Regardless of whether you are eligible for the Age Pension, there may be a range of other benefits available to you as a retiree or senior, such as travel concessions, lower-cost medicines and reduced council and water rates.
 

  • Age Pension
  • Financial Information Service (FIS)
    • This is a free, confidential service run by the Department of Human Resources to provide financial information. They also run free 'living in retirement' seminars. To find out more or to speak to a FIS officer, visit their website

       

  • Concession and healthcare cards
    • For retirees (even if you’re not of pension age), there are two types of concession cards that provide a range of benefits, including help with the cost of medicines:

      • Pensioner Concession Card – allows you to access lower costs for utility and medical bills including discounts on eligible prescriptions, and in some states, discounts on public transport. 
       

  • Seniors cards
  • Tax benefits
    • If you pay income tax, you may be able to take advantage of tax offsets designed for seniors. They are based on age, income and eligibility for government pensions, and allow you to earn more income. Find out more about the seniors and pensioners tax offset

       

  • Medicare Safety Net
    • If you and your family see many doctors and specialists during the year, the Medicare Safety Net is designed to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses once you've spent a certain amount. 

       

       

  • Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Safety Net Card
    • The government has created a 'safety net' threshold to help families with the cost of medicines. Once you spend up to the threshold, medicines will be less expensive or free for the rest of the calendar year. Apply for your Medicare PBS Safety Net Card at your pharmacy. 

       

  • Pension aged and caring for someone?
  • Pension aged and still working?
    • You may want to continue to work past Age Pension age. The government’s Work Bonus is an incentive for pensioners to remain in the workforce past pension age by increasing the amount you can earn before your pension is reduced. You do not need to apply for the Work Bonus. If you receive eligible employment income, the Work Bonus will be automatically applied to your income test. 

       

  • Pension aged and a veteran?

Other useful resources

    The impact of lump sum payments on Centrelink and your pension

    It's rarely a one-size-fits-all question, but it's a good idea to know how a lump sum payment may affect your Centrelink and/or pension entitlements. (Source: Financial Planning Association)

    Super and pension age calculator

    Work out when you can get your super and when you can apply for the Age Pension. (Source: MoneySmart)