Advice service
Age Pension, explained.
We help Australians within five years of pension age (and those already on partial pension) work through Centrelink's tests, deeming rates, and the interplay between super and the pension. Plain English plan, fee quoted up front, no commissions or kickbacks from product providers.
Free first meeting. No obligation.
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Eligibility
Am I eligible for the pension?
Pension age is now 67. You also need 10 years of Australian residency. Once those are met, the assets test and income test determine your rate. We work it out for your situation, including how soon you'll qualify if you don't yet.
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Income test
How does the income test work?
Your fortnightly income is calculated, then your pension reduces by 50 cents in the dollar above the threshold ($212/fortnight single, $372 couple as at 2025-26). Income includes deemed earnings on financial assets, employment income above the Work Bonus, and rental income.
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Assets test
How does the assets test work?
Your countable assets are tallied. Above the threshold ($314,000 single homeowner as at 2025-26), pension reduces by $3 per fortnight per $1,000 over. Your home isn't counted. Super in accumulation isn't counted before pension age, but is counted after.
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Deeming
What's deeming and how does it affect me?
Centrelink assumes your financial assets earn a deemed rate regardless of actual returns. As at 2025-26 the freeze still applies: 0.25% on the first $62,600 (single) or $103,800 (couple), 2.25% above. The freeze is scheduled to end 30 June 2026. We model the impact on your situation.
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Work Bonus
Can I work and still get the pension?
Yes, and the Work Bonus makes it more useful than most people realise. The first $300/fortnight of employment income doesn't count for the income test. Unused amounts accrue up to a $11,800 buffer that you can use for occasional bigger pay periods.
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Health card
What about the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card?
If you don't qualify for the Age Pension but are over pension age, the CSHC gives you discounted PBS prescriptions and concession travel. Income thresholds are $99,025 single / $158,440 couple combined (unchanged since July 2022). Worth applying even if you're well above the pension threshold.
How we work
Four steps. Clear at every stage.
The first two are free, so you can decide whether we're the right fit before any money changes hands.
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Free · 20 min
Step 01
First call.
A quick conversation about your situation, your age, and what you're trying to optimise.
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Free · 60-90 min
Step 02
Discovery meeting.
We work through your assets, super, income sources, and your Centrelink position.
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Quoted fee
Step 03
Statement of advice.
A written pension plan with structure recommendations, optimisation moves, and a fee you agree before we start.
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Annual
Step 04
Annual reviews.
We check the pension annually as rates and thresholds change, and adjust if your circumstances shift.
The first two steps are free, no commitment. You're never on the hook until the written plan is on the table.
Fees
What pension advice costs.
Straight numbers up front. Pension work is often a one-off engagement because the structure is set-and-review-annually. We'll quote the fee in dollars before you commit.
Pension review + plan
$1,500 to $2,500
A written Centrelink-optimisation plan, quoted in dollars before you commit. Often a one-off engagement.
First meeting
Always free
A no-obligation chat about whether your pension setup is doing the job.
Annual reviews
From $750/yr
Optional fee-for-service review as rates and thresholds change. No commissions, no kickbacks.
General information only. Centrelink rates and thresholds quoted as at 2025-26 March indexation and are subject to change. Actual fees depend on your situation and are quoted in writing before any work begins.
Case study
A real example, names changed.
Outcome
Full pension
Single rate, $30,580/yr as at 2025-26 March indexation, after restructuring countable assets below the threshold.
How we got there
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Reviewed the Centrelink position: $660K countable assets meant partial pension only, well below entitlement.
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Brought countable assets under the threshold via planned home improvements and a prepaid funeral bond (both legitimate non-countable conversions).
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Restructured super to maximise tax-free pension stream while staying under the assets test threshold.
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Set up Work Bonus tracking for occasional consulting income (up to $300/fortnight tax-free for pension purposes).
The pension is rules-based, not luck-based. Worth knowing what you're entitled to.
Book your reviewIndicative figures only. Centrelink rates and thresholds quoted as at 2025-26 March indexation and are subject to change. Actual entitlements depend on individual circumstances. A written Statement of Advice is provided before any restructuring is recommended.
Why us
Why clients choose us for pension.
Experience
16+
Years across pension advice.
From first claim to ongoing optimisation as rates and thresholds change.
See George's profileRatings
Average from 58+ Google reviews.
Every review is public and unedited on our Google Business Profile.
Read them on GoogleFees
Fee-based.
No commissions, no kickbacks.
Often a one-off engagement. Pay us directly, no trailing fees.
How we're paidAlso Springwood office with free parking·Plain English, no jargon·AQF Level 8 credential
What's the Age Pension age right now?
67. The age was progressively raised from 65 over recent years and finalised at 67 from 1 July 2023. There's no longer a different rate by gender or by birth year. You also need 10 years of Australian residency before you can claim.
How does the assets test work?
Your countable assets are tallied (super balance after pension age, bank deposits, shares, second properties, vehicles, contents at second-hand value, etc.). Your home isn't counted. Above the threshold ($314,000 single homeowner / $470,000 single non-homeowner / $470,000 couple homeowner combined as at 2025-26), pension reduces by $3 per fortnight per $1,000 over.
How does the income test work?
Your fortnightly income is calculated from employment, business, rental, foreign pensions, plus deemed earnings on your financial assets. Above $212/fortnight single or $372 couple combined, pension reduces by 50 cents per dollar of income. Whichever test (income or assets) results in the lower pension applies.
What's the deeming rate?
Centrelink assumes your financial assets earn a deemed rate regardless of actual returns. As at 2025-26 the freeze still applies: 0.25% on the first $62,600 (single) or $103,800 (couple combined), 2.25% above. The freeze is scheduled to end 30 June 2026.
Will my home count as an asset?
No, your principal home isn't counted under the assets test (no value cap). However, the area of land it sits on matters: if your block is over 2 hectares, the excess is generally counted unless it qualifies for the extended land-use exemption.
Can I work and still get the pension?
Yes. The Work Bonus exempts the first $300/fortnight of employment income from the income test. Unused amounts accrue up to a $11,800 buffer that you can use for occasional bigger pay periods. This is genuinely useful and most pensioners under-utilise it.
How exactly does the Work Bonus work?
Each fortnight, the first $300 of employment income (wages, self-employment) is ignored for the income test. If you don't earn $300 in a fortnight, the unused amount is banked into a Work Bonus balance up to $11,800. So if you do casual work seasonally, the buffer covers bigger pay periods later.
What if I don't qualify, is there a CSHC?
Yes. The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) is income-tested but assets-test-free. Income thresholds are $99,025 single / $158,440 couple combined (unchanged since July 2022). Adjusted taxable income includes deemed earnings on account-based pensions. Worth applying even if you're well above the pension threshold, the PBS prescription savings alone often justify it.
How does my super affect my pension?
Before pension age, super in accumulation isn't counted. After pension age, your super counts in both the assets test (balance) and the income test (deemed earnings). Once you start a super pension stream, it counts the same way. We model timing strategies around your pension age to optimise both.
How long does a Centrelink claim take to process?
Service Australia targets 49 days for Age Pension claims, but actual processing varies from 4 to 12 weeks depending on complexity and time of year. Lodging early (you can claim 13 weeks before pension age) avoids gaps. Backdating is limited so don't wait.
Meet your adviser
George Iacovou
- AQF Level 8
- Code of Ethics
- AFSL 232706
Most of my pension work is for people in their early-to-mid 60s who want to know what they'll get from Centrelink and how to optimise it. The rules look complicated because they are. They're also navigable with a structured approach.
You pay me directly. I don't take commissions. If your existing setup already optimises your pension, I'll tell you that on the first call.
Further reading
Three guides for your pension.
Plain-English reads to go through before or after your first meeting.
Age Pension in 2026: rates, changes, and what to watch
A plain breakdown of the current pension rates, what changed at the March indexation, and the deeming-rate freeze unwind on the horizon.
Read article →
Understanding the Age Pension income and assets tests
How the two tests work, which one applies to you, and the practical levers that can move your entitlement.
Read article →
Should I see a financial adviser before I retire?
When pension and retirement advice gets genuinely valuable. The five years before pension age are usually where the structure decisions matter.
Read article →Let's connect
Want to know what your Age Pension entitlement is?
A free 20-minute call to see if we're a fit. If we're not, we'll point you to someone who is.
