Centrelink reduces payments based on your gross fortnightly income, with different thresholds for each payment (like JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy), but generally, payments start reducing after $150-$500+ fortnightly, with gradual decreases (50c-$1) and then faster cuts (60c-$1+) as income rises, until payments stop at a "cut-out" point, varying significantly by your personal situation (single, couple, kids, living situation). Key factors are your payment type, total income (not partner's), and if you're building an "Income Bank" for high-income periods.
You can generally work up to 29 hours a week on some Centrelink payments like Disability Support Pension (DSP) without losing it, but exceeding 30 hours often affects eligibility, though it depends heavily on your specific payment (JobSeeker, DSP, etc.), your assessed work capacity (partial capacity), and your income level, with higher hours or income potentially reducing or pausing payments. For JobSeeker/Youth Allowance, exceeding around 30-35 hours (or full-time) can trigger a nil rate period. Always report any work to Services Australia within 14 days.
How much income can I have and still get the Age Pension? If you're single, you can earn up to $2,575.40 per fortnight and still receive a part pension. Couples can earn up to $3,934.00 combined. Transitional rate pensioners and those living apart due to ill health may have higher thresholds.
If you do paid work but you're still on your Centrelink payment, you may continue in employment services. This means you'll still need to: meet any mutual obligation requirements. report your income to Centrelink every fortnight.
Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance
If you are working less than 16 hours per week, and your partner is working less than 24 hours per week, then you may be eligible to claim these benefits but the amount you are entitled to could be affected by any earnings you have.
And the calculations for that are: Up to $150 earned in a fortnight isn't accounted for. Over $150 reduces your JSP payment by "50 cents for each dollar between $150 and $256 ($106) then 60 cents for each dollar over $256".
Any earnings from part-time employment may affect Age Pension entitlements you're eligible to receive. The amount of Age Pension you receive is determined by Centrelink applying an income and assets test. If you receive earnings from part-time employment, these are generally included under the Centrelink income test.
You can earn income before losing your Australian Age Pension, but it depends on your situation (single/couple) and if you're working or have investment income; for example, in late 2025, a single person could earn up to ~$218/fortnight (or more with the Work Bonus) before payments reduce, with a cut-off point around $2,575/fortnight before losing it entirely, while couples have higher thresholds, and income is assessed through the income test Services Australia.
The short answer is yes, you are able to take your pension and still continue to work. These days, in the UK at least, there is not necessarily a retirement age for anyone. You can continue working for as long as you like and, from the age of 55 (57 from April 2028), access most private pensions in various ways.
Effect on payments
If you're single and don't have children, you can earn up to $160 a week before tax, before it affects your benefit. Once you earn over $160 a week before tax, your benefit reduces by 70 cents for every extra $1 of income you earn.
Permanently Retired 60-64: If you are accessing your super because you are retired with no intention of ever returning to part-time or full-time work ever again, then you cannot work 10 hours or more in any given week.
You have to report any employment income you or your partner have been paid, even if it's zero, and any other changes to your circumstances every fortnight before we can pay you. You can find your reporting dates in your Centrelink online account.
You can generally work up to 29 hours a week on some Centrelink payments like Disability Support Pension (DSP) without losing it, but exceeding 30 hours often affects eligibility, though it depends heavily on your specific payment (JobSeeker, DSP, etc.), your assessed work capacity (partial capacity), and your income level, with higher hours or income potentially reducing or pausing payments. For JobSeeker/Youth Allowance, exceeding around 30-35 hours (or full-time) can trigger a nil rate period. Always report any work to Services Australia within 14 days.
In summary "threshold income" is: Taxable income for the tax year less. Any taxable lump sum pension death benefits accruing in the tax year (ITEPA 2003 section 636A-4ZA) plus.
Many job seekers unknowingly sabotage their chances by repeating avoidable mistakes, from submitting generic resumes to going silent after interviews. These missteps can be the difference between landing a great opportunity and getting passed over without explanation.
How much you can earn before Centrelink payments are affected depends on your specific payment (Age Pension, JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, etc.), your living situation (single/partnered, with/without children, homeowner/renter), and your assets, but generally, there's a threshold (e.g., around $218/fortnight for Age Pension, $528/fortnight for Austudy/Youth Allowance) where payments start reducing, often by 40-60 cents for each dollar earned over that amount, with specific rules for different payments like Work Bonus for seniors or Income Bank for students.
To get the full Australian Age Pension in late 2025/early 2026, a single homeowner can have up to $321,500 in assets, while a non-homeowner can have $579,500; for couples, these limits are $481,500 (homeowner) and $739,500 (non-homeowner). Assets include savings, investments, and property (excluding your primary home), and exceeding these thresholds reduces your pension, with higher upper limits for receiving a part-pension.
Among the biggest mistakes retirees make is not adjusting their expenses to their new budget in retirement. Those who have worked for many years need to realize that dining out, clothing and entertainment expenses should be reduced because they are no longer earning the same amount of money as they were while working.
Employment and the Age Pension - The Work Bonus
Under the Work Bonus, you can earn up to $300 of employment income a fortnight – or $7,800 a year – without it affecting your Age Pension. This is regardless of whether it's regular, casual or short-term work.
You may get JobSeeker Payment if any of the following apply: you're unemployed. you're not in full time work, for example you're doing part time or casual work. you've been temporarily stood down.
You can get Social Security retirement benefits and work at the same time. However, if you are younger than full retirement age and make more than the yearly earnings limit, we will reduce your benefits. Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, we will not reduce your benefits no matter how much you earn.
Gross income is the amount your employer pays you before tax and other deductions. You must report the gross income your employer paid you, and gross income your partner's employer paid them, in your reporting period. You can find your gross pay amount on your payslip.
The $4,000 Centrelink payment isn't a direct cash payment but a one-time boost to the Work Bonus income bank, available to eligible pensioners (Age Pension, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, Veterans) who are over Age Pension age and either receive these payments or restart them, helping them earn extra income without losing pension, with new recipients getting the $4,000 starting credit permanently from January 2024.
Your savings and capital (or your partner's savings, capital and income) are not taken into account when claiming New Style JSA . However, your earnings and any payment you're getting from a pension can affect the amount you may receive.