The first full payment at the new rates of pension will be payday 6 April 2023. The maximum rate of single service pension will rise by $37.50 to $1,064.00 per fortnight and the maximum rate for couples will increase by $28.20 to $802.00 per fortnight (each).
Assets Test
A single homeowner can have up to $656,500 of assessable assets and receive a part pension – for a single non-homeowner the higher threshold is $898,500. For a couple, the higher threshold to $986,500 for a homeowner and $1,228,500 for a non-homeowner.
Yes, provided you have reached the Age Pension age, you may be eligible for the Age Pension even if you have super savings.
Using the Age Pension rate table provided above, Bill would be entitled to the maximum Age Pension of $802.00 for each eligible person in a couple living arrangement. Bill would also be entitled to the maximum pension supplement of $59.10.
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.
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.
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.
How much super you'll need in retirement depends on the lifestyle you want. According to the government's MoneySmart website, if you own your home, the rule of thumb is that you'll need two-thirds (67%) of your current income each year to maintain the same standard of living.
Assets include any: financial investments. home contents, personal effects and vehicles. real estate, annuities, income streams and superannuation pensions.
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.
Tax returns for Age Pension recipients
If you receive the Age Pension (either full or part) and received income from other sources and Centrelink is withholding tax from your pension payments, it is compulsory to lodge a tax return each year.
WILL ACCESSING MY SUPER AFFECT MY CENTRELINK PAYMENT? If you withdraw money from your super fund, you must tell Centrelink within 14 days. Money withdrawn from super is not treated as income for a person receiving a social security payment.
We check your bank account information is up to date. We do this to check we paid you the right payment and amount in the past.
The inheritance won't affect your income or assets test if you put it in a super fund if: you're under Age Pension age. you haven't started drawing on the fund.
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.
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.
According to the 4% rule, if you retire with $500,000 in assets, you should be able to take $20,000/ yr for a 30-year or longer. Additionally, putting the money in an annuity will offer a guaranteed annual income of $24,688 to those retiring at 55.
So, how much does one need to retire in comfort? If you're single, you'll need more than $500,000, assuming you own your own home, according to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Retirement Standard. That figure is worryingly higher than the average super balance.
This measure extends the increase to 31 December 2023. The Work Bonus concession of $300 per fortnight will stay the same. Eligible pensioners now have until 31 December 2023 to use their bigger Work Bonus balance. Any Work Bonus balance above $7,800 after 31 December 2023 will reset to $7,800.
On 1 February 2022, the Federal Government announced aged care workers would be eligible to receive a bonus payment of up to $800.
The Cost of Living Payment is a $250 one-off payment to help with the cost of living. The Cost of Living Payment is not taxable, and you don't need to report it as income. You'll get it if you were residing in Australia on 29 March 2022, and: you were able to claim, or were getting an eligible payment.