The Centrelink income test is used to work out how much money you can earn each fortnight and still be eligible for the Age Pension.
If your total income is less than this amount, you could get a part or full Age Pension, as long as you also meet other eligibility requirements.
Centrelink asks you to list all the income you earn and any financial assets you have. They use a process called deeming to work out how much income you earn from these financial assets (which is called deeming rates). Learn more about deeming rates in the FAQs below or for more details, visit the Centrelink (Services Australia) website.
Your job (if you're still working)
Superannuation you can access (deemed income or actual income depends on product type)
Share market dividends (deemed income)
Most other Centrelink payments, including rent assistance
Compensation for loss or damage to things you own
Child support payments you get
Whether or not you get the Age Pension, and how much you get in payments (a full pension or part pension), depends on how much other income you have. These tables show how much you can earn under the income test.
| Income | Your Age Pension |
|---|---|
| Up to $212/fortnight ($5,512/year) | Full Age Pension |
| Over $212 | Partial Age Pension: payment reduces by 50 cents for each dollar over $212 |
| $2,500.80/fortnight or more | No Age Pension |
Current as at 20 September 2024. The Age Pension income limits are adjusted 3 times a year based on movements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The limits for the full Age Pension change in July, and the part Age Pension limits change in March and September.
Centrelink uses both the income and assets test, and they base their decision on whichever test gives you a lower Age Pension payment.
Sue is 70 years old, single, and wants to make sure her basic living costs are covered.
Let’s compare how Centrelink would assess $100,000 of Sue’s money if she puts it into either a Retirement Income account or a Lifetime Pension.1
| Combined income | Your Age Pension |
|---|---|
| Up to $372/fortnight ($9,672/year) | Full Age Pension |
| Over $372 | Partial Age Pension: payment reduces by 25 cents each for each dollar over $372 |
| $3,822.40/fortnight or more | No Age Pension |
Current as at 20 September 2024. The Age Pension income limits are adjusted 3 times a year based on movements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The limits for the full Age Pension change in July, and the part Age Pension limits change in March and September.
Centrelink uses both the income and assets test, and they base their decision on whichever test gives you a lower Age Pension payment.
| Combined income | Your Age Pension |
|---|---|
| Up to $372/fortnight ($9,672/year) | Full Age Pension |
| Over $372 | Partial Age Pension: payment reduces by 25 cents each for each dollar over $372 |
| $4,949.60/fortnight or more | No Age Pension |
Current as at 20 September 2024. The Age Pension income limits are adjusted 3 times a year based on movements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The limits for the full Age Pension change in July, and the part Age Pension limits change in March and September.
Centrelink uses both the income and assets test, and they base their decision on whichever test gives you a lower Age Pension payment.
How Centrelink assess your super or your superannuation pension depends on how you set it up. For example, here’s how Centrelink views the 3 retirement product types we offer:
| Age Pension income test | Age Pension assets test | |
|---|---|---|
| Accumulation account* | Deemed income based on balance | Current balance |
| Retirement Income account | Deemed income based on balance | Current balance |
| Lifetime Pension | 60% of actual income | 60% of purchase price until age 84, and 30% from then on2 |
*The money in your Accumulation account is only assessed if you or your spouse have reached pension age.
How much you can get from the Age Pension depends partly on what you do with your super.
If you leave it in your super account, Centrelink counts the balance towards the assets test and deemed income for the income test. If you withdraw it, Centrelink counts a lower balance for the assets test but it depends what you do with the money.
The Age Pension income test doesn't always count the actual income you get – sometimes they use a complicated calculation called deeming. Deeming means Centrelink is assuming your financial investments (such as super) give you a certain investment return as income.
Visit Services Australia to find out the current deeming rates.
Yes, you can still work and get the Age Pension. Your income from working does count towards the Age Pension income test, though.
So how much you can get in pension payments (a full pension or part pension) depends on how much you earn from your job.
The Work Bonus is a rule that means the first $300 of income you earn from working for the fortnight is not counted towards the income test.
If you earn less than $300 from work in a fortnight, the "unused" part of your Work Bonus goes to a Work Bonus income bank. So you can "store" up to $11,800 for later fortnights when you might earn more than $300 – and the income bank doesn't expire.
Using the Work Bonus and the Work Bonus income bank means that you can keep getting the Age Pension at your normal rate (a full pension or part pension) while still working.
Accurate as of 20 December 2023.
It depends on a number of things, including how much super you have, and whether you pass the Age Pension eligibility rules.
The income test is only part of the Centrelink's eligibility test to see if you can get the Age Pension. You'll also need to meet an assets test and the Age Pension starting age.
Return to Age Pension & Super
You can get the Age Pension in Australia from age 67 if you meet the assets and income tests and residence rules.
If you're not yet old enough, you may be able to start using your super for your retirement.
If you’re confident you understand your eligibility, here’s what you can do next.
If you already know what age you can get the Age Pension, check the age you can access your super and think about when you might be able to start enjoying life after work.
To keep planning your retirement, book an appointment for financial advice about your account (the cost is included with your account). You can also find out the average super balance for your age, how much you'll need to retire, and how to grow your super.
Some of the other benefits (apart from the Age Pension) you may be able to access include:
If you retire with our award-winning retirement products, you can mix and match to create the best retirement income with your super – and the Age Pension if you can get it.
You are: Between 60 and 64, but not yet retired.
You get: Regular payments from your super while still working.
You are: Aged 65 or over, or between 60 and 64 and permanently retired.
You get: Regular payments from your super when you retire.
You are: Aged from 60 to 80 years old and permanently retired.
You get: Tax-free fortnightly payments for the rest of your life, and you can combine with an income account.
1. Sue is not a real member, but a hypothetical case study provided for illustrative purposes only. Additionally, figures may be rounded for ease of understanding. Members should seek advice from a qualified licensed professional, regarding their own circumstances. This is not a recommendation for any products, and you should always read the relevant PDS and seek advice from a qualified, licensed professional about your own circumstances.
2. Under the means test rules, 60% of your purchase price is assessed until you reach the life expectancy for a 65-year-old male (currently 84 years old according to the ABS), or a minimum of 5 years, and 30% thereafter.
