Age Pension Hub

Yes. Having super doesn't stop you getting the Age Pension, but your super balance and income will affect how much pension you receive through the income and assets tests.

You don’t actually need to be retired to apply for the Government Age Pension. However, you do need to meet all the eligibility tests including the age, residency, assets and income tests. As long as your total income is below the Government’s income thresholds, you could still be eligible for at least a part Government Age Pension. Many people choose to supplement their Government Age Pension with part-time work and also enjoy the social benefits of paid work.

You might be eligible for other benefits, like the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. Your eligibility can also change over time, so it's worth checking again if your circumstances change. Two things are likely to have changed if you last checked a few years ago. Firstly, the thresholds may have increased. Secondly you are likely to have spent some of your retirement savings if you’ve retired. The combination of these two factors means your eligibility may have changed sooner than expected, so it’s good to check regularly.

Just because you have had your application refused does not mean that you are ineligible. You may be eligible but have not successfully proven so. You can request a review of the decision by contacting Centrelink and asking for an internal review by an Authorised Review Officer (ARO); if you still disagree with the outcome, you can then appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) to further review the decision.

Before you reach out to Centrelink carefully read the notification explaining why your application was rejected to understand which criteria you didn't meet. If you believe there was an error, gather any additional documents that might strengthen your case.

Crucially, you must usually lodge your review within 13 weeks of receiving the initial decision notice to potentially receive back payments from the original claim date.

If you're Age Pension age or older and don't qualify for the pension due to your income or assets, you might still be eligible for this card. It gives you access to cheaper medicines and some health services.

Use the Retirement Essentials calculator to learn more about your eligibility.

Understanding how the income and assets tests work can help you make informed decisions about your finances. Aware Super members can check-in with a retirement expert at no extra cost.

If you’re of Centrelink Age Pension age, then you are eligible to apply regardless of the age of your partner. You’ll be assessed as part of a couple on the basis of your combined income and assets, and depending on those assessments you could receive some or all of the benefit.

When your partner reaches Age Pension age, they can apply and together you will receive your full payment as a couple.

There are some further advantages such as if your partner’s super is still in accumulation, it won’t be assessed until they turn 67.