How Can Centrelink Help Me?

Not sure where to start? Learn how Centrelink helps older Australians with the Age Pension, concession cards, carer payments and retirement support, and understand when you should contact My Aged Care instead.

Not sure where to start? Learn how Centrelink helps older Australians with the Age Pension, concession cards, carer payments and retirement support, and understand when you should contact My Aged Care instead.

You may still receive the Age Pension even if your income or assets are too high for the maximum rate. This guide explains how the income and assets tests reduce payments, when a partial pension applies, how couples and homeowners are assessed, and when the payment can reduce to $0.

You do not have to stop working before you can qualify for the Age Pension. This guide explains how employment income is assessed, how the Work Bonus can help, how your partner’s income may affect payment and what to consider before changing your work arrangements.

Age Pension eligibility usually requires at least 10 years of Australian residence, including one continuous five-year period. Learn how overseas residence, social security agreements, exemptions and returning to Australia may affect your claim.

Both partners in a couple can receive the Age Pension, but each person must qualify individually. This guide explains how Centrelink assesses couples, including different ages, combined income and assets, one partner working, separate residence histories and what can happen when partners live apart because of care needs.

Australian residence for the Age Pension involves more than citizenship or simply being physically present in Australia. This guide explains how Centrelink may assess your legal status, where your life was based, overseas absences, separate residence periods and the evidence that may help establish your residence history.

There is no single Age Pension payment that everyone receives. Learn how Centrelink calculates the Age Pension, why payment amounts differ, how the income and assets tests affect your payment, and where to find the current official rates.

Learn how to apply for the Age Pension through Centrelink, what information and documents you may need, how to submit and track your claim, and what happens during the assessment and decision process.

The Age Pension is an Australian Government income-support payment for eligible older Australians. Learn how it works, how it differs from superannuation and why eligibility and payment amounts depend on residence, income, assets and personal circumstances.

Age Pension eligibility depends on several rules working together. Understand how Centrelink considers qualifying age, residence history, income, assets, relationship circumstances and other factors before deciding whether someone receives a full pension, part pension or no payment.