Age Pension Assets Test Calculator 2026 — Limits, Taper and Which Test Applies
From 20 September 2026 you get the full Age Pension with assets up to $333,000 (single homeowner) or $499,000 (couple homeowner, combined). Above that the pension falls by $3 a fortnight for every $1,000 ($1.50 each for a couple) and stops at $745,750 single or $1,121,000 for a couple. Non-homeowners can have $267,000 more.
The calculator runs the assets test and the income test (with your wages, the Work Bonus and deemed income on your savings) and shows which one sets your pension — Services Australia pays the lower.
Your Age Pension Under Both Tests
How each test applied
Estimate only, on the rates from 20 September 2026. Not modelled: Rent Assistance (which raises the cut-offs), transitional-rate pensioners, a partner's Work Bonus balance, couples where only one partner gets a pension. Services Australia's Payment Finder gives a claim estimate.
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Age Pension Assets Test Limits From 20 September 2026
Services Australia publishes two sets of limits: the most you can have and still get the full pension, and the cut-off where a part pension stops. Couples' limits are for both of you combined.
| Your situation | Full pension up to | Part pension stops above | Cut-off to 19 Sep 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, homeowner | $333,000 | $745,750 | $733,500 |
| Single, non-homeowner | $600,000 | $1,012,750 | $1,000,500 |
| Couple living together, homeowner | $499,000 | $1,121,000 | $1,102,500 |
| Couple living together, non-homeowner | $766,000 | $1,388,000 | $1,369,500 |
| Couple separated due to illness, homeowner | $499,000 | $1,324,500 | $1,300,000 |
| Couple separated due to illness, non-homeowner | $766,000 | $1,591,500 | $1,567,000 |
A couple where only one partner is eligible has the same limits as a couple. If you get Rent Assistance your cut-off is higher. The full-pension limits did not change on 20 September 2026; the cut-offs rose because the pension rate did. Transitional-rate pensioners have lower cut-offs: $665,500 single homeowner, $1,035,500 couple homeowner.
How the Assets Taper Works
For every $1,000 of assets above the full-pension limit, the pension reduces by $3 a fortnight for a single person and $1.50 a fortnight each for a couple — the same $3 per $1,000 across the two of you. That is $78 a year per $1,000, or 7.8% of the excess every year. The cut-off is simply the point where the reduction swallows the whole maximum rate ($1,237.70 single, $933.00 each for a couple).
| Single homeowner, assets | Over the limit | Reduction | Assets-test pension |
|---|---|---|---|
| $333,000 | $0 | $0.00 | $1,237.70 |
| $400,000 | $67,000 | -$201.00 | $1,036.70 |
| $450,000 | $117,000 | -$351.00 | $886.70 |
| $500,000 | $167,000 | -$501.00 | $736.70 |
| $550,000 | $217,000 | -$651.00 | $586.70 |
| $600,000 | $267,000 | -$801.00 | $436.70 |
| $650,000 | $317,000 | -$951.00 | $286.70 |
| $700,000 | $367,000 | -$1,101.00 | $136.70 |
| $745,750 | $412,750 | -$1,238.25 | $0.00 |
Non-homeowner: add $267,000 to every asset figure in this table and the pension is the same.
What Counts as an Asset
- Counted: bank and credit union accounts, term deposits, cash, shares, managed funds, loans you have made, superannuation once you are Age Pension age (or once you draw a pension from it), account-based income streams, investment property, cars, caravans, boats, home contents and personal effects, business interests and some gifts.
- Not counted: your principal home and generally up to 2 hectares of land it sits on, and superannuation in accumulation phase while you are under Age Pension age.
- Valued at: what you would get if you sold it at market value, less any debt secured against that asset.
- Tell Services Australia when financial assets rise by $2,000 or more, or other assets by $1,000 or more. Listed shares and market-linked investments are revalued automatically twice a year.
Working, Savings and Which Test Applies
Your wages never go through the assets test — only the income test, after the Work Bonus takes the first $300 a fortnight out. Your savings go through both: their value counts as an asset, and the same balance is deemed to earn income (1.75% on the first $66,800 for a single pensioner, 3.75% above — see deeming rates). That is why a pensioner with a large balance is often on the assets test even while working a few shifts: the income test result is higher, so it doesn't bite.
If the income test is setting your pension, extra hours cost you 50 cents in the dollar above the free area — check your net pay on the fortnightly pay calculator and model the pension on the Age Pension calculator. If the assets test is setting it, extra wages may not change your pension at all until the income test result falls below the assets test result.
Related Calculators and Guides
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- Carer Allowance — the fortnightly supplement and its $250,000 income limit
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- Paid Parental Leave calculator — 26 weeks from 1 July 2026, days, split and super
- JobSeeker payment calculator — what you keep when you work part-time
- Age Pension calculator — rates from 20 September 2026 and the income test, with the Work Bonus
- Deeming rates and calculator — 1.75% and 3.75% from 20 September 2026
- Disability Support Pension calculator — rates, the income test and the 29-hour work rule
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card — the income limit, deeming and a quick eligibility check
- Child Care Subsidy calculator — your CCS % on family income and the gap fee
- Parenting Payment calculator — single and partnered
- Fortnightly pay calculator — the gross fortnightly figure Centrelink asks for
How this calculator works▼
- Assets-test rate = maximum rate − (assets over the full-pension limit ÷ $1,000) × $3 (single) or × $1.50 each (couples, on combined assets), floored at $0. Services Australia states the taper on its DSP assets test page; the Age Pension uses the same pension assets test and the same limits.
- This taper, the maximum rates and the full-pension limits rebuild every published cut-off exactly — our tests assert all of them, including the ones in force before 20 September 2026. The calculator applies the taper continuously; Services Australia works in $250 steps, so results can differ by a few cents.
- Income-test rate = maximum rate − 50c per dollar over $226 (single) or 25c each per combined dollar over $396 (couples). Assessable income = wages after the Work Bonus + deemed income on the financial assets you enter + other income.
- Rates from 20 September 2026, read at Services Australia and in the DSS rates list on 24 September 2026. Pay Calculator Australia is not Services Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Age Pension assets test questions and answers
What is the Age Pension assets test limit in 2026?
For a full Age Pension your assets (not counting your home) must be no more than $333,000 if you are a single homeowner, $600,000 single non-homeowner, $499,000 for a homeowner couple combined and $766,000 for a non-homeowner couple. From 20 September 2026 a part pension stops above $745,750 (single homeowner), $1,012,750 (single non-homeowner), $1,121,000 (couple homeowner) and $1,388,000 (couple non-homeowner).
How much does the Age Pension reduce for assets over the limit?
$3 a fortnight for every $1,000 over the full-pension limit if you are single, and $1.50 a fortnight each for a couple (on your combined assets). For example, a single homeowner with $433,000 of assessable assets is $100,000 over the limit, so the pension drops by $300 to $937.70 a fortnight under the assets test.
Does the income test or the assets test apply?
Both are worked out and you are paid the lower result. People with modest savings and some part-time work tend to be on the income test; people with larger savings, an investment property or a big super balance past Age Pension age tend to be on the assets test. The calculator on this page runs both and shows which one is setting your pension.
Is my home counted in the assets test?
No. Your principal home, and generally up to 2 hectares of the land it is on, is exempt. That is why homeowners have a lower limit than non-homeowners — the gap between them is the same at every level. Everything else counts at market value less any debt secured against it: bank accounts, shares, super once you are Age Pension age, investment property, cars, caravans, boats and home contents.
Does working reduce the Age Pension under the assets test?
No. Wages are income, not assets, so they only go through the income test — where the Work Bonus disregards the first $300 a fortnight. Money you save out of your wages does become an asset once it sits in the bank, and it is also deemed to earn income.
When do the assets test limits change?
The Department of Social Services reviews the limits in March, July and September. The full-pension limits did not change on 20 September 2026; the cut-offs move whenever the pension rate does (20 March and 20 September) because they are built from it. On 20 September 2026 the single homeowner cut-off rose from $733,500 to $745,750.
For a full Age Pension your assets (not counting your home) must be no more than $333,000 if you are a single homeowner, $600,000 single non-homeowner, $499,000 for a homeowner couple combined and $766,000 for a non-homeowner couple. From 20 September 2026 a part pension stops above $745,750 (single homeowner), $1,012,750 (single non-homeowner), $1,121,000 (couple homeowner) and $1,388,000 (couple non-homeowner).
$3 a fortnight for every $1,000 over the full-pension limit if you are single, and $1.50 a fortnight each for a couple (on your combined assets). For example, a single homeowner with $433,000 of assessable assets is $100,000 over the limit, so the pension drops by $300 to $937.70 a fortnight under the assets test.
Both are worked out and you are paid the lower result. People with modest savings and some part-time work tend to be on the income test; people with larger savings, an investment property or a big super balance past Age Pension age tend to be on the assets test. The calculator on this page runs both and shows which one is setting your pension.
No. Your principal home, and generally up to 2 hectares of the land it is on, is exempt. That is why homeowners have a lower limit than non-homeowners — the gap between them is the same at every level. Everything else counts at market value less any debt secured against it: bank accounts, shares, super once you are Age Pension age, investment property, cars, caravans, boats and home contents.
No. Wages are income, not assets, so they only go through the income test — where the Work Bonus disregards the first $300 a fortnight. Money you save out of your wages does become an asset once it sits in the bank, and it is also deemed to earn income.
The Department of Social Services reviews the limits in March, July and September. The full-pension limits did not change on 20 September 2026; the cut-offs move whenever the pension rate does (20 March and 20 September) because they are built from it. On 20 September 2026 the single homeowner cut-off rose from $733,500 to $745,750.
Sources & References
- 1Assets test for Age Pension— Services Australia
- 2
- 3Income test for Age Pension— Services Australia
- 4How much Age Pension you can get— Services Australia
- 5Asset types— Services Australia
- 6Deeming— Services Australia
- 7Social Security Payment Parameters — 20 September 2026 indexation— Department of Social Services
Last verified: 24 September 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Anita Bell
AuthorFounder & Senior Bookkeeper
Accountancy degree (2015); certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One
Anita Bell earned her accountancy degree in 2015 and has worked as a senior bookkeeper with Prime Bookkeeping for over 5 years. This built her skills in Australian and New Zealand tax legislation and industry regulations. She is certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One, and works with payroll and rostering software including Gusto, Deputy, Tsheets and KeyPay. She has strong experience in hospitality, building and construction, financial services, real estate, ecommerce, and medical and health services.
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