Centrelink Pension Changes From 2026

Many older Australians like to plan their budget months in advance and any update to pension rates becomes important for them. This is why the discussion around Centrelink Pension Changes From 2026have received a lot of attention. People want to know how much extra support they will receive, what the new rates and whether the income and assets limits have also changed. The Age Pension benefit has already been changed from 20th September 2025 and these benefits would be effective until 19th March 2026. It means these are considered to be 2026 increases that people would get in the first half of the year.

The Centrelink Pension Changes From 2026is the adjustment to Age pension payments based on inflation and cost of living pressures. These changes to age pension ensure that pensioners do not fall behind as essential living items continue to rise. The changes to Age Pension cover new rates for single, partnered pensioners and income and assets threshold to qualify for this benefit. The Age Pension payment helps older Australians to cover living expenses when they can’t work or earn any income.

Australia Age Pension Benefit Increase From 2026 – Overview

Post Title	Centrelink Pension Changes From 2026
Year	2026
Country Name	Australia
Benefit Name	Age Pension
Managing Authority	Services Australia
Who Qualifies?	Australians aged 67 years or older
Purpose	To Provide Financial Benefit to aged residents
Payment Frequency	Fortnightly
Inflation Indexation	20th September and 20th March Each Year
Current Period	20th September 2025 to 19th March 2026
Increase In	Payment Rates, Income & Assets Thresholds
Post Category	Finance
Official Web Portal	www.servicesaustralia.gov.au

Age Pension Payment Rates 2026

These are the new Age Pension Payment Rates that are effective from 20th September 2025 to 19th March 2026:

Single Pensioners
Payment Part	Earlier Rate	New Rate	Rise
Base Amount	$1,051.30	$1,079.70	$28.40
Additional Supplement	$83.60	$84.90	$1.30
Energy Supplement	$14.10	$14.10	–
Combined Total	$1,149.00	$1,178.70	$29.70
Partnered Pensioners
Payment Part	Earlier Rate	New Rate	Rise
Base Amount	$792.50	$813.90	$21.40
Additional Supplement	$63.00	$64.00	$1.00
Energy Supplement	$10.60	$10.60	–
Combined Total	$866.10	$888.50	$22.40

Australia Age Pension Eligibility Changes 2026

To get this Age Pension payment, Australians should be aged 67 years and must hold residency in Australia and this residency should be for a minimum of 10 years. There are also income and asset limits that need to be qualified. These income and assets requirements has been updated and check the new income and assets requirements for 2026:

If someone has assets over these limits provided then their pension benefit would be reduced:

Residents	Asset Limit
Single, owns Home	$714,500
Single, does not own home	$972,500
Couple, owns home (Combined)	$1,074,000
Couple, no home ownership (Combined)	$1,332,000
Couple, One partner eligible and owns home	$1,074,000
Couples, One partner eligible and does not owns home	$1,332,000
Couples Separated due to illness, owns home	$1,267,500
Couples Separated due to illness, does not own home	$1,525,500
Non – Residents	Asset Limit
Single, owns Home	$691,250
Single, does not own home	$949,250
Couple, owns home (Combined)	$1,040,500
Couple, no home ownership (Combined)	$1,298,500
Couple, One partner eligible and owns home	$1,040,500
Couples, One partner eligible and does not owns home	$1,298,500
Couples Separated due to illness, owns home	$1,221,000
Couples Separated due to illness, does not own home	$1,479,000

The following table shows disqualifying Income Limits for this Age pension and if someone earns this or over this then for that period the Age pension would not be paid:

Residents	Income Limits
Single	$2,575.40
Couple, both on pension	$3,934
Couple Separated due to illness (Combined)	$5,094.80
Non – Residents	Income Limits
Single	$2,436.40
Couple, both on pension	$3,732.80
Couple Separated due to illness (Combined)	$4,816.80