As of 20 September 2025, the maximum Age Pension in Australia increased to $1,178.70 per fortnight for singles and $1,777.00 combined per fortnight for couples ($888.50 each). This amount includes the base pension, pension supplement, and energy supplement, following biannual indexation. These rates remain in effect until 19 March 2026.
From 20 September 2025, the maximum full Age Pension will increase by: $29.70 per fortnight for singles. $44.80 combined ($22.40 each) per fortnight for couples.
Who Will Receive the $1,100 Centrelink Bonus. The bonus will be automatically issued to eligible Australians receiving approved Centrelink payments. Those expected to qualify include: Age Pension recipients.
Other Age Pension benefits
Pension supplement - A regular extra payment to help with utility, phone, internet and medicine costs. Rent assistance – A regular extra amount to help you cover the cost of your accommodation costs. Utilities allowance - A quarterly payment to help with household bills .
Universal Credit standard allowances will receive an additional uplift of 2.3% as specified in the Universal Credit Act 2025. The basic and new State Pensions will be uprated by 4.8% from April 2026, in line with the annual increase in the Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) index for May–July 2025.
Pension increases for 2025 varied, with U.S. Social Security seeing a 2.5% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) in January, while some state/local pensions (like NY State) had smaller increases (e.g., 1.2%) and different schedules, and federal COLA estimates for 2026 were announced later in 2025 (around 2.8%). Key changes included higher IRS limits for retirement plans and increased Social Security taxable maximums for 2025, with varying boosts based on inflation data for the prior year.
The dollar amount increase to checks will vary depending on a person's benefit amount, but the average Social Security Retirement benefit, $2,008.31 in July 2025, will grow by about $56.
Eligibility for the $780 payment primarily depends on the recipient's participation in specific government support programs. The main groups eligible include: Age Pensioners and Disability Support Pension recipients. Carers receiving Carer Payment or Carer Allowance.
State Pension Uprate
The higher weekly State Pension amount applies from April 2026. If you are already receiving the pension, it will simply appear in your regular payments with the updated weekly figure — there's no single lump sum.
Key Takeaways
The 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2026. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million SSI recipients will begin on December 31, 2025. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits.)
The Pension Bonus is a tax free lump sum payment for registered members of the Pension Bonus Scheme who have deferred claiming Age Pension and stayed in paid work. The scheme is closed to new registrations. If you are registered in the scheme, you must claim the bonus at the same time you claim Age Pension.
Throughout the year, the age pension can increase and eligibility requirements can change. You might be wondering, 'When will the old age pension stop in Australia? ' The good news is that there are no plans to stop the Age Pension.
Note:
The maximum level of earnings protected by the CPP was also increased by 14% over 2024 and 2025. Your pension will increase based on how much and for how long you contribute to the enhanced CPP.
What is the assets test cut-off for Age Pension? The cut-off depends on your circumstances. For example, a single homeowner can have assets up to $714,000 and still receive a part pension, while non-homeowner couples can have assets up to $1,332,000.
If you receive the new State Pension, the full amount you'll receive for the 2025/26 tax year will be £230.25 a week (compared to £221.20 a week for the 2024/25 tax year). You can claim the new State Pension if you're: a man born on or after 6 April 1951. a woman born on or after 6 April 1953.
Iceland, Denmark, and the Netherlands have the most financially sustainable pension systems due to well-balanced contribution rates and participation.
Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has delivered her 2025 Budget, confirming several pension changes, including a cap on salary sacrifice, plans to index for inflation on pre-1997 Pension Protection Fund (PPF) benefits, and changes to the tax charged on defined benefit (DB) pension surplus funds paid directly to members.
The government has confirmed that no further Cost of Living Payments are planned for 2025. This means there will not be a new payment (such as the rumoured £450 payment) this year. Future financial support will depend on government decisions and the wider economy, including inflation and energy prices.
If your balance is less than $4000, your balance may be topped up to $4,000 if it hasn't been topped up in the last 2 years. You'll also get a one-off boost to your Work Bonus balance of $4,000 if you meet all the following: you were over Age Pension age and getting a Work Bonus eligible payment before 1 December 2022.
The Federal Government has approved a single $1,100 cost-of-living payment for eligible Centrelink recipients. The goal: provide immediate financial assistance amid rising living costs driven by inflation, high utilities, rent increases, and everyday expenses.