Retirement Guide>

Getting the Age Pension

Understanding whether you can qualify for the Australian Age Pension can be tricky. So can managing your pension through income tests, asset tests, means tests and the changes to your assets that may flow out of various life choices and occurrences like downsizing, inheriting money, equity release and more.

Here we provide the essentials on the pension as well as relatable questions and answers and stories from our community, so you can better understand how the pension works and get on with enjoying the best retirement possible.

News & Essentials

Essentials on the Age Pension

Articles from the Starts at 60 news team and our industry experts to help you navigate the age pension

The ‘Beginners guide’ to the Age Pension in Australia

The ‘Beginners guide’ to the Age Pension in Australia

Tom Ellison spells out exactly what you need to know about claiming the Age Pension.

Money ExpertTom Ellison

‘How does Centrelink assess super and what’s an account-based pension?’

‘How does Centrelink assess super and what’s an account-based pension?’

"We haven't started to draw on our superannuation yet so are currently living off savings and the pension."

Money ExpertNoel Whittaker

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card: How to apply and what it covers

Retirement Income

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card: How to apply and what it covers

You could save money on health care by applying for a free Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

Written byStarts at 60 Writers

Good reasons Age Pensioners should be cautious of lending money

Good reasons Age Pensioners should be cautious of lending money

Centrelink has restrictions on lending AND gifting when it comes to the Age Pension.

Written byChristine Seib

Good news! Means test thresholds rise, making more eligible for pension

Good news! Means test thresholds rise, making more eligible for pension

Indexation is back, which means an Age Pension increase plus changes to the assests and income tests.

Money ExpertNick Bruining

Separated and on the Age Pension? How Centrelink looks at your relationship

Separated and on the Age Pension? How Centrelink looks at your relationship

If you've got a later-life companion or fancy finding one, it pays to be aware of these rules.

Money ExpertBrian Herd

Senior Concessions Guide 2023/24

One of the benefits of hitting retirement age is taking advantage of the concessions available to you. To help make it easier for you to find what you’re entitled to, we’ve created this FREE e-guide to reveal what concessions are available for the following cardholders: Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card and Seniors Card.

The latest on the Age Pension

The latest news, views, explainers and community stories about the age pension

Five things you should financially achieve by 70, to ensure a happy retirement. Source: Getty Images.

Experts

The top 5 financial milestones to reach by age 70

Here are five things you should financially achieve by 70, to ensure a happy retirement.

THE LIFE SHERPAChristopher Zinn

Age Pension

The Age Pension: Everything over 60s need to know

The Age Pension: Everything over 60s need to know

Here's our updated guide to the Age Pension, detailing eligibility, application, and an alternative option for those who don't qualify for the pension.

Written byElissa Napier

Starts at 60 have assembled a detailed breakdown of the Age Pension. Source: Getty

Age Pension

Maximise your Age Pension: Top tricks to get you more and the traps you should avoid

Maximise your Age Pension: Top tricks to get you more and the traps you should avoid

Pensioners owe it to themselves to make sure they’re getting their full entitlement. Here’s how to do it.

Money ExpertTom Ellison

It’s important you correct the values of your assets such as, bank accounts, investments, cars, and home contents regularly. The majority of your assets depreciate over time, providing an opportunity to increase your pension. Source: Getty Images

Age Pension

New Centrelink thresholds released: How your pension will be affected

New Centrelink thresholds released: How your pension will be affected

The annual indexation allows you to accurately work out how much pension you might lose from the full rate, under the means testing system, Nick Bruining explains.

Money ExpertNick Bruining

For couples, the asset test threshold rises by $3,500, to the new level of $405,000. Source: Getty

Retirement Income

Got nearly $1M in super and still worried about retirement? You’re not alone

Got nearly $1M in super and still worried about retirement? You’re not alone

The strange thing is, many Australians die richer than they were on the day they retired.

Written byRachael Rosel

Retirement fears loom over most people, even those with more savings than others. Source: Getty.

From our community

‘If I release $600,000 in home equity, how will it impact my Age Pension?’

by Rachel Lane

‘Is it feasible to upsize, rather than downsize, to get a bigger pension?’

by Noel Whittaker

‘If I give my inheritance to my sons and nephews, will it impact my pension?’

by Noel Whittaker

‘Living on the aged pension is a depressing balancing act’

by Community Contributor

‘The financial struggles we faced after going into retirement’

by Community Contributor