To get Centrelink payments, you must pass an assets test, which has different limits depending on your situation (homeowner/non-homeowner, single/couple) and the payment type, but for JobSeeker, you also face a Liquid Assets Test (around $5,500 single, $11,000 couple) that causes a waiting period if exceeded, even if you pass the main assets test. For example, for JobSeeker, homeowner limits are lower (around $321,500 single) than non-homeowners (around $579,500 single), but liquid assets like bank balances are strictly capped to trigger a waiting period.
When APPLYING for Centrelink, some (not all) payments have a LIQUID ASSETS TEST and LIQUID ASSETS WAITING PERIOD (LAWP). If your savings (which Centrelink call "liquid assets" - cash, shares, bank accounts etc) are over the limit ($5500 or $11000), there is a waiting period before your payments start.
You can have a significant amount in the bank and still get a full Australian Age Pension, as it depends on your total assessable assets (not just cash), living situation (homeowner/non-homeowner) and relationship status, with homeowner singles getting a full pension under the assets test with assets below approximately $321,500, while couples need under $481,500 (as of late 2025 figures), with higher limits for non-homeowners before payments reduce or stop. The pension reduces as assets increase past these thresholds, with higher cut-offs for receiving any part pension.
If you have money, savings and investments between £6,000 and £16,000 your Universal Credit payments will be reduced. Your payments will be reduced by £4.35 for every £250 you have between £6,000 and £16,000. Another £4.35 is taken off for any remaining amount that is not a complete £250.
No. The State Pension is not means‑tested. This means your savings do not affect whether you receive the State Pension or how much you get. However, many pensioners receive additional support on top of the State Pension.
Deposits over $10,000 are treated a little differently by banks because of a law called the Bank Secrecy Act. Under this law, when you make a cash deposit of $10,000 or more, the bank is required to file a Currency Transaction Report (CTR). The CTR needs to include: The name of the person who is making the deposit.
How much money can I have in the bank before it affects my pension? It depends on your total assessable assets. For example, homeowner couples can have up to $481,500 in combined assets, including bank balances, before their pension is reduced.
The amount of savings you have in the bank will also be taken into account. People of pension age can have up to £10,000 savings in the bank before it affects their pension credit. So if you have savings over £10,000, it will start to count towards your income calculation.
Income Test Thresholds (Residents) effective September 20, 2025 - Fortnightly Income figures. A short, very general example of how this works: The pension is reduced by 50c for every dollar of income per fortnight over $218 for single pensioners ($5,668 pa) and 25c for every dollar over $380 for couples ($9,880 pa).
Centrelink does not monitor your bank accounts in real time. Access to detailed bank information is generally limited to investigations of suspected fraud.
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.
Liquid Assets waiting period. If you have savings or other liquid assets over $5,499 you will have up to a maximum of 13 weeks to serve a Liquid Assets Waiting Period. That is, your first payment will be delayed.
On 1 December 2025 the deposit limit rose to £120,000. Check how much of your money is protected by using our bank & savings protection checker.
Centrelink exempts your principal home, prepaid funerals, and certain compensation payments from the Age Pension assets test, while counting most other assets like savings, investments, and vehicles, with rules for superannuation and income streams (deeming) varying; the primary exemption is your home, allowing for higher overall asset thresholds before pension reduction or cancellation, but you must declare changes in asset value.
FDIC insurance covers up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category — meaning a single person can protect far more than $250,000 by using different account types at the same institution.
If you have £10,000 or less in savings or investments (including your pension pot) it won't affect how much Pension Credit you'll receive. But you might get a reduced amount if you have more than £10,000 saved.
Yes, any eligible candidate can open a senior citizen savings account with banks such as the State Bank of India. However, according to SBI's guidelines, a depositor can hold two or more SCSS accounts only if the deposits in all accounts taken together do not exceed Rs.15 lakh.
You can have a significant amount of super and still get a part Age Pension in Australia, with the cut-off for homeowners being around $714,500 (single) or $1,074,000 (couple), and for non-homeowners, roughly $972,500 (single) or $1,332,000 (couple) as of late 2025. These figures are part of the Assets Test, where higher assets reduce your pension amount, with payments stopping entirely once you exceed these limits.
What's Changing From 10 January 2026
You have savings or other money
If you or your partner have liquid assets over certain limits, you may have to wait 1 to 13 weeks. Liquid assets are any funds readily available to you or your partner. This includes money owed by your or your partner's employer. Read about liquid assets waiting periods.
If you keep more than $250,000 in your savings account, any money over that amount won't be covered in the event that the bank fails. The amount in excess of $250,000 could be lost. The recommended amount of cash to keep in savings for emergencies is three to six months' worth of living expenses.
Financial institutions are required to report cash deposits of more than $10,000 in compliance with the Federal Bank Secrecy Act. These reporting standards are intended to alert the government to potential crime and fraud, including money laundering and other illegal activity.