as part of this step.
- Prove your identity. Provide identity documents online or at a service centre. You generally need one commencement-of-identity document such as a birth certificate or passport, plus two others such as a driver licence and Medicare card.
- Gather your income and asset documents. Collect bank statements, superannuation statements, share holdings, property valuations, income stream schedules, and details of any overseas pension or foreign assets for both you and your partner.
- Start your claim up to 13 weeks early. Sign in to myGov, go to Centrelink, select Make a claim, and choose Age Pension. You can lodge from 13 weeks before your eligibility date so payment can begin as soon as you qualify.
- Answer the claim questions and upload documents. Complete the questions about residence, relationship status, income, assets and any income streams, then upload supporting documents through the Centrelink Upload Documents service.
- Submit and track the claim. Submit the claim and note the receipt number. Track progress in your Centrelink online account or the Express Plus Centrelink app, and respond promptly to any request for more information.
- Check your first payment and card. When the claim is granted, check the rate and the start date in your online account, and look out for your Pensioner Concession Card, which is issued automatically.
What documents do I need?
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Identity | Birth certificate or passport, driver licence, Medicare card |
| Residence | Citizenship certificate, visa records, travel history for overseas periods |
| Bank and investments | Recent statements for all accounts, share holdings, managed fund statements |
| Superannuation | Member statements, account-based pension schedules (Centrelink schedule) |
| Property | Rates notice or valuation for investment property and land |
| Income | Payslips, rental statements, foreign pension letters |
| Partner details | Your partner's identity, income and asset documents |
Worked example: Robert claims three months early
Robert turns 67 on 10 February 2027. He links Centrelink to myGov in early November 2026, lodges his claim on 12 November — within the 13-week window — and uploads his bank and super statements the same week.
Services Australia asks for one extra document in December, he supplies it in two days, and the claim is granted in January. His payment starts on 10 February 2027, his eligibility date, with no gap.
Common reasons claims are delayed
- Identity documents not verified, so the claim never leaves the first stage
- Missing superannuation or income stream schedules
- Overseas residence periods that need an international agreement check
- Assets held in trusts or private companies, which require extra forms
- Partner details left incomplete
After your claim is granted
Check the rate against your own estimate using the Combined Pension Estimator, and read How much is the Age Pension? to understand the supplements included. From then on, report any change in income, assets, relationship status or travel plans within 14 days. If you still work, the Work Bonus can protect a large part of your earnings.
Frequently asked questions
When can I apply for the Age Pension?
You can lodge an Age Pension claim up to 13 weeks before you reach Age Pension age, which is 67 for anyone born on or after 1 January 1957. Payment cannot start before your eligibility date, but claiming early avoids a gap.
How do I apply for the Age Pension online?
Sign in to myGov with a linked Centrelink online account, select Make a claim, choose Age Pension, answer the questions about your residence, income and assets, then upload your supporting documents and submit.
How long does an Age Pension claim take?
Straightforward claims are often decided within a few weeks, but complex claims — overseas residence, trusts, private companies or missing documents — can take several months. Claims are backdated to your eligibility date if you lodged within the allowed window.
What documents do I need to claim the Age Pension?
Identity documents, your bank account details, recent bank and superannuation statements, details of shares and managed funds, property valuations, income stream schedules, and your partner's details and financials if you are a member of a couple.
Can I apply for the Age Pension without a myGov account?
Yes. You can claim on a paper form, by phone on the Older Australians line, or in person at a Centrelink service centre, though online claiming is usually faster and lets you track progress.
Will my claim be backdated?
Your payment starts from the date you become eligible if you claimed within 13 weeks before that date. Claims lodged later generally start from the date of lodgement, so a delay costs you money.
Do I need to claim if I already get another Centrelink payment?
Usually not. If you receive certain payments such as the Disability Support Pension or Carer Payment, Services Australia may transfer you to the Age Pension automatically and will write to you about it.
What happens if my claim is rejected?
You can ask for a formal review by an Authorised Review Officer within 13 weeks of the decision, and if you are still unhappy, appeal to the Administrative Review Tribunal. Reviews are free.
Researched and fact-checked by
researches Australian retirement and social security policy full time. Not a licensed financial adviser — every figure on this page is sourced from Services Australia or the Social Security Act 1991 (Cth).
Last reviewed: 15 September 2026
Figures as at: 20 March 2025
Next indexation: 20 September 2026
Change log: Reviewed 15 September 2026; claim steps, document list and review rights re-checked against the Services Australia claim pages. Figures used elsewhere on the site are correct as at 20 March 2025; next indexation 20 September 2026.