Great Advice · Age Pension self-check
Which side of the thresholds are you on?
Your result
Set your details to see where you sit
Choose single or couple and whether you own your home to begin. Nothing is saved.
These are example numbers. Change the controls on the left for your own situation.
Things people often miss
- Your home is generally not counted in the assets test, but money from selling it is. Services Australia
- Gifting above the allowed limit still counts for five years from the date you give it. Services Australia
- Being over the pension limit is not a dead end. The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card has no assets test. Services Australia
Centrelink tells you the rule. A first meeting with George helps you plan around it.
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Age Pension
Your result.
The questions people ask first. If yours isn't here, the first meeting is the right place for it.
Book a first meetingIs this Age Pension self-check an official Centrelink result?
No. This tool gives an indicative guide based on the published Age Pension thresholds, not an official Centrelink or Services Australia assessment. Only Centrelink can confirm what you actually qualify for, because they verify your assets, income, residency and relationship status. Treat the result as a starting point, then bring it to your first meeting with us and we'll work through your real numbers.
What's the difference between the assets test and the income test for the Age Pension?
Centrelink runs both tests and pays you the lower of the two results, so whichever test gives the smaller pension is the one that applies. The assets test counts what you own, like super, savings, shares and your car. The income test counts money coming in, including deemed income from your investments. Most people are caught by one test or the other, and structuring can change which one bites.
Does my house count in the Age Pension assets test?
No, your family home is exempt from the assets test if you live in it, so the home you own doesn't reduce your pension. There are separate, higher asset thresholds for homeowners and non-homeowners to reflect this. Money you take out of the home, such as sale proceeds after downsizing, becomes assessable, so the timing of any move matters and is worth planning before you act.
What is deeming and why does Centrelink count income I'm not actually earning?
Deeming is the rule where Centrelink assumes your financial investments earn a set rate of return, regardless of what they actually earn. It applies to savings, term deposits, shares and account-based pensions, and the deemed amount counts under the income test. The rates change in March and September. Because deeming can push you over the income test even when your real return is lower, how you hold investments can affect your pension.
How does the Work Bonus affect my Age Pension if I keep working?
The Work Bonus lets pensioners earn a set amount of employment or self-employment income before it counts under the income test, so part-time work doesn't immediately cut your pension. Unused amounts build up in a Work Bonus balance you can draw on later. If you're thinking about staying in part-time work past Age Pension age, it's worth checking how the bonus interacts with your other income first.
What should I do if the self-check says I may miss out on the Age Pension?
Don't assume the door is closed. The result is indicative, and small changes to how your assets and income are structured can move you from no pension to a part pension, which also comes with the Pensioner Concession Card. Thresholds also shift twice a year. Bring your figures to a free first meeting and we'll check whether legitimate structuring could improve your position. No obligation.
