The Age Pension qualifying age in Australia is 67 years for anyone born on or after 1 January 1957 which covers virtually all Australians currently approaching retirement. You can apply up to 13 weeks before your 67th birthday, and payments begin on your birthday if your claim is assessed in time. As of March 2026, the maximum Age Pension pays $1,178.70 per fortnight for singles and $1,777.00 per fortnight for couples combined. However, reaching 67 is only the first requirement you must also meet residency conditions and pass both the income test and the assets test before receiving any payment.
This guide covers everything you need to know: the exact eligibility age by date of birth, the full eligibility requirements, current payment rates, how the means tests work, and the key planning decisions around the 7-year gap between super access at 60 and pension eligibility at 67.
What Is the Age Pension Qualifying Age in Australia?
The qualifying age for the Age Pension has been progressively increased over recent years and reached its current level of 67 on 1 July 2023. The qualifying age is determined by your date of birth:
| Date of Birth | Age Pension Qualifying Age | Eligible From |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1 July 1952 | 65 years | Already eligible |
| 1 July 1952 – 31 December 1953 | 65 years and 6 months | Already eligible |
| 1 January 1954 – 30 June 1955 | 66 years | Already eligible |
| 1 July 1955 – 31 December 1956 | 66 years and 6 months | Already eligible |
| 1 January 1957 or later | 67 years | From your 67th birthday |
For anyone born on or after 1 January 1957 which includes everyone currently under age 69 the qualifying age is 67. The Federal Government has confirmed there are no current plans to increase the qualifying age beyond 67. The full eligibility criteria are published by Services Australia.
Is Turning 67 Enough? The Other Eligibility Requirements
Reaching 67 is necessary but not sufficient. You must also meet residency requirements and pass the means tests before receiving any payment.
Residency Requirements
You must be an Australian resident and living in Australia when you apply, and you must have lived in Australia for at least 10 years in total, including at least one period of 5 consecutive years. Some exceptions apply:
- Time spent in a country with which Australia has a bilateral social security agreement may count toward the Australian residency requirement. Australia has agreements with over 30 countries including the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand
- Certain refugee and humanitarian entrants may be exempt from the 10-year residency requirement
- Temporary visa holders are generally not eligible
The Means Tests: Income and Assets
The Age Pension is means-tested your payment is determined by whichever test (income or assets) produces the lower result. You can receive a full pension, a part pension, or no pension depending on your financial position.
| Test | Singles (Homeowner) | Couples Combined (Homeowners) | Pension Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assets test — full pension | Up to $314,000 | Up to $470,000 | Full pension payable |
| Assets test — part pension cut-off | Up to ~$674,000 | Up to ~$1,012,500 | Part pension reduces by $3/fortnight per $1,000 above full threshold |
| Income test — full pension | Up to $212/fortnight | Up to $360/fortnight combined | Full pension payable |
| Income test — part pension cut-off | Up to ~$2,444.60/fortnight | Up to ~$3,661.20/fortnight | Pension reduces by 50c per dollar above free area |
Source: Services Australia assets test and income test, March 2026. Non-homeowner thresholds are higher by approximately $242,000. Thresholds are indexed periodically.
Your principal home is exempt from the assets test regardless of its value. Superannuation balances are assessable once you reach pension age but if your partner is under 67, their super is not counted (see below).
How Much Is the Age Pension in 2026?
| Recipient Type | Maximum Fortnightly Payment | Annual Equivalent | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $1,178.70 | ~$30,647/year | Base rate + Pension Supplement + Energy Supplement |
| Each member of a couple | $888.50 | ~$23,101/year per person | Base rate + Pension Supplement + Energy Supplement |
| Couple (combined) | $1,777.00 | ~$46,202/year combined | Base rate + Pension Supplement + Energy Supplement |
Source: Services Australia Age Pension payment rates, March 2026. Rates are indexed twice annually (March and September) against the Consumer Price Index and Male Total Average Weekly Earnings, whichever is higher.
These maximum rates apply if you meet the full pension threshold under both tests. If you receive a part pension, the amount is proportionally reduced. Even a small part pension say $5,000–$10,000 per year is worth maintaining where possible, because it also confers the Pensioner Concession Card, which provides pharmaceutical concessions, utility rebates, and transport discounts worth an additional $2,000–$5,000 per year.
The Critical Gap: Super Access at 60 vs Age Pension at 67
One of the most important planning insights for Australians approaching retirement is the 7-year gap between when you can access superannuation tax-free (age 60, for most people born after 30 June 1964) and when the Age Pension becomes available (age 67). This gap is often overlooked, but it fundamentally shapes how retirement income needs to be structured.
During this 7-year window, if you have retired:
- Your income comes entirely from superannuation drawdowns, investment income, rental income, or part-time work there is no government income support
- Every dollar drawn from super reduces the balance available for the remaining retirement period
- Drawing from super too aggressively in the 60–67 window can reduce your super balance to a level where Age Pension eligibility improves significantly at 67 which may be intentional and strategic, or unintentional and problematic depending on your circumstances
In our experience advising 500+ Australian families, the 60–67 gap is consistently the period that receives the least planning attention and creates the most problems. Many Australians retire at 60–62, draw from super without a clear drawdown strategy, arrive at 67 with a depleted balance, and find they’re now partly or fully reliant on the Age Pension which is a workable outcome if it was planned for, but a shock if it wasn’t.
For a full analysis of how to structure income across this gap, including whether to retire at 60, 62, 65, or 67 and what each timing decision costs and gains, see our guide on when is the best time to retire in Australia.
How Superannuation Affects the Age Pension
Super interacts with the Age Pension in ways that surprise many Australians:
Before Age 67: Super in Accumulation Phase Is Not Assessed
If you haven’t yet reached Age Pension age, your superannuation balance in accumulation phase is not counted in the Age Pension assets test even if it’s very large. Once you turn 67, your super becomes fully assessable under the assets test (and the income from it is assessed under deeming rules in the income test).
After Age 67: Super Is Assessed Under Deeming
Once you reach pension age and your super is in accumulation or pension phase, it is assessed as a financial asset under the assets test and deemed to earn a notional return under the income test. Current deeming rates are 0.25% on balances up to $62,600 (single) / $103,800 (couple), and 2.25% above those thresholds regardless of what you actually withdraw. This is more favourable than being assessed on actual withdrawals, which is why moving super into an account-based pension before the pension age produces better income test outcomes than leaving it in accumulation.
If Your Partner Is Under 67
If your partner hasn’t yet reached Age Pension age, their super is completely exempt from the assets test for the purposes of your pension assessment. This is one of the most powerful Age Pension strategies for age-gap couples and it’s completely legitimate under the legislation. For a detailed explanation of this and other strategies, see our guide on legal strategies for super and the Age Pension.
Can I Get the Age Pension If I’m Still Working?
Yes — working does not disqualify you from the Age Pension. The Work Bonus exempts the first $300 of employment income per person per fortnight from the income test. A pensioner earning under $300/fortnight ($7,800/year) has zero pension reduction from employment income. Above that, the pension reduces gradually under the income test taper rate (50 cents per dollar above the free area). Working part-time on the Age Pension is financially worthwhile at almost all income levels the household is better off working than not, even after the pension reduction. For the full analysis including worked examples, see our guide on whether you can work part-time and receive the Age Pension.
How to Apply for the Age Pension
Apply through myGov linked to Centrelink, by phone on 132 300, or in person at a Services Australia service centre. You can apply up to 13 weeks before your 67th birthday and you should, because late applications are not backdated. A single pensioner who applies 4 weeks late permanently forfeits approximately $2,357 in pension income.
You’ll need: identity documents, bank and super statements, investment details, income evidence, and (for couples) the same for your partner. Processing typically takes up to 49 days. For the complete step-by-step application guide including documents, common delays, and what to do if your claim is rejected, see our guide on how to apply for the Age Pension through Services Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Age Pension qualifying age is 67 years for all Australians born on or after 1 January 1957 which includes everyone currently under age 69. You can apply up to 13 weeks before your 67th birthday. Payments begin on your birthday if your application is assessed in time. If you were born before 1 January 1957, your qualifying age may have been lower (65 or 66 depending on your date of birth), but the transition to 67 for all new applicants was completed on 1 July 2023. Current information is maintained by Services Australia.
The Federal Government has confirmed there are no current plans to increase the qualifying age beyond 67. The increase from 65 to 67 was legislated progressively from 2017 to 2023. While future governments could legislate further changes, no such policy is proposed as of March 2026. For planning purposes, assuming 67 remains the qualifying age is appropriate but it’s worth monitoring for any policy changes if you’re more than 10 years from pension age.
Yes superannuation and the Age Pension have different access ages. For most Australians born after 30 June 1964, super can be accessed tax-free from age 60 (the preservation age), provided you have met a condition of release such as retiring from employment. The Age Pension is a separate government payment that begins at 67. Between ages 60 and 67, most retirees fund their income from super drawdowns, investment income, or part-time work. This 7-year gap between super access and pension eligibility is one of the most important planning periods in an Australian retirement.
Yes most Australian retirees eventually receive both. Super drawdowns from an account-based pension provide tax-free income from age 60; the Age Pension provides additional income support from 67. The two interact through the means tests: your super balance is assessed under the assets test and deemed to generate income for the income test. As you draw down super over time, your assessable assets reduce which typically means your pension entitlement increases, providing a natural income floor as super depletes. Planning the optimal drawdown rate to balance tax efficiency, pension eligibility, and longevity is the central task of retirement income planning.
As of March 2026, the maximum Age Pension is $1,178.70 per fortnight for singles (~$30,647/year) and $1,777.00 per fortnight for couples combined (~$46,202/year). These figures include the pension supplement and energy supplement. Your actual payment depends on your income and assets if you exceed the full pension thresholds, you receive a part pension. Rates are indexed in March and September each year. Current rates are always available from Services Australia’s payment rates page.
Having a super balance above the assets test threshold at 67 doesn’t mean you’ll never receive a pension it means you don’t qualify right now. As you draw down your super to fund retirement spending, your assessable assets reduce over time. A homeowning single with $800,000 in super at 67 is above the full pension cut-off (~$674,000) but may become eligible for a part pension in their early 70s as the balance reduces. Modelling when and at what level you’ll transition into pension eligibility is part of sound retirement income planning. The Moneysmart Age Pension and government benefits guide has a useful overview of this dynamic.
They are different and unrelated ages. The superannuation preservation age is the earliest age you can access your super 60 for most Australians born after 30 June 1964. The Age Pension qualifying age is when you can apply for government income support currently 67 for anyone born from 1 January 1957. You can access super at 60 without the Age Pension being available, and you can receive the Age Pension at 67 regardless of your super balance (subject to the means tests). The 7-year gap between these two ages is the central structural feature of Australian retirement planning.
Know Your Date, Plan Your Strategy
For anyone born after 1 January 1957, the Age Pension qualifying age is 67 that’s the fixed date to plan around. But the financial decisions that surround that date how to fund the gap years between 60 and 67, how to structure your super drawdown to optimise pension eligibility, whether to keep working, and how your partner’s assets affect your entitlement are where the real planning value lies.
At Wealthlab, we help Australians map their complete retirement income timeline: from super access at 60 through the pension gap years to full eligibility at 67, and through a 25–30 year retirement beyond that. Book a free consultation today to understand exactly when you’re eligible, what you’re entitled to, and how to structure your finances to make the most of it.