The maximum Age Pension rose by $36.80 a fortnight for singles and $55.60 a fortnight for couples combined on 20 September 2026, taking the full single rate to $1,237.70. On the same day Centrelink's deeming rates rose half a percentage point, to 1.75% and 3.75%, which claws back part of the increase for pensioners with savings.
What changed on 20 September 2026
| What changed | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Age Pension, single (max, per fortnight) | $1,200.90 | $1,237.70 |
| Age Pension, couple each | $905.20 | $933.00 |
| Age Pension, couple combined | $1,810.40 | $1,866.00 |
| JobSeeker, single no children | $808.70 | $824.90 |
| JobSeeker, partnered (each) | $740.30 | $755.10 |
| Deeming rates | 1.25% / 3.25% | 1.75% / 3.75% |
Who gets the increase
Services Australia says the rise applies to the Age Pension, Carer Payment and Disability Support Pension, which share the same maximum rate. The single total is made up of the basic rate ($1,135.40), the Pension Supplement ($88.20) and the Energy Supplement ($14.10), which did not change. Services Australia says you don't need to do anything: the higher rate applies automatically from 20 September.
JobSeeker Payment was indexed on the same day. A single person with no children now gets up to $824.90 a fortnight, up $16.20, and a single parent or someone aged 55 or over on payment for nine months or more gets up to $883.30. Student payments (Austudy and Youth Allowance for students) index on 1 January, so they did not change.
Why part-pensioners on wages get the full rise
The income test free area ($226 a fortnight for a single) and the 50c taper did not move — they index on 1 July. So a part-pensioner whose only other income is wages gets the whole increase. Take a single pensioner earning $600 a fortnight. The Work Bonus takes out the first $300, leaving $300 assessable, and the pension goes from $1,163.90 to $1,200.70 a fortnight.
Where deeming eats into it
Deeming assumes your savings, shares and account-based super earn a set rate, whatever they really earn. From 20 September the first $66,800 of a single person's financial assets ($110,600 combined for a couple) is deemed at 1.75%, and everything above that at 3.75%, up from 1.25% and 3.25%.
A single pensioner with $250,000 in the bank and no other income is now deemed to earn $309.19 a fortnight, up from $261.12. Under the income test alone, their pension goes from $1,183.34 to $1,196.10 — a rise of $12.76, not $36.80. These examples ignore the assets test, which can pay a lower rate; Centrelink pays whichever test gives less.
Check your own payment
Your next payment amount shows in your Centrelink online account or the Express Plus app. To model wages, savings and the Work Bonus yourself, use the Age Pension income test calculator; for JobSeeker, the JobSeeker payment calculator already uses the 20 September rates. Payday timing is on the Centrelink payment dates page, and the rest of the income test rules are in our Centrelink income test guide.