Australian Age Pension eligibility requirements

The Age Pension is a government payment scheme which provides a steady income to eligible Australians to help them cover living costs when they're retired. Not everyone is eligible to receive the Age Pension, it depends on how much you earn and the value of your assets and investments.

How much can I receive through the Age Pension?

If you're eligible for the Age Pension, the amount you'll receive will depend on whether you're single or a couple, the amount of income you earn and the value of your assets (such as property, investments and cars). The Age Pension is made up of a basic pay rate that all eligible people receive, as well as a Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement.

The table below shows the maximum rates you can receive from the Age Pension if you meet the eligibility requirements.

How do the pension and energy supplements work?

These two supplementary payments are automatically included when you meet the eligibility requirements. The amount that you get from the supplements depends on different factors, including your relationship status. To learn more about these payments, visit the Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement pages on the Services Australia website.

Eligibility requirements for Age Pension

Below are the eligibility requirements anyone seeking the Age Pension needs to satisfy.

At what age can I get the Age Pension?

The age you'll be eligible to apply for the Age Pension will depend on the date you were born, as shown in the table below.

Australian residence requirements for the Age Pension

Generally, you must be an Australian resident for at least 10 years before you are eligible for the age pension. Out of this 10-year period, you must also have lived in Australia for at least 5 years in a row. Australia also includes Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. These residence requirements apply to both Australian citizens and other residents.

The following exceptions apply:

• Refugees: Refugees do not need to meet the 10-year residence requirement.
• People on the Widow or Partner Allowance: If you receive a Widow or Partner Allowance, you can apply to transfer to the Age Pension when you meet the age requirement. In some cases, you may need to be an Australian resident for at least 2 years before you can get the Age Pension under these conditions.
• Lived or worked overseas: If you have lived or worked in a country which has an international social security agreement with Australia – including New Zealand, Ireland and Canada – you may be eligible to get the Age Pension.

Income requirements for the Age Pension

There are different income cut-off points that apply depending on whether you're single, married, disabled, if you own your home, etc. This income test applies to the following pensions:

The maximum amount you can earn to be eligible for the Age Pension

If you earn enough income you won't be eligible to receive the Age Pension. Take a look at the table below to see what the cut-off point is for your family situation. If you earn below the amount set for your situation you may be eligible for part of the pension.

^{Figures correct as of October 2021}

If your income is below the above limits, then the amount of pension you're eligible to receive will also depend on your income as outlined in the table below.

Singles

Couples

Asset requirements for the Age Pension

There are limits to the amount of assets you can own (and the value of these assets) to be eligible for the Age Pension. Assets include cash, gifts, real estate, investments, businesses, farms, vehicles, boats, jewelry, life insurance policies and more.

This is how much your assets can be worth to be eligible for the full Age Pension

If your assets are worth less than these limits (the limits are different for homeowners and non-homeowners), you'll be eligible for the full Age Pension (provided you meet the other eligibility criteria in this guide). You can still earn part of the Age Pension if your assets are worth more than these limits.

^{*Figures as of October 2021}

How do I apply for the Age Pension?

If you’re eligible for the Age Pension, you can apply online by following these steps:

1. Create a myGov account online and link this to Centrelink (if you already have a myGov account, just log in).
2. Navigate to "Centrelink", then "Make a claim", then "Start a new claim".
3. Complete the claim form online. You'll need to supply details such as your tax file number, superannuation fund details, pay slips or tax returns and any investments you have.
4. You'll be notified if your claim was successful or not.

If you can't apply online, you can visit your nearest Centrelink office instead.

Don't qualify for the Age Pension? Here are some other options.

The Age Pension is designed to help support Australians who are unable to support themselves through retirement with their savings and super alone. It's a bit of a safety net supplied by the government for those who need it, but it certainly isn't available for all Australians. If you're not eligible to receive the Age Pension, here's a few alternative ways to grow your income and access finance in retirement:

High interest savings account

If you're not eligible for the Age Pension, chances are it's because you earn too much already and don't need the extra support from the government. Consider putting your money in a high interest savings account or term deposit and earning interest on your funds while you're not using them. A savings account is a great low-risk investment option in retirement. Compare high interest savings accounts.

Invest in some shares

Another option is putting a portion of your money to work in the share market. By investing in companies that pay large, fully franked dividends you could create a mini income stream from these dividend payments in place of the Age Pension. Learn more about share trading and compare online share trading accounts.

Pensioner loan

If you're not eligible to receive the pension and find yourself in need of some extra money, there are some loans available that are tailored to pensioners. These can include small loans of under $1,200 through the No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS), low documentation loans and other options. These are explained in more depth in our pensioner loans guide.

Get a part-time job or casual position

You can keep working well into your retirement and aren't forced to leave the workforce on your 65th birthday. Getting a part-time job is a great way to create another income stream, plus it also comes with many social and physical benefits. Learn more about returning to work after retirement.