Super and the Age Pension

Your super and the Age Pension can work together in your retirement

 

If you're one of the many Australians who qualify for the Age Pension, you can use it to top-up your super to help meet your expenses in your post work life.

 

 

Check your eligibility for the Age Pension

To qualify for the Age Pension, you must satisfy a few key requirements.

 

Age
You must be at least 67 years old.

Residency

You must be an Australian resident, usually for at least 10 years.

Income and assets

Centrelink uses an income and asset test to work out if you qualify, considering things like your pension, property, investments and super.

Your eligibility can change over time depending on your financial circumstances, so it could be worth checking in with Centrelink regularly. For more detailed information on eligibility requirements go to Services Australia.

 

Age Pension rates

There are different Age Pension rates depending on your circumstances. The table below shows the basic Age Pension rates for singles and couples each fortnight, as at March 2024*

Relationship status Maximum basic Age Pension payment
Single $1,116.30
Couple each $841.40
Couple combined $1,682.80
Couple apart due to ill health $1,116.30

*These rates are usually updated every March and September. For more information on how these rates can vary depending on your circumstances, and to see Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement amounts, visit Services Australia.  

 

Other government entitlements

You may be eligible to receive other benefits which can help support your income in retirement. 

Pensioner Concession Card
Given to everyone who receives the Age Pension to access cheaper health care, medicines, and discounts on certain government payments.  

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
Available if you’ve reached Age Pension age and if you meet other requirements, including (but not limited to) residency rules and the income test, and gives you access to cheaper health care. 

 

How to apply for the Age Pension

  • Apply for the Age Pension directly through Centrelink
  • You can also take a stress free approach to applying for the Age Pension through Retirement Essentials.^ They’re an Australian owned, independent organisation who’ve helped many Australians understand, apply for, and receive all their Age Pension entitlements from the comfort of their own home. Fees apply for this service paid directly to Retirement Essentials and vary depending on your circumstances. Once your application has been reviewed, you’ll receive a quote and can decide whether or not to proceed.
retirement lifestyle retirement lifestyle

Are you on track for the retirement you want? 

Try our Retirement Lifestyle calculator to see how much you’re likely to have at retirement and how long it may last. 

^ Retirement Essentials Pty Ltd is a separate and independent entity to CareSuper. CareSuper will not be responsible for the nature or quality of services provided by Retirement Essentials Pty Ltd. CareSuper has no involvement in the provision of the above services and is not responsible for the nature or quality of those services. CareSuper does not recommend or endorse the above services or receive any financial benefit if you choose to use these services. Members who choose to use any of the above services do so at their own risk based on their own enquiries and on the terms and conditions, including as to your privacy, on which those services are provided by the third party to the member. CareSuper respects your privacy and does not supply your personal details to these third-party service providers.