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Age Pension Calculator Australia
Estimate whether you may qualify for the Australian Government Age Pension and understand how factors like income, assets, residency, and relationship status can affect your entitlement. Takes under two minutes.
Use the Age Pension Calculator
Enter your details below to generate an indicative eligibility estimate. All fields are required for the most accurate result.
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How the Calculator Works
This tool is built around the commonly published eligibility criteria for the Age Pension. Understanding what it does and does not do helps you make the most of the results.
Age Pension Eligibility Factors
Services Australia assesses Age Pension applications against several key criteria. Below is a plain-language overview of each factor. For the full picture, visit the Age Pension guide.
Age Requirements
You must have reached Age Pension age, which is currently 67 years for people born on or after 1 January 1957. This qualifying age applies equally to men and women.
Residency Requirements
You must be an Australian resident and physically present in Australia when you claim. You generally need to have lived in Australia for at least 10 years continuously, with at least five of those years being without an approved absence.
Income Test
Your pension rate is affected by income you and your partner receive from all sources. As income rises above the threshold, the pension reduces by a set rate per dollar. Once income exceeds the cut-off point, no pension is payable.
Assets Test
The total value of assets you own (excluding your primary home if you are a homeowner) is assessed. Both the assets test and the income test apply, and whichever reduces your payment the most determines your actual pension rate.
Relationship Status
Single and partnered applicants have different income and asset thresholds. Partnered applicants have their combined household income and assets assessed together, with each eligible partner receiving an individual payment at the couple rate.
Home Ownership Considerations
Your principal family home is exempt from the assets test. However, whether you are a homeowner or non-homeowner determines which asset threshold applies — non-homeowners have a higher asset limit to account for the fact that they do not own their residence.
Income Test Explained
The income test for the Age Pension examines all sources of income received by you and your partner. Understanding what counts as assessable income is important. For a full breakdown, visit the Age Pension Income Test guide.
Employment Income
Wages, salaries, and self-employment income are all assessed. However, the Work Bonus — available to eligible pensioners — allows you to earn a certain amount from employment each fortnight without it affecting your pension rate.
Investment Income
Income from shares, managed funds, rental properties, and interest on savings is assessed. Deeming rules are applied to financial investments, meaning a deemed rate of return is used rather than actual income earned.
Superannuation Considerations
If you have reached Age Pension age, your superannuation account balance is assessed under both the income and assets tests. Superannuation drawn as an income stream is assessed differently from a lump sum or account-based pension.
Income Reporting
Age Pension recipients must report changes in income to Centrelink promptly. Failure to do so may result in overpayments that must be repaid. Reports are typically made fortnightly via myGov or the Centrelink app.
Assets Test Explained
The assets test assesses the total value of things you own. Different asset types are treated differently. Visit the Age Pension Assets Test guide for detailed thresholds and exemptions.
Savings and Cash
Bank account balances and cash holdings are assessed assets. Deeming applies to financial assets — a notional income is calculated based on the value regardless of actual interest received.
Investments and Shares
Shares, managed investments, bonds, and similar financial assets are included in the assets assessment at their current market value.
Investment Property
Any real estate other than your primary home — including investment properties, holiday homes, and rural land — is assessed at current market value and counted toward your asset total.
Superannuation Assets
Once you have reached Age Pension age, your superannuation balance is included as an assessable asset. The account balance of both you and your partner are included in a combined assets assessment.
Other Financial Assets
Vehicles, boats, caravans, collectibles, and household contents are all assessed assets, generally at a market or second-hand value. The principal family home remains exempt.
How to Apply for Age Pension
If you believe you may qualify, the steps below outline the general process for submitting an Age Pension claim through official Australian Government channels.
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1
Create a myGov Account
Visit myGov at my.gov.au and register with your email address and identity verification. If you already have an account, sign in directly.
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2
Link Centrelink to myGov
Inside myGov, link your Centrelink record. This connection is required to submit, track, and manage your Age Pension claim online.
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3
Prepare Supporting Documents
Gather proof of identity, your tax file number, bank account details, superannuation statements, and records of income and assets. Centrelink may request additional documents depending on your circumstances.
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4
Submit Your Application
Log in to myGov, navigate to Centrelink, and select Make a claim. Follow the guided prompts to complete your Age Pension application. You may also apply by phone or in person at a Centrelink service centre.
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5
Track Your Application Status
After submitting, monitor your claim progress in myGov. Respond promptly if Centrelink requests further information, as delays in responding can extend processing times.
Common Age Pension Questions
These are topics that frequently arise when Australians are considering the Age Pension.
Working After Retirement
You can work while receiving the Age Pension. The Work Bonus allows eligible pensioners to earn a set amount per fortnight without it affecting their payment. Income above this threshold will reduce the pension rate.
Partner Eligibility
Both members of a couple can receive the Age Pension if each individually meets the eligibility criteria. Combined income and assets are assessed together, and each partner receives payment at the couple rate.
Home Ownership and the Pension
Owning your home does not disqualify you from the Age Pension. Your principal residence is exempt from the assets test, but homeowners have a lower asset threshold than non-homeowners.
Superannuation and the Pension
Once you have reached Age Pension age, your superannuation is counted as an asset and may generate deemed income. How super is structured — as a lump sum or pension — can affect how it is assessed.
Residency Requirements
Generally, you must have lived in Australia as an Australian resident for at least 10 years continuously. Time spent overseas may affect this requirement unless covered by an international social security agreement.
Popular Related Tools
Explore other free calculators and eligibility checkers available on PublicAccess.au.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Guides
Explore our comprehensive guides covering all aspects of the Australian Age Pension.
Official Resources
For the most current and authoritative information on the Age Pension, always refer directly to official Australian Government sources. PublicAccess.au provides an independent summary — government websites are the definitive reference.
We encourage all users to verify important information through official government resources before making financial, retirement, or other significant decisions.
About This Calculator
The PublicAccess.au Age Pension Calculator is intended as a starting point for understanding whether you may meet common Age Pension eligibility criteria. It draws on publicly available information to provide a general, indicative result based on your responses.
The calculator covers the four main eligibility dimensions: age, residency, the income test, and the assets test. However, it cannot account for every individual circumstance — including specific visa history, overseas superannuation, international social security agreements, or complex asset structures.
Before making any retirement planning or financial decisions, we strongly encourage you to read the full Age Pension guide, review the income test and assets test in detail, and confirm your eligibility directly with Services Australia.
If you have complex circumstances, consider speaking with a qualified financial adviser or a Centrelink Financial Information Service (FIS) officer, who can provide personalised, free guidance on retirement income options.