Age Pension rates 2026
Age Pension · Single
Typical total per fortnight · $32,180.20 ≈ per year (×26 fortnights)
- Basic Rate
- $1,135.40
- Pension Supplement
- $88.20
- Energy Supplement
- $14.10
- Total per fortnight
- $1,237.70
Effective 20 September 2026 · Source: DSS / Services Australia · What changed on 20 September 2026
The Age Pension is Australia's main income support payment for older people. If you have reached Age Pension age and meet the residence and means-test rules, it gives you a regular fortnightly payment to live on. It is paid by Services Australia through Centrelink.
Most people come to this page for one thing: how much the Age Pension pays. The figures here are the rates effective 20 September 2026. They change at indexation, and the next change is on 20 March 2027.
Full Age Pension rate table
| Variant | Base rate | Supplements | Total /fortnight | ≈ per year (×26) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $1,135.40 | $102.30 | $1,237.70 | $32,180.20 |
| Couple (each) | $855.90 | $77.10 | $933.00 | $24,258 |
| Couple (combined) | $1,711.80 | $154.20 | $1,866.00 | $48,516 |
| Single — Outside Australia (non-resident rate) | $1,135.40 | — | $1,135.40 | $29,520.40 |
| Couple (each) — Outside Australia (non-resident rate) | $855.90 | — | $855.90 | $22,253.40 |
| Transitional rate — Single | $982.90 | $14.10 | $997.00 | $25,922 |
| Transitional rate — Couple (each) | $793.80 | $10.60 | $804.40 | $20,914.40 |
Source: DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 September 2026 — Pension — Single — Resident (common pension rate) · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 September 2026 — Pension — Partnered (each) — Resident (common pension rate) · derived: 2 × Couple (each) — DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 September 2026 — Pension — Partnered (each) — Resident · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 September 2026 — Pension — Single — Non‑resident · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 September 2026 — Pension — Partnered (each) — Non‑resident · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 September 2026 — Transitional Pension — Single — Resident · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 September 2026 — Transitional Pension — Partnered (each) — Resident
The table below shows every Age Pension rate. The Age Pension is made up of a basic rate plus the Pension Supplement, and for most people the Energy Supplement as well. When a figure is labelled a total, it means the basic rate and those supplements added together.
Rates differ depending on whether you are single or a member of a couple. A couple is usually paid a lower rate each, because the couple total is meant to support two people who share costs. If illness forces a couple to live apart, each person can be paid at the higher single rate.
What changed on 20 September 2026
| Rate | Before 20 September 2026 | From 20 September 2026 | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $1,200.90 | $1,237.70 | +$36.80 | +3.06% |
| Couple (each) | $905.20 | $933.00 | +$27.80 | +3.07% |
| Couple (combined) | $1,810.40 | $1,866.00 | +$55.60 | +3.07% |
| Single — Outside Australia (non-resident rate) | $1,130.40 | $1,135.40 | +$5.00 | +0.44% |
| Couple (each) — Outside Australia (non-resident rate) | $854.20 | $855.90 | +$1.70 | +0.20% |
| Transitional rate — Single | $977.70 | $997.00 | +$19.30 | +1.97% |
| Transitional rate — Couple (each) | $788.80 | $804.40 | +$15.60 | +1.98% |
- On 20 September 2026, Age Pension, single, rose $36.80, or 3.06%, from $1,200.90 to $1,237.70.
- Across the 7 rates in the table, the rise ranged from 0.20% to 3.07%.
- Age Pension, single, pays up to $1,237.70 a fortnight, $404.00 (48.46%) more than JobSeeker for a single person with no children at $833.70.
Age Pension in 2026
| Rate | Before | 1 January 2026 | 20 March 2026 | 1 July 2026 | 20 September 2026 | 2026 change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $1,178.70 | — | $1,200.90 | — | $1,237.70 | +$59.00 (+5.01%) |
| Couple (each) | $888.50 | — | $905.20 | — | $933.00 | +$44.50 (+5.01%) |
| Couple (combined) | $1,777.00 | — | $1,810.40 | — | $1,866.00 | +$89.00 (+5.01%) |
| Single — Outside Australia (non-resident rate) | $1,109.20 | — | $1,130.40 | — | $1,135.40 | +$26.20 (+2.36%) |
| Couple (each) — Outside Australia (non-resident rate) | $838.20 | — | $854.20 | — | $855.90 | +$17.70 (+2.11%) |
| Transitional rate — Single | $959.70 | — | $977.70 | — | $997.00 | +$37.30 (+3.89%) |
| Transitional rate — Couple (each) | $774.30 | — | $788.80 | — | $804.40 | +$30.10 (+3.89%) |
- Age Pension, single, rose $59.00 (5.01%) across 2026, from $1,178.70 to $1,237.70: $22.20 on 20 March 2026 and $36.80 on 20 September 2026.
How much Age Pension pays
The maximum Age Pension for a single person is shown in the data block above, effective 20 September 2026. It is paid every two weeks and already includes the Pension Supplement and the Energy Supplement.
That figure is the maximum. How much you actually get depends on your income and your assets. If either is over the free area, your payment is lower. The next increase is on 20 March 2027.
| Situation | Income a fortnight | Rent a fortnight | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, homeowner, no other income | $0 | — | $1,237.70 a fortnight |
| Single, homeowner, with other income | $500 | — | $1,100.70 a fortnight |
| Single, renting, no other income (includes Rent Assistance) | $0 | $450 | $1,456.85 a fortnight |
| Couple, homeowners, combined other income (combined payment) | $500 | — | $1,814.00 a fortnight |
| Couple, renting, no other income (combined, includes Rent Assistance) | $0 | $450 | $2,011.65 a fortnight |
Assets under the assets-test free area and no financial assets, so no deemed income. Other income is per fortnight. Rent Assistance uses the no-children rates.
- With $500 a fortnight of other income, a single homeowner is paid $1,100.70, $137.00 less than the maximum.
- Renting at $450 a fortnight adds $219.15 of Rent Assistance for a single pensioner, making the payment $1,456.85, $219.15 more than a homeowner with no income.
Age Pension income test
| Fortnightly income | Effect on your payment |
|---|---|
| Up to $226 | No reduction (this is the income free area) |
| $226 and above | Reduces by 50c for each dollar over $226 |
Source: Services Australia, A guide to Australian Government payments (CO029), 20 September 2026 edition — Income test for pensions; free areas from DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 1 July 2026; income limits from DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 September 2026
For couples the 50-cent taper applies to combined income above the combined free area and reduces the combined pension.
| Situation | Payment reduces to nil at |
|---|---|
| Single | $2,701.40 /fortnight |
| Couple (combined) | $4,128 /fortnight |
| Couple (combined) — Illness separated | $5,346.80 /fortnight |
This payment's income test counts deemed income from your financial assets, not just the income you actually receive.
The income test has a fortnightly income free area. You can have income up to that amount and still get the full pension. Above the free area, your pension reduces by 50 cents for every extra dollar of income. For a couple, the combined income is tested and the reduction is shared between you.
Income from financial assets is worked out using deeming, not the actual return you receive. Your deemed income is added to any other income, such as wages or a private pension, to give your total assessable income.
Once your income is high enough, the pension reduces to zero. The exact cut-off point is shown in the income test table on this page.
Where Age Pension stops
| Situation | Income free area | Payment reaches $0 at | DSS figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $226 | $2,701.40 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| Couple, combined income | $396 | $4,128.00 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
| Couple separated by illness, combined income | $396 | $5,346.80 a fortnight | Matches the DSS limit |
Rounded up to the cent, as DSS rounds its limits.
- Single: the payment reaches $0 at $2,701.40 a fortnight of income, $2,475.40 more than the $226.00 income free area.
- The cut-out for couple, combined income, $4,128.00, is $1,426.60 higher than for single, $2,701.40.
- That is $1,144.23 higher than JobSeeker's single cut-out of $1,557.17.
Age Pension assets test
| Situation | Assets free area |
|---|---|
| Single — Homeowner | $333,000 |
| Couple (combined) — Homeowner | $499,000 |
| Couple (combined) — Illness separated — Homeowner | $499,000 |
| Single — Non-homeowner | $600,000 |
| Couple (combined) — Non-homeowner | $766,000 |
| Couple (combined) — Illness separated — Non-homeowner | $766,000 |
Source: DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 1 July 2026 — Pension — Assets free areas; DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 September 2026 — Pension — Assets limits — Resident
Above the free area, your payment reduces by $3 a fortnight for every 1,000 dollars of assessable assets.
| Situation | Assets limit |
|---|---|
| Single — Homeowner | $745,750 |
| Couple (combined), including where only one partner is eligible — Homeowner | $1,121,000 |
| Couple (combined) — Illness separated — Homeowner | $1,324,500 |
| Single — Non-homeowner | $1,012,750 |
| Couple (combined), including where only one partner is eligible — Non-homeowner | $1,388,000 |
| Couple (combined) — Illness separated — Non-homeowner | $1,591,500 |
The assets test counts most of what you own, apart from your home if you are a homeowner. There is an assets free area, and it depends on whether you own your home and whether you are single or a couple. Homeowners have a lower free area than non-homeowners, because the home itself is not counted.
The single homeowner assets free area is $333,000. Above the free area, the pension reduces by a set amount for every extra thousand dollars of assets. The full table on this page shows the free areas for couples and for non-homeowners.
Because both tests apply and the lower result is paid, you can be over the assets limit and get no pension even if your income is low. The point at which assets reduce the pension to zero is listed in the assets test table.
- A single homeowner's payment stops once assets reach $745,750, $412,750 more than the $333,000 free area, at $3.00 a fortnight less for each $1,000 in between.
- A single non-homeowner can hold $267,000 more in assets than a homeowner before the payment starts to fall.
Estimate your Age Pension
Income other than from financial assets (deeming is added automatically).
Excludes the family home if you're a homeowner.
Cash, shares, super in pension phase, bank accounts.
Estimated Age Pension
$1,237.70per fortnight
- ≈ per year (×26 fortnights) $32,180.20
How this is worked out
What this means
The Age Pension is paid every two weeks. The total you see is the maximum, and it already includes the Pension Supplement, which helps with regular bills and medicine, and the Energy Supplement.
Two tests decide your rate: an income test and an assets test. Services Australia works out your payment under both tests, then pays you the lower of the two results. This is why someone with very little income can still get a reduced pension because of their assets, and the other way around.
Money in bank accounts, shares and similar financial assets is not counted on the actual interest or dividends it earns. Instead it is treated as earning a set rate, called deeming. You can read how this works on our deeming page.
The pension goes up twice a year, on 20 March and 20 September. Pensions are adjusted by the higher of two inflation measures and then checked against a wage benchmark. This is the reason the pension has grown faster than working-age payments like JobSeeker over the years.
Who can get Age Pension
Services Australia assesses Age Pension eligibility on your age, your residence history, and your income and assets. You generally need to have reached Age Pension age and to have been an Australian resident for at least 10 years.
This page reports the rates and the test rules. It does not decide your claim. For the eligibility rules that apply to your own situation, check the official Age Pension page linked at the top and bottom of this page.
Related
- Rate table pageEvery variant on its own page
- Calculator pageThe estimator on its own
- Age Pension vs JobSeeker PaymentSide by side at three incomes
- Age Pension vs Disability Support PensionSide by side at three incomes
- 20 September 2026 indexationEvery payment, old against new
- Payment dates 2026Cycles and public holidays
Age Pension: common questions
- How much is the Age Pension per fortnight?
- The maximum single Age Pension is $1,237.70 a fortnight, effective 20 September 2026. That total includes the basic rate, the Pension Supplement and the Energy Supplement. Couples are paid a lower rate each. Your own payment can be less if your income or assets are over the free area.
- When does the Age Pension go up next?
- The Age Pension is indexed twice a year, on 20 March and 20 September. The next increase is on 20 March 2027. New rates are published just before each date, and this page updates to match.
- Does the Age Pension include the Energy Supplement?
- Yes. The Energy Supplement is paid automatically with the Age Pension, and the total on this page includes it along with the Pension Supplement. The rate table shows each part separately, because the Energy Supplement is frozen and does not rise at indexation while the other parts do.
- How much can I have in assets and still get the Age Pension?
- It depends on whether you own your home and whether you are single or a couple. The single homeowner assets free area is $333,000, and the pension reduces above that. The full assets test table on this page shows the free areas and the cut-off points for every situation.
- How does deeming affect my Age Pension?
- Your financial assets are treated as earning a set rate of income, called deeming, no matter what they actually earn. That deemed income is counted in the income test. Deeming means a term deposit paying little interest is still assessed at the deeming rate. See our deeming page for how the rates and thresholds work.
- Is the Age Pension taxable?
- The Age Pension is taxable income. In practice many pensioners pay little or no tax because of tax offsets available to older Australians. How this applies to you depends on your total income, so check the Australian Taxation Office for detail.
Estimates and general information only — not financial advice. Check Services Australia for your circumstances.
Rates effective 20 September 2026 · next scheduled indexation 20 March 2027. Source: DSS / Services Australia. Last checked 23 September 2026.