Quick Answer
To qualify for the Australian Age Pension, you must be at least 67 years old, have lived in Australia for at least 10 years (with 5 of those years continuous), and pass both an income test and an assets test. Our Age Pension Eligibility Calculator helps you estimate where you stand — but meeting the age and residency rules alone doesn’t guarantee a payment, since your income and assets ultimately decide whether you get a full pension, a part pension, or nothing at all.
Turning 67 doesn’t automatically put money in your bank account. If you’re approaching retirement in Australia, the Age Pension Eligibility Calculator is the fastest way to see whether you’d qualify for a full pension, a part pension, or nothing at all — because eligibility here depends on more than just your birthday. Age, residency, income, and assets all play a role, and getting even one of them wrong in your own estimate can throw off your retirement plans by hundreds of dollars a fortnight.
What Is the Age Pension Eligibility Calculator?
The Age Pension is a fortnightly payment from the Australian Government, administered by Services Australia (Centrelink), designed to help eligible older Australians cover living costs in retirement. Unlike contribution-based schemes in some other countries, it isn’t tied to your work history — it’s means-tested, based on your age, residency, income, and assets.
Most people who qualify fall into one of two groups: a full pension (the maximum rate, for those with income and assets below the lower thresholds) or a part pension (a reduced rate on a sliding scale for those above the lower thresholds but still under the cut-off point).
Age Pension Eligibility Requirements
Before income or assets even come into play, you need to clear two basic gates.
Age Requirement
You must have reached Age Pension age, which is currently 67. This age applies based on your date of birth, and it has gradually increased over the past decade — so it’s worth confirming your exact qualifying age rather than assuming 67 applies to everyone.
Residency Requirement
You generally need to have been an Australian resident for at least 10 years in total, with at least 5 of those years continuous. Some exceptions exist — for example, for refugees or under specific international social security agreements — so this isn’t an absolute rule for every applicant.
You Must Pass Both the Income Test and the Assets Test
Meeting the age and residency rules only makes you eligible to be assessed — it doesn’t guarantee a payment. From there, Centrelink runs two separate tests and pays you based on whichever one gives the lower result.
The Income Test Explained
The income test counts money flowing into you each fortnight from employment, investments, rental income, and superannuation pension payments. There’s an “income free area” — earn under this amount per fortnight and your pension isn’t reduced at all. Above that threshold, your payment reduces gradually as your income rises, until it cuts off completely at the upper limit.
The Assets Test Explained
This is where Australia’s system genuinely differs from many other countries’ pension rules, and it trips people up more than any other part of the process.
The assets test looks at the value of what you own — superannuation balances, investments, and additional property — but your primary home is excluded. Because of this, non-homeowners are given a meaningfully higher asset threshold than homeowners, since Centrelink recognizes that renters need to hold onto more of their assets just to keep a roof over their heads.
As of July 2026, the full-pension asset limit sits at roughly $333,000 for a single homeowner and around $499,000 for a homeowner couple combined — though these figures are reviewed and adjusted three times a year, so always check the current numbers before relying on them. Above the full-pension threshold, your payment tapers down gradually as your assets rise, rather than cutting off in one step, until it reaches zero at the upper cut-off point.
Which Test Actually Decides Your Pension?
Here’s the part most people get wrong: Centrelink doesn’t average the two tests or pick whichever is more favorable to the government. It runs both the income test and the assets test, then pays you the lower of the two results.
For example, imagine a couple whose assets test result would reduce their pension by $350 a fortnight, while their income test result would only reduce it by $100. The assets test “binds” in this case, and they receive the lower amount. For retirees with substantial superannuation balances, the assets test tends to be the binding constraint more often than the income test — which matters when you’re deciding how to structure your retirement savings or time your super drawdowns.
Full Pension vs. Part Pension — What’s the Difference?
- Full pension — your income and assets are both below the lower threshold; you receive the maximum rate.
- Part pension — your income or assets sit between the lower and upper thresholds; your payment reduces on a sliding scale rather than dropping to zero.
- Not eligible — your income or assets exceed the upper cut-off point entirely.
How to Use the Age Pension Eligibility Calculator
Working through the age, residency, income, and assets rules manually is where most people either give up or make a rough guess that’s off by a wide margin. Our Age Pension Eligibility Calculator walks you through each requirement step by step and gives you an estimate of where you likely land — full pension, part pension, or not yet eligible — based on the current thresholds.
It won’t replace a formal Centrelink assessment, but it’s a fast, practical starting point before you apply or make any retirement planning decisions.
How to Apply for the Age Pension
The Age Pension doesn’t start automatically when you turn 67 — you need to actively apply. According to Services Australia’s official Age Pension guidance, you can start your claim through myGov linked to a Centrelink account, generally up to 13 weeks before you reach Age Pension age. You’ll need to provide identity documents, proof of residency, and details of your income and assets as part of the claim.
When Do the Thresholds Change?
Unlike some countries where pension figures update once a year, Australia’s income and assets test thresholds are reviewed three times a year — in March, July, and September. This means the numbers that applied when you last checked may already be out of date, which is exactly why it’s worth re-running the calculator periodically rather than relying on a figure you saw months ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I automatically get the Age Pension when I turn 67?
No. The Age Pension doesn’t start automatically — you need to apply through Services Australia (Centrelink), and your payment depends on passing the income and assets tests, not just reaching Age Pension age.
What’s the difference between the income test and the assets test?
The income test looks at money coming in each fortnight from work, investments, and super. The assets test looks at the value of what you own (excluding your home). Centrelink runs both and pays you whichever result gives the lower pension.
Does my house count toward the assets test?
No — your primary home is excluded from the assets test. However, non-homeowners are given a higher asset threshold to account for the cost of housing.
Can I get a part pension if my assets are too high for the full pension?
Yes. Between the lower (full pension) threshold and the upper (cut-off) threshold, you receive a part pension on a sliding scale — it reduces gradually rather than cutting off all at once.
How often do the Age Pension thresholds change?
The Department of Social Services reviews and adjusts the income and assets test thresholds three times a year — March, July, and September.
Do I need to have worked in Australia to qualify?
No — the Age Pension isn’t based on your work or contribution history. It’s based on your age, residency, and current income/assets, unlike contributory schemes in some other countries.