You can have a significant amount of super and still get an Australian Age Pension, with upper asset limits (including super) for a part pension being around $714,500 for a single homeowner, $972,500 for a single non-homeowner, and higher for couples, but it depends on your situation and assets, with payments reducing as assets increase until they hit zero at the threshold.
To get a full Age Pension in Australia, your assessable assets (including super in a retirement account, savings, and other investments, but generally not your home or personal effects) must be below specific thresholds, such as under $321,500 for a single homeowner or $481,500 for a homeowner couple, as of late 2025. Having more than these amounts reduces your pension, but you can still receive a part pension up to much higher limits, like around $714,500 for a single homeowner or over $1 million for a couple, depending on your situation.
For example: A single homeowner with more than $321,500 in assets will start to see a decrease in their Age Pension payments. If their assets reach $714,500, their Age Pension payments will be reduced to $0. For a non-homeowner couple, the maximum assets cut-off is $1,332,000.
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.
To retire on $70,000 a year in Australia, a single person typically needs around $1.1 to $1.5 million, while a couple might need about $800,000 to $1.1 million, depending on retirement age (60 vs. 67), home ownership (assuming you own it outright), and the inclusion of the Age Pension. A good rule of thumb is needing roughly 15 to 20 times your desired annual income saved, with figures varying based on your lifestyle (modest vs. comfortable) and when you stop working.
While exact real-time figures vary, estimates from around 2025 suggest approximately 400,000 to over 500,000 Australians held over $1 million in superannuation, with about 2.5% of the population reaching this milestone as of mid-2021, a figure that has likely grown with strong investment returns, though many more hold significant balances and millions are projected to reach this goal by retirement, especially men.
By paying off your credit card, personal loan, home loan or any other debt, you will reduce the value of your assessable assets and boost your rate of pension. For example, paying off $50,000 of debt could increase your pension by $3,900 per year. Find out what's included in the Age Pension assets test.
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.
Yes, $600,000 can be enough to retire at 60 in Australia for many, especially if you're a single person aiming for a comfortable lifestyle, but it depends heavily on your spending, assets, and eligibility for the Age Pension. While some sources suggest $600k covers a single's comfortable retirement (around $52k-$53k/year), it's near the lower end, and couples might need closer to $700k for a similar standard, making financial planning crucial for a stress-free retirement.
How you decide to access your super in retirement can also affect your Age Pension rate. Your super balance is taken into account by Centrelink when calculating your Age Pension amount and withdrawing a lump sum could affect your payments and have tax implications.
The happiest retirees have an average total monthly income of £1,700. To get at least that much a month, and assuming you retire at 65, you'll need to: Have a pension pot of about £172,500, after you've taken your tax-free cash. Be eligible for the full State Pension, which is currently £11,973 a year.
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.
Yes, you might still get a small part of a government pension (like Australia's Age Pension) with $1 million in assets, but it depends heavily on your living situation (homeowner/non-homeowner), relationship status, and current pension rules, as $1 million is generally above the cut-off for full pensions, though it's below the maximum limit for a part pension for couples in some scenarios. You'll likely qualify for less or no Age Pension, but you might still get a concession card, which offers utility and other discounts, say sources 2, 3, 6.
You can keep your super in the accumulation phase for as long as you like. There's no legal requirement to move your super into pension phase once you meet a condition of release. But unless you have a strategic reason, leaving your super in an accumulation account may not be in your best interests.
Yes, you can likely retire at 70 with $800,000, but it depends heavily on your annual spending, investment returns, and eligibility for government support like the Age Pension, potentially supporting a modest to comfortable lifestyle, though a very high-spending one might require more capital, according to wealthlab.com.au, Toro Wealth and Frontier Financial Group. Using the "4% Rule", $800,000 could provide around $32,000/year initially, but factoring in the Age Pension and lower expenses (like no mortgage/work costs) can make it stretch further, possibly supporting a single person's $44k-$50k/year needs.
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.
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.
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.
Technically, yes – but there are significant factors to weigh before pursuing this route. While spending down your super may reduce your assessable assets and potentially increase the Age Pension you're eligible for, it's crucial to consider how this could impact your financial security and lifestyle in retirement.
You will not be entitled to help with the cost of care from your local council if: you have savings worth more than £23,250 – this is called the upper capital limit, or UCL. you own your own property (this only applies if you're moving into a care home)
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The $1,000 a month rule for retirement is a simple guideline stating you need about $240,000 saved for every $1,000 of monthly income you want from your investments, based on a 5% annual withdrawal rate (e.g., $240,000 x 0.05 = $12,000/year or $1,000/month). Popularized by CFP Wes Moss, it helps estimate savings goals but ignores inflation, taxes, and other income like Social Security, so it's best used as a starting point for broader retirement planning.
Believe it or not, data from the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances indicates that only 9% of American households have managed to save $500,000 or more for their retirement. This means less than one in ten families have achieved this financial goal.