Australian Government Benefits for Retirees: What You're Entitled To
Many retirees overlook benefits they may be entitled to — particularly the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, which is available regardless of asset level. This guide consolidates what's available federally and by state, with eligibility criteria and current 2026 figures.
Updated May 2026 · 10 min read · General information only — check Services Australia for your individual entitlements
Two tiers of support
Government retirement benefits broadly fall into two tiers depending on your financial situation:
Age Pension recipients
Pass the means test (assets + income). Get the pension payment, Pensioner Concession Card, and associated supplements. This is the richer package.
Self-funded retirees
Don't pass the means test (too many assets or income). Can still access the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, PBS concessions, and state senior cards.
Many people in the second tier assume they're not entitled to anything. That's often wrong — the CSHC in particular is significantly underutilised and provides real financial value.
1. Age Pension
The Age Pension is the foundation of Australian retirement income support — a fortnightly payment for eligible Australians, indexed to the higher of CPI or wages growth twice yearly.
Maximum rates as at 20 March 2026 (incl. all supplements — indexed March and September each year)
Single
$31,223/year
$1,200.90/fortnight
Couple (combined)
$47,070/year
$1,810.40/fortnight
Eligibility
- Age: 67 or older (for all Australians born on or after 1 January 1957)
- Residency: Australian resident, living in Australia, with at least 10 years of Australian residency (of which at least 5 must be continuous)
- Means test: Must pass both the income test and assets test (Services Australia applies whichever produces the lower payment)
Assets test (March 2026)
| Situation | Full pension | Part pension cuts off |
|---|---|---|
| Single homeowner | $321,500 | $722,000 |
| Single non-homeowner | $579,500 | $980,000 |
| Couple homeowners | $481,500 | $1,085,000 |
| Couple non-homeowners | $739,500 | $1,343,000 |
Assets reduce the pension by $3/fortnight ($78/year) for every $1,000 above the full pension threshold. Your home is exempt.
Income test (March 2026)
Income includes wages, rental income, and deemed income from financial assets. Deeming rates as announced from 20 March 2026: 1.25% on the first $64,200 of financial assets (singles) / $106,200 (couples);3.25% above that. Your actual super withdrawals don't count — only the deemed rate on the balance. (Verify current rates at Services Australia — deeming.)
Income free area: $218/fortnight (single), $380/fortnight (couple combined). Above these, the pension reduces by $0.50 for every $1 of income.
Work Bonus
Age Pension recipients can earn up to $300/fortnight from employment (not self-employment) without it affecting their pension. Unused Work Bonus accumulates up to a maximum of $11,800. New pensioners start with a $4,000 balance.
Source: Services Australia — Age Pension
2. Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)
Issued automatically to Age Pension recipients — no separate application needed. The PCC unlocks a broader concession package than the CSHC.
- PBS medicines: Concessional rate of approximately $7.70 per prescription (vs $25.00 general rate from 1 January 2026)
- PBS Safety Net: Free PBS prescriptions after a lower threshold of concessional scripts is reached
- Bulk billing: Doctors are more likely (but not obliged) to bulk bill PCC holders
- Medicare Safety Net: Lower threshold before out-of-pocket costs are subsidised
- State concessions: Electricity, water, rates, vehicle registration, and public transport discounts (vary significantly by state — see state cards section below)
- Hearing services: Subsidised hearing assessments and devices
3. Rent Assistance
Age Pension recipients who rent (privately, through a community housing provider, or in a retirement village) are eligible for Rent Assistance on top of their pension. The maximum rate from March 2026 is approximately$219.40/fortnight for singles and approximately $209.50/fortnight for couples combined (March 2026 — check Services Australia for confirmed current couple rate).
Rent Assistance only applies if your rent exceeds a minimum threshold. It's paid automatically if you're on the pension and report rent payments to Services Australia.
4. Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)
The CSHC is the most important and most underutilised benefit for self-funded retirees who don't qualify for the Age Pension. It has no assets test — only an income test.
Income thresholds (20 September 2025 – 19 September 2026)
Single: $101,105/year (adjusted taxable income)
Couple (combined): $161,768/year
Eligibility
- Age Pension age (67+)
- Australian citizen or permanent resident, living in Australia
- Not receiving the Age Pension or DVA payment
- Adjusted taxable income below the threshold
What income is counted?
Adjusted taxable income includes wages, rental income, and interest. Importantly:
- Account-based pensions (ABPs): Assessed via deeming at 1.25%/3.25% — not actual withdrawals
- Super in accumulation: Generally not assessed for the CSHC income test unless it generates assessable taxable income
- Other financial assets (bank accounts, shares, accumulation super): No assets test applies, but income generated from these (interest, dividends) counts toward adjusted taxable income
Benefits
- PBS concessional medicine rate (~$7.70/script)
- PBS Safety Net (free prescriptions after threshold)
- Higher Medicare Safety Net threshold rebates
- State-based concessions (varies — see below)
Source: Services Australia — Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
5. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) concessions
Both PCC and CSHC holders receive PBS medicines at the concessional rate. The practical value depends on your medications, but for regular prescriptions the saving is substantial:
- Concessional rate: approximately $7.70 per script (frozen until 2030)
- General rate: $25.00 per script (reduced from $31.60 on 1 January 2026)
- PBS Safety Net: Once your concessional co-payments reach the annual threshold, all further PBS medicines are free for the rest of the calendar year
6. State and territory Seniors Cards
Note: State Seniors Card eligibility criteria, concessions, and benefits vary significantly by state and territory and change over time. The information below is a general guide — always check the relevant state government website for current details before applying.
State Seniors Cards are separate from federal concession cards and available to most Australians aged 60+ (some states 65+) regardless of whether they receive the Age Pension. Benefits typically include discounts on public transport, energy, water, rates, and entry to government attractions.
| State | Card | Eligibility (general) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | NSW Seniors Card | Age 60+, working 20 hrs/week or less | Visit → |
| VIC | Victorian Seniors Card | Age 60+, working less than 35 hrs/week | Visit → |
| QLD | Queensland Seniors Card | Age 65+ (or 60–64 with concession card), working less than 35 hrs/week | Visit → |
| WA | WA Seniors Card | Age 65+, working 25 hrs/week or less | Visit → |
| SA | SA Seniors Card | Age 60+, not in full-time employment | Visit → |
| TAS | TAS Seniors Card | Age 60+, not in full-time employment | Visit → |
| ACT | ACT Seniors Card | Age 60+, working 20 hrs/week or less | Visit → |
| NT | NT Seniors Card | Age 60+, permanent NT resident | Visit → |
7. Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement
The Pension Supplement is paid automatically as part of the Age Pension — it is not a separate payment. It includes a Basic Supplement, Minimum Supplement, and Pharmaceutical Allowance, and is already included in the rates shown above.
The Energy Supplement is also paid automatically to Age Pension and most payment recipients — approximately $14.10/fortnight for singles. It is included in the total rates above.
CSHC holders who received the Energy Supplement prior to 2017 continue to receive it. New CSHC holders do not receive the Energy Supplement.
Model how benefits interact with your plan
RetireConfident's Retirement Calculator includes full Age Pension means testing — it models how your pension entitlement changes year by year as your assets are drawn down.
See our article on maximising your Age Pension for strategies to optimise your entitlement within the rules.
Open Retirement Calculator →Frequently asked questions
What is the Age Pension age in Australia in 2026?+
The Age Pension eligibility age is 67 for all Australians born on or after 1 January 1957. The phase-in from age 65 is complete. You must be 67 or older, meet residency requirements, and pass both the income and assets means tests.
Can I get the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card if I have significant savings?+
Yes — the CSHC has no assets test. It is income-tested only, based on your adjusted taxable income. Bank savings, shares, and superannuation in accumulation phase are not counted unless they generate assessable income. Account-based pensions (ABPs) are assessed through deeming, which can increase your assessed income. From 20 September 2025, the income threshold is $101,105 for singles and $161,768 for couples combined.
What is the Pensioner Concession Card and who gets it?+
The Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) is issued automatically to Age Pension recipients. It provides access to cheaper PBS medicines, bulk-billed GP visits (at the doctor's discretion), discounted utilities and transport (varies by state), and broader state-based concessions than the CSHC.
Do I get the Pension Supplement automatically?+
Yes. The Pension Supplement is paid automatically as part of the Age Pension payment — it is not a separate application. It includes a Basic Supplement, Minimum Supplement, and Pharmaceutical Allowance, and is included in the Age Pension total rates published by Services Australia. As at March 2026, the total Age Pension (including all supplements and Energy Supplement) is $31,223/year for a single and $47,070 for a couple combined.
What benefits are available to retirees who don't qualify for the Age Pension?+
Self-funded retirees who don't qualify for the Age Pension can apply for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) if they meet the income test. The CSHC provides cheaper PBS medicines, increased likelihood of GP bulk billing, and state-based concessions. Many retirees overlook this card, assuming they won't qualify — the income thresholds are higher than most people expect ($101,105 for singles in 2025-26).