The Age Pension is a Centrelink payment for older people.

To be eligible to receive the Age Pension, a person must:

See Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) ss 23(5A) and 23(5D) for age requirements, section 7(5) for residency requirements, section 43, section 1064 for calculation of pension.

The pension age will increase progressively by 6 months every two years from 1 July 2017 until 1 July 2023 [see Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) ss 23(5A) and 23(5D)].

A person applying for the aged pension must have been an Australian resident for at least 10 years, which includes at least one 5 year continuous period (unless an exemption applies) [Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) ss 7, 43(1)(a)].

Different payment rates apply for the Age Pension depending on whether the person is single or a member of a couple. For the current maximum payment rates, see the Services Australia- Age Pension Payment Rates website.

Centrelink will also assess a person’s income and assets in determining their Age Pension payment rate (and overall entitlement to the Aged Pension). See the Services Australia- Income Test for Pensions website.

Further information on the Aged Pension can be obtained in the Pension Rate Calculator A contained in section 1064 of the Social Security Act 1991 (Cth).