Pension age calculator by date of birth
| Milestone | Age | Date | Time to go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age Pension age | 67 years | Thu 1 January 2037 | |
| Earliest Age Pension claim | 13 weeks before | Thu 2 October 2036 | |
| Super preservation age | 60 | Tue 1 January 2030 | |
| Super access even if still working | 65 | Mon 1 January 2035 |
These dates show when you reach each age. Getting the Age Pension also depends on residence rules and the income and assets tests. Getting your super at preservation age also depends on retiring or starting a transition to retirement income stream.
Age Pension age: 67
Services Australia says Age Pension age is 67 years or older and that there are no plans to change it. It rose in six-month steps from 65, reaching 67 on 1 July 2023. Anyone born before 1957 has already reached pension age. The table matters mainly if you are checking an older relative’s dates.
| Date of birth | Age Pension age |
|---|---|
| Before 1 July 1952 | 65 or younger (reached before 1 July 2017) |
| 1 July 1952 to 31 December 1953 | 65 years 6 months |
| 1 January 1954 to 30 June 1955 | 66 years |
| 1 July 1955 to 31 December 1956 | 66 years 6 months |
| On or after 1 January 1957 | 67 years |
Reaching the age is only the first test. You also need to meet the residence rules, usually 10 years of Australian residence, and the income and assets tests. If you keep working, your wages go through the income test. The Age Pension income test calculator shows how much pension you would keep after the Work Bonus. You can lodge your claim up to 13 weeks before your pension age.
Retirement age in Australia: there isn’t a compulsory one
Australia has no general retirement age. You can keep working as long as you like, and under the Age Discrimination Act 2004 an employer generally can’t make you retire because of your age. A few public offices have a fixed age by law. Federal judges, for example, must retire at 70 under the Constitution.
When people talk about the “retirement age”, they usually mean one of two different ages:
- Age Pension age (67): when you can get the government pension, if you pass the means tests.
- Preservation age (60 for most people): when you can access your super once you retire.
The seven years between 60 and 67 are the years many people pay for with their own super.
Super preservation age table
Your preservation age depends on your date of birth. Anyone born on or after 1 July 1964 has a preservation age of 60. The lower ages only apply to people born before then.
| Date of birth | Preservation age |
|---|---|
| Before 1 July 1960 | 55 |
| 1 July 1960 to 30 June 1961 | 56 |
| 1 July 1961 to 30 June 1962 | 57 |
| 1 July 1962 to 30 June 1963 | 58 |
| 1 July 1963 to 30 June 1964 | 59 |
| On or after 1 July 1964 | 60 |
The ATO lists three common ways to access super because of age:
- You turn 65, even if you are still working.
- You reach preservation age and retire. From age 60, leaving a job counts as retirement.
- You reach preservation age, keep working, and start a transition to retirement income stream.
If you are still building your balance, the superannuation calculator shows your employer’s 12% contributions. The salary sacrifice calculator shows what adding more from your pay costs you after tax. Since 1 July 2026, employers must pay super every payday; see Payday Super.
Pension age vs preservation age
The ATO puts it directly: “Your preservation age is not the same as your pension age.” Preservation age is a super rule run by your fund and the ATO. Age Pension age is a social security rule run by Services Australia. They are set by different laws and apply different tests.
After 60, super withdrawals from a taxed fund are generally tax-free. Once you reach pension age, your super balance counts toward the Age Pension assets test and deeming. The Centrelink income test guide explains how. If you are over pension age and still earning, the SAPTO calculator shows the seniors tax offset that can reduce the tax on your pay.
Pension age FAQs
What is the pension age in Australia?
The Age Pension age is 67. It has applied to everyone born on or after 1 January 1957 since 1 July 2023, and Services Australia says there are no plans to change it. Reaching 67 doesn't guarantee a payment. You also have to meet the residence rules and the income and assets tests.
What is the retirement age in Australia?
Australia has no compulsory retirement age for most workers. You can keep working as long as you like, and an employer generally can't make you retire because of your age under the Age Discrimination Act 2004. The two ages people usually mean are the Age Pension age (67) and your super preservation age (60 for anyone born from 1 July 1964).
Is the pension age going up to 70?
No. A rise to 70 was proposed in the 2014 Budget but never became law, and the government dropped it in September 2018. The Age Pension age is 67, and Services Australia says there are no plans to change it.
What is the preservation age for super?
Preservation age is the earliest age you can generally access your super, once you retire or start a transition to retirement income stream. It is 60 for anyone born on or after 1 July 1964. For people born before then it was between 55 and 59, depending on date of birth.
Can I access my super at 60 if I'm still working?
Once you reach preservation age, you can start a transition to retirement income stream while you keep working. From age 60, leaving a job counts as retirement under the super rules. From 65 you can access your super even if you are still working.
When can I apply for the Age Pension?
You can lodge your claim up to 13 weeks before you reach Age Pension age. If you already receive an eligible payment, Services Australia will write to you 13 weeks before your pension age to explain how to transfer to the Age Pension.
Is pension age the same as preservation age?
No. They are separate rules. Preservation age (60 for most people) controls access to your super. Age Pension age (67) controls the government pension from Services Australia. Many people use their super to cover the years between the two.
Can I work and still get the Age Pension?
Yes. Your earnings go through the pension income test, and the Work Bonus lets part of your employment income be ignored. Use our Age Pension income test calculator to see how your wages affect your fortnightly payment.
How the dates are calculated▼
Pension age comes from the Social Security Act 1991 s 23(5A) to (5D), as set out in the Department of Social Services’ Social Security Guide 3.4.1.10. Preservation ages come from the ATO’s table (last updated 10 July 2026). Where a birthday has no matching day in the target month, such as 29 February, the date moves to the first day of the next month. That follows the Social Security Guide’s rule. The claim date is 13 weeks (91 days) before pension age, per Services Australia. The calculator is covered by tests that include the Guide’s worked example: someone born 31 October 1953 reached pension age on 1 May 2019.
Sources & References
- 1Who can get Age Pension— Services Australia
- 2How to prepare to claim Age Pension— Services Australia
- 3Social Security Guide 3.4.1.10: Qualification for Age— Department of Social Services
- 4When you can withdraw your super (preservation age)— Australian Taxation Office
- 5Age discrimination: know your rights— Australian Human Rights Commission
Last verified: 23 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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