What age can I get the Age Pension in Australia?

The Age Pension qualifying age is currently 67 for everyone born on or after 1 January 1957. You must also meet an Australian residency requirement, generally 10 years of residence with at least 5 continuous years.

How is my Age Pension rate calculated?

Services Australia applies both an income test and an assets test to your circumstances and pays whichever test produces the lower fortnightly rate. If both tests return the maximum rate, you receive the full pension.

What is the Age Pension income test?

The income test allows a free area of income per fortnight before your pension reduces. Above the free area, the pension reduces by 50 cents for every dollar of income (singles and couples combined).

What is the Age Pension assets test?

The assets test sets a threshold for your assessable assets, which differs for homeowners and non-homeowners because the family home is not counted. Above the threshold, the pension reduces by $3 per fortnight for every $1,000 of assets over the limit.

Why does homeownership affect my Age Pension?

Your principal home is exempt from the assets test. Because homeowners already have wealth tied up in an exempt asset, Services Australia applies a lower assets test threshold to homeowners than to non-homeowners, who receive a higher threshold to compensate.

§ 01 — Retirement

Age Pension — what would you actually get?

Services Australia applies an income test and an assets test to every Age Pension claim, then pays whichever produces the lower rate. Enter your details to see your estimated fortnightly rate and which test is holding your payment down.

Updated · 20 Mar 2026·Qualifying age 67·Read · 5 min

Your details

Current age

yrs

Household

Home ownership

Assessable income (per fortnight)

Assessable assets

Inputs are local. Nothing is sent anywhere.

The result

Fortnightly rate

$1,150

part pension

Annual rate

$29,897

per year, before tax


Income test
Assets test
Rate produced: $1,201; $1,150
Binding test: Assets test (lower of the two)

Rates and thresholds as at 20 March 2026 (indexed 20 March and 20 September each year). Maximum fortnightly rate $1,201 for a single person. Age Pension qualifying age is 67. This is a guide only — actual entitlements depend on your full Services Australia assessment. Not financial advice.

How the Age Pension is means-tested

The Age Pension is not a flat payment — almost every recipient is assessed against two separate tests, and whichever test produces the lower rate is the one that is paid.

1. Reach qualifying age. You must be 67 or older and meet Australian residency rules before either test is applied.
2. Income test. A free area of fortnightly income is allowed before your pension reduces. Above that, the rate drops by 50 cents for every extra dollar of assessable income.
3. Assets test. A separate threshold applies to your assessable assets — different for homeowners and non-homeowners, since the family home itself is exempt. Above the threshold, the rate drops by $3 per fortnight for every $1,000 of assets over the limit.
4. The lower rate wins. Services Australia calculates both outcomes and pays whichever is lower. If both tests return the maximum rate, you get the full pension; if either test reduces you to zero, no pension is payable.
5. Couples are assessed combined. For couples, income and assets are combined and tested against couple thresholds, then the resulting rate is split evenly between partners.

§ Letters & replies

Age Pension questions, answered.

Common questions about Age Pension eligibility, the income test, and the assets test.

What age can I get the Age Pension?+ open

The qualifying age is currently 67 for everyone born on or after 1 January 1957. You also need to meet Australian residency requirements, generally 10 years total with at least 5 continuous years.

How is my rate calculated?+ open

Services Australia works out a rate under the income test and a rate under the assets test, then pays whichever is lower. If both return the maximum rate, you get the full pension.

What is the income test?+ open

There is a free area of fortnightly income before the pension reduces ($226 for singles, $396 combined for couples). Above that, the pension reduces by 50 cents per dollar of extra income.

What is the assets test?+ open

Your assessable assets (excluding your home) are compared to a threshold that differs for homeowners and non-homeowners. Above the threshold, the pension reduces by $3 per fortnight for every $1,000 of assets over the limit.

Why does homeownership matter?+ open

Your principal home is exempt from the assets test. Non-homeowners are given a higher assets threshold to compensate for not holding wealth in an exempt home.

Is this calculator financial advice?+ open

No. This tool estimates your likely rate using the published income and assets test rules, but your actual entitlement depends on a full Services Australia assessment, including deeming rules on financial assets and other exemptions. Speak to Services Australia or a financial adviser for a formal assessment.

Next: the bigger picture

§ Retirement

Qualifying age	67
Max rate — single	$1,200.90 / f/n
Max rate — couple (combined)	$1,810.40 / f/n
Income free area — single	$226 / f/n
Income taper	50c / $1
Assets threshold — single homeowner	$333,000
Assets taper	$3 / $1,000

Age Pension — what would you actually get?

How the Age Pension is means-tested

Age Pension questions, answered.

Next: the bigger picture

Super projection

Transition to retirement

Salary calculator