As a temporary measure introduced in September 2022, age pensioners will be able to earn an extra $4000 this financial year. They can now earn a maximum income of $11,800 before penalties kick in. This measure is set to end 30 June 2023.
A 'pension period' is 14 days long, starting on a Tuesday and ending a fortnight later on the Monday before pension payday. Your pension instalment is the sum of the pension amounts you are entitled to for each of the 14 days in the pension period.
If you're a pensioner currently receiving support through Centrelink, you may be eligible for extra help with bills and medicine costs through the Pension Supplement. This supplement is a combined payment of Pharmaceutical Allowance, Utilities Allowance, GST Supplement and Telephone Allowance.
The Work Bonus income bank is useful for pensioners who wish to work, particularly those who undertake intermittent or occasional work. Note: from 1 December 2022 to 31 December 2023, a one-off, temporary credit of $4,000 applies to Work Bonus income bank balances.
The government will provide $3.7 million in 2023–24 to extend the measure to provide age and veteran pensioners a once-off credit of $4,000 to their Work Bonus income bank and temporarily increase the maximum income bank until 31 December 2023.
From 20 September 2022 the maximum full Age Pension increases $38.90 per fortnight for a single person, and $58.80 a fortnight for a couple. The tables below provide more detail in terms of the latest increase and how the Age Pension is broken down.
To get the $250 one-off Cost of Living Payment you must be a Centrelink or Department of Veterans'Affairs customer. You must have been residing in Australia on 29 March 2022 and either: you were able to claim, or were getting an eligible payment. you were able to get, or had an eligible concession card.
Important: The State Super fortnightly pension payday is Thursday although many banks deposit pensions into accounts one or two days earlier.
The payment rates for Age Pension, Carer Payment and Disability Support Pension are increasing from 20 March 2023. Age Pension, Carer Payment and Disability Support Pension will increase by $37.50 a fortnight for singles and $56.40 a fortnight for couples combined.
Incentivise pensioners into the workforce
The temporary income bank top up will increase the amount pensioners can earn in 2022–23 from $7,800 to $11,800, before their pension is reduced, supporting pensioners who want to work or work more hours to do so without losing their pension.
You can get the Work Bonus if both of these apply to you. You: are Age Pension age and over. get Age Pension, Carer Payment or Disability Support Pension.
Assume, for example, you will need 65 per cent of your pre-retirement income, so if you earn $50,000 now, you might need $32,500 in retirement.
It comes down to the amount of savings you already have, plus all sorts of asset types combined. For example, if you are a single homeowner you can get a full pension with an asset limit of $270,500. As a couple with a home and combined assets your limit is reached at $405,000 to receive a full pension.
The Order is currently linked to the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) and is based on CPI as at the previous September. CPI at September 2022 was 10.1% which means that your pension will increase by 10.1% from 10 April 2023.
Eligible pensioners have had $4,000 credited to their Work Bonus balance since 1 December 2022, increasing the maximum Work Bonus balance from $7,800 to $11,800. This measure extends the increase to 31 December 2023.