About this calculator
The maximum Age Pension from 20 September 2026 is A$1,237.70 a fortnight for a single person (basic rate A$1,135.40 + Pension Supplement A$88.20 + Energy Supplement A$14.10) and A$933.00 each for a couple (A$1,866.00 combined). Two tests then reduce it. The income test lets a single person earn A$226 a fortnight (a couple A$396 combined) before the pension falls by 50 cents per dollar of extra income for a single person — 25 cents per dollar for each member of a couple, which is the same 50 cents on the combined rate. The assets test lets a single homeowner hold A$333,000 of assessable assets (A$600,000 for a non-homeowner; a couple A$499,000 / A$766,000 combined) before the pension falls by A$3 a fortnight per A$1,000 over the limit (A$1.50 each for a couple). Services Australia pays the lower of the two results, and this calculator does the same — never the higher one, and never an average.
Financial assets do not count at their actual returns: they are deemed to earn income at 1.75% a year on the first A$66,800 (single) or A$110,600 (couple combined) and 3.75% above, from 20 September 2026. That deemed income is added to your other income for the income test, while the same assets also count in full in the assets test — so a large savings balance can bite twice, once through each test. Your principal home is excluded from the assets test entirely, but your superannuation counts once you reach Age Pension age. Rates are indexed each 20 March and 20 September; the assets full-pension limits above are the 1 July 2026 figures and the cut-offs are the 20 September 2026 figures.
How to use it
- Pick single or couple (if only you are at pension age, choose the one-eligible couple option — the combined income and assets still apply, and you are paid half the combined rate).
- Say whether you own your principal home — homeowners get a lower assets limit.
- Enter your other assessable income per fortnight, your financial assets (for deeming) and your total assessable assets excluding your home.
- Read the income-test and assets-test lines: the lower one is your pension, and the binding-test line names it.
The formula
The fortnightly conversion divides annual deemed income by 26, and the pension year is 26 fortnights. Couple figures are per person: each partner’s pension falls by 25 cents per dollar of combined income over A$396, so the combined pension falls by 50 cents per dollar — which is why the published combined income cut-off of A$4,128.00 reproduces the A$1,866.00 combined maximum exactly ((4,128 − 396) × 0.50 = 1,866.00), and the single cut-off of A$2,701.40 reproduces the A$1,237.70 single maximum ((2,701.40 − 226) × 0.50 = 1,237.70). A couple with only one eligible partner is paid half the combined result, which reproduces the same published cut-offs for that situation.
Worked example
Recomputed from the official tables (Services Australia publishes rates and thresholds, not a worked dollar example, so every figure below is derived from those tables and cross-checked against the published cut-offs). Single, no other income, A$100,000 of financial assets, assessable assets under the limit: deemed income is (A$66,800 × 1.75% + A$33,200 × 3.75%) ÷ 26 = A$92.85 a fortnight, under the A$226 free area, so the income test gives the full A$1,237.70 — and with assets under the limit, that is the pension. Single on A$1,000 a fortnight of assessable income: A$1,237.70 − 0.50 × (A$1,000 − A$226) = A$850.70 a fortnight. Single homeowner with A$500,000 of assessable assets and no income: A$1,237.70 − A$3 × (A$500,000 − A$333,000) ÷ A$1,000 = A$736.70 — here the assets test binds. Couple with A$1,000 combined income and assets under the limit: each gets A$933.00 − 0.25 × (A$1,000 − A$396) = A$782.00.
Sources: Services Australia (servicesaustralia.gov.au): “How much Age Pension you can get” (maximum rates from 20 September 2026); “Income test for Age Pension” (free areas, tapers, cut-offs A$2,701.40 single / A$4,128.00 couple); “Assets test for Age Pension” (full-pension limits and 20 September 2026 cut-offs); “Deeming” (1.75% / 3.75% and thresholds); “Age Pension” overview (age 67, normally at least 10 years’ residence). Verified October 2026. Official pages: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/how-much-age-pension-you-can-get?context=22526 — https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/income-test-for-age-pension?context=22526 — https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/assets-test-for-age-pension?context=22526 — https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/deeming?context=22526 — https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/age-pension Last updated: October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my pension the lower test, not the better one?
That is the rule itself: Services Australia calculates your rate under both the income test and the assets test and applies the test that results in the lower rate (or nil). A calculator that showed only the income test would overstate the pension of anyone with substantial assets, and one that showed only the assets test would overstate it for anyone with substantial income. This page always shows both lines so you can see which one binds.
Does my home count? Does my super count?
Your principal home is excluded from the assets test entirely — that is why homeowners and non-homeowners have different limits (the non-homeowner limit is higher because renters need assets to house themselves). Your superannuation counts as an asset once you reach Age Pension age. One exception this page does not model: a younger partner’s super in accumulation phase is generally exempt until that partner reaches Age Pension age or starts an income stream — if that applies to you, enter assessable assets without it and your pension may be higher than shown.
I still work — does the Work Bonus help?
Yes, and this page deliberately does not apply it, so workers should read the result as conservative. The Work Bonus lets an Age Pension recipient disregard the first A$300 a fortnight of employment income (with unused amounts banked up to a balance limit). Because the field here counts employment income in full, a working pensioner’s true pension may be higher. Subtract up to A$300 a fortnight of employment income from the “other income” field for a rough Work Bonus-adjusted figure.
What is deeming, in plain terms?
Instead of using what your savings actually earn, Services Australia assumes they earn a set rate: 1.75% on the first A$66,800 (single) or A$110,600 (couple) and 3.75% above, from 20 September 2026. If your investments earn more than the deemed rate, the extra does not count as income; if they earn less, you are still assessed at the deemed rate. That is why the “financial assets” field matters even if your account pays almost no interest.
What is not included?
Transitional rates (people on part pensions at 19 September 2009), Rent Assistance, income-stream rules, gifting rules, exempt assets beyond the principal home, the permanently-blind exemption from both tests, and any proportional rate for pensioners living outside Australia. The Age Pension itself is a taxable payment, though tax is not automatically deducted. Rates change each 20 March and 20 September — re-run this page after an indexation date.
Am I even eligible?
You must be 67 or older (for people born on or after 1 January 1957), an Australian resident normally for at least 10 years, and under the income and assets test limits. This calculator checks the age and the 10-year residence figures you enter and refuses to produce a number if either fails, but it cannot verify your residence history — Services Australia makes the final decision, including under social security agreements with other countries.
What formula does this Australia Age Pension calculator use?
Deemed income per year = 1.75% × first A$66,800 (single) / A$110,600 (couple) of financial assets + 3.75% × the rest, ÷ 26 per fortnight; Income-test pension = maximum − 50c × (assessable income − A$226) single, or − 25c each × (combined income − A$396) couple; Assets-test pension = maximum − A$3 × (assessable assets − limit) ÷ A$1,000 single, or − A$1.50 each × (combined assets − limit) ÷ A$1,000 couple; Pension payable = lower of the two tests (floor A$0) The fortnightly conversion divides annual deemed income by 26, and the pension year is 26 fortnights. Couple figures are per person: each partner’s pension falls by 25 cents per dollar of combined income over A$396, so the combined pension falls by 50 cents per dollar — which is why the published combined income cut-off of A$4,128.00 reproduces the A$1,866.00 combined maximum exactly ((4,128 − 396) × 0.50 = 1,866.00), and the single cut-off of A$2,701.40 reproduces the A$1,237.70 single maximum ((2,701.40 − 226) × 0.50 = 1,237.70). A couple with only one eligible partner is paid half the combined result, which reproduces the same published cut-offs for that situation. The worked example on this page applies the formula step by step with real numbers, so you can verify the result by hand.