Introduction
The eligibility age for the Age Pension has changed over the years, but has now settled on 67 years, with no further changes planned.
Previous Age Pension ages from 1 July 2019 are provided in the table below.
| Date of birth | Age Pension age | Date that Age Pension age changes |
|---|---|---|
| Born between 1 January 1954 and 30 June 1955 | 66 years | 1 July 2019 |
| Born between 1 July 1955 and 31 December 1956 | 66 years and 6 months | 1 July 2021 |
| Born from 1 January 1957 onwards | 67 years | 1 July 2023 |
Source: Services Australia
Australia’s aging population and their increased longevity have reduced the Government’s capacity to support Australians in retirement. Basically, there are more retirees around than there used to be, who are now living longer, which means the Government has had to adjust the pension eligibility age to ensure they can continue to support retirees. The number of Australians over 65 is growing from 13% in 2019 to an estimated 25% by 2047.
The Age Pension age is the same for both men and women. In the past, women could receive the pension upon turning 60 in Australia. However, the female pension age was progressively increased from 1995 until it reached the male age in 2014.
This eligibility age increase significantly reduced the pressure on the Government to provide social security payments. The improved health and longevity of aging Australians made the change in pension age possible — without improved health and longer life expectancy, delaying retirement could have proved costly for the Government from a health care perspective.
Age pension eligibility calculator
Use our Age pension age calculator to calculate your pension age and the earliest date that you can apply for the Age Pension.
Are the age requirements different for the Service Pension?
Yes, the eligibility age for the Service Pension is 60 for both men and women.
While the Service Pension and Age Pension are two entirely different things, they cannot be received simultaneously; you can only receive one or the other.
A service pension is payable to eligible members of the Australian Defence Force (the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force) who:
- have had active military service,
- who satisfy residency requirements,
- and who pass both income and assets tests.
Under certain circumstances, this pension can also be paid to the partners of the eligible recipient.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs pays a service pension, and the Age Pension is paid by Services Australia.
Age pension eligibility requirements
Reaching the eligibility age isn’t enough to qualify for the pension; additional eligibility requirements must also be met. In addition to age eligibility, you also need to meet residency requirements and pass both an income and assets test to qualify for the pension.
Age pensioner eligibility for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, SAPTO and other benefits
If you qualify for the pension, the good news is that you’re also potentially eligible for a range of other benefits, including the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and SAPTO.
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
If the price of health care sometimes seems overwhelming, a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card can ease the burden of the cost by helping you to get cheaper health care. As a pensioner, you’ll be eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, provided that:
- you don’t qualify for any other government payment from Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
- you pass an income test that has different criteria than the Age Pension income test.
- you are an Australian resident, and you’re currently living in Australia.
SAPTO (Seniors And Pensioners Tax Offset)
Reducing your tax liability is often high on the financial priority list — SAPTO allows pensioners to do so. SAPTO is a tax offset available to eligible pensioners in Australia and can help reduce or even eliminate your tax liability by providing an offset of up to $2,230; It can reduce tax but does not generate you a tax refund.
If you’re a pensioner, you’ll be eligible for SAPTO by passing another income threshold test. If you pass, you may qualify for either a full or partial offset — every bit adds up!
Other benefits
On top of your pension, you may also be eligible for extra benefits to help with the costs of living. A Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement may help you with your pharmaceutical and utilities bills, while renters may be eligible for Rent Assistance.
There is no need to apply for these additional benefits. They are automatically applied if you are deemed eligible based on your Age Pension income and assets tests.
The information in this article is general in nature.