Marjie is currently assessed under the income test and wants to know what she needs to do to be assessed under the assets test.
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Q. Marjie
Can you please explain what is considered income for Aged Pension purposes for a couple? We are currently assessed under income rather than assets (which are around $385k). We do not work, but we receive around $15,000 per annum in super pensions and I receive $4000 per annum from a UK pension. I just need to understand when it would change to the asset test. We are only a few dollars under full pension, but it is frustrating trying to work it out. Previously, I was assessed incorrectly and had to repay $1400 because Centrelink forgot to include my partner’s super pension (I was retired, and he was working) so I am trying to ensure they don’t make such errors in the future. Any help in this area would be much appreciated.
A. Your Age Pension eligibility is calculated by applying both the income and assets tests, with the resulting lower payment determining under which rules you are paid. If, under either of the calculations, the resulting payment is $0, then you will not receive an Age Pension.
Currently, the income threshold for a couple’s Age Pension is $79,736.80. This includes income from investments, property rental or as a salary from employment, as well as several other means.
The assets test, like the income test, has two thresholds and is split into two categories. The full Age Pension is received when a lower assets test threshold is not exceeded. The threshold for non-home owner couples is $594,500. The lower threshold is for home-owning couples, and is set at $387,500.
Once the lower thresholds are exceeded a person or couple’s entitlement to the Age Pension is reduced by $3 a fortnight for every $1000 their assets exceed that threshold. No Age Pension is received once an upper threshold is exceeded. The upper threshold for non-homeowner couples is $1,027,000. For couple homeowners, the upper threshold is $848,000.
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