Social Security Compass Australia · public support navigator
Sentrix Digital AU What we build
Start here

I have reached Age Pension age · Services Australia

Age Pension

Means-tested pension for people who have reached Age Pension age. Maximum rate includes Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement.

$1,200.90 / fortnight

Hover the amount for four other currencies (live rate).

Apply / administrator All payments

Who it is for

Australian residents who have reached Age Pension age (currently 67) and meet residence and means tests.

This is a state pension. Superannuation and retail income protection are private. Super may affect the means test; it is not this payment.

ISSA (1 January 2024) — ISSA branch

Social assistance (Age Pension) sits beside mandatory occupational superannuation. Coverage: Australian citizens and permanent residents, with some New Zealand citizens. Government pays the total cost of the Age Pension. Superannuation is funded by employer contributions (ISSA 2024: 11%, legislated path to 12%).

ISSA (1 January 2024) — Qualifying conditions (ISSA 2024)

Age 67. At least 10 years as an Australian resident, including at least 5 consecutive years. Asset and income tested. Payable abroad indefinitely, though supplements may reduce after time outside Australia. Indexation in March and September (greater of CPI or pensioner living-cost index), benchmarked to male total average weekly earnings.

ISSA (1 January 2024) — Work Bonus (ISSA 2024, matches 2026 booklet)

First A$300 of employment income each fortnight is ignored under the pension income test. Unused amounts accrue up to A$11,800. New recipients start with A$4,000. The 2026 payments guide records the same figures.

Conditions

Age
Age Pension age — 67 for people born on or after 1 January 1957.
Residence
Australian resident, with a waiting period for newly arrived residents unless exempt.
Means test
Income and assets tests. Home-owner and non-home-owner asset limits differ. Lower of the two tests applies.

Rates

Primary source first. A disputed or stale figure stays visible. Hover a rand or dollar figure for four other currencies. W weekly · F fortnightly · M monthly · A annually.

stale · International Social Security Association

ISSA 1 Jan 2024 — single, including supplements

A$1,096.70 / fortnight

From 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

2026 booklet typical total is $1,200.90. Keep 2026.

ISSA country profile — Australia →

stale · International Social Security Association

ISSA 1 Jan 2024 — partnered, each, including supplements

A$826.70 / fortnight

From 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

2026 booklet typical total is $905.20. Keep 2026.

ISSA country profile — Australia →

International agreement / AWLR check

If you have lived or worked in an Australian social-security agreement country, an agreement may affect qualification or payment overseas. Australian working life residence (AWLR) can also affect the proportional rate of many agreement pensions paid outside Australia.

AWLR calculator → International agreements →

International comparison

Payments in other countries that may correspond to Age Pension

These benefits sit in the other country's old-age or retirement system. They may be relevant when an agreement tests contribution periods, residence, foreign pension income or a claim made from the other country.

32 agreement countries with a potentially related benefit family
1Same purpose does not mean same law.A foreign pension, allowance or care benefit can serve a similar social purpose without being legally equivalent to Age Pension.
2The bilateral agreement decides what is coordinated.Use the country page to test whether the relevant benefit category is actually covered.
3The foreign benefit can still matter even when it is not covered.It may help explain contribution history, foreign pension income, care arrangements or the other country's welfare structure.
Open the full international decision tool →

Potential correspondence is based on benefit function and ISSA welfare-system structure. It does not mean the foreign benefit is legally equivalent to the Australian payment or covered by the bilateral agreement. Open the country page and current agreement sources before relying on it.

Cross-checks

How to apply

myGov / Services Australia. Income and assets for you and your partner.

Methodology

coreau_ss_methodology.centrelink_indexation

Maximum rates from Services Australia. Pensions and most allowances index on 20 March and 20 September. FTB indexes 1 July. Income and assets tests can pay less than the maximum. Current Compass figures are overlaid from the 1 July–19 September 2026 payments guide (co029-2607). Change this row in Core AU and the Compass follows.

  1. Read the live Services Australia page for that payment.
  2. Cross-check A guide to Australian Government payments for the current quarter (Core AU job payments_guide_quarterly).
  3. Do not treat a September-preview blog figure as in force before indexation day.