When you reach Age Pension age. We count your superannuation both: in the assets test - the value is the balance on your latest statement. in the income test under the deeming rules.
Taking money out of superannuation doesn't affect payments from us. But what you do with the money may. For instance we'll count it in your income and assets tests if you either: use it to buy an income stream.
Just like your personal savings and investments, your super affects your Age Pension because Centrelink uses an assets test and an income test.
Any voluntary superannuation contributions you make count as income. You will need to tell us about this so we pay you the right amount. There are other things we need to know about your income. This will make sure we're paying you the right amount.
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.
You can access your superannuation (super) early in limited circumstances. We don't make decisions about early access to super. But we can help you if your super fund needs proof you've been getting income support payments from us. We can do this in a letter.
Reportable superannuation contributions generally include personal superannuation contributions which will be claimed as a tax deduction. Payments may be made by you or on your behalf. Reportable superannuation contributions do not include compulsory employer contributions.
How Centrelink knows your assets without you telling them. Centrelink has multiple data-sharing agreements with government organisations like the ATO, Medicare, PayG and more. This helps them to maintain a view of your assets, and in certain circumstances they may apply additional scrutiny to individuals.
Pay down debt
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.
Taxable income is the amount you receive after you take away all your allowable deductions from your assessable or gross income. Gross income includes: Salary and wages, lump sum payments, money from business or self employment, rent, interest, investments and dividends. partnership and trust distributions.
Centrelink has very wide powers to thoroughly investigate deposits that have been made into your account. For example, it has the power to obtain your information from other government agencies as well as accessing information from banks, building societies and credit union accounts.
Do You Declare Superannuation on Your Tax Return? Super contributions do not need to be included as taxable income on your tax return and no tax will be paid by you personally on super contributions; however, there are instances where super contributions need to be included in your tax return for other reasons.
Assets test
Your or your partner's income can reduce how much we pay you. Assets are property or items you or your partner own in full or part, or have an interest in. They can affect your payment. Your or your partner's income can reduce how much we pay you.
Deeming assets are financial assets including your super as well as dividends, shares and bonds, investment funds and interest from bank accounts. Non-financial assets such as your home and its contents, your car, caravan or boat, antiques and collections are not included in deeming calculations.
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.
Even if you have super, you may still qualify for at least a part age pension from the government. Even though Australians have had compulsory super since 1992, many may qualify for — and may need to rely on — an age pension to some degree in retirement.
The minimum amount that can be withdrawn is $1,000 and the maximum amount is $10,000. If your super balance is less than $1,000 you can withdraw up to your remaining balance after tax. You can only make one withdrawal in any 12-month period.
Superannuation is counted as an asset for Age Pension purposes and will count towards the Assets Test limits. Superannuation will be added together with all of your other assessable assets and measured against the limits.
ASFA estimates people who want a comfortable retirement need $690,000 for a couple, and $595,000 for a single person when they leave work, assuming they also receive a partial age pension from the federal government. For people who are happy to have a modest lifestyle, this figure is $100,000.
So looking at the table, you can see that a 60-year old male will need a lump sum of almost $500,000 to provide an annual income in retirement of $42,000 for 20 years. These calculations are based on a 20-year time frame because the approximate life expectancy for Australian males is 84 years and 88 for females.
According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia's Retirement Standard, to have a 'comfortable' retirement, single people will need $595,000 in retirement savings, and couples will need $690,000.