The Australian government has announced increases in Age Pension rates effective 20 September 2025. This change is intended to assist Australian seniors in managing the increasing costs of living by raising the Age Pension payment rates. The revised rates are applicable to both individuals and couples. The Age Pension for a single individual rises by $29.70 per fortnight and for couples $22.40 per fortnight per person. Singles now receive $1,178.70 and each member of a couple $888.50 per fortnight. This represents a significant increase in annual pensioner income and applies to all Australian retirees.
Updated Age Pension Rates (From 20 September 2025)
Age Pension payments consist of a base payment plus assorted supplements including the pension supplement and the energy supplement. The increase in rates provides these seniors with enhanced fiscal support. As it stands, singles are paid roughly $30,646 per year, while each member of a couple earns about $23,101 per year. The couple of sickness-separated spouses receives $2,357.40 per fortnight, paying the single rate each.
Age Pension New Rates Australia
| Type of payment | Full pension per fortnight |
| SIngle | $1,178.70 |
| Couple | $888.50 |
| Couple total | $1,177.00 |
| Payment Type | Single (Fortnightly) | Couple (Each, Fortnightly) |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Base Rate | $1,079.70 | $813.90 |
| Maximum Pension Supplement | $84.90 | $64.00 |
| Energy Supplement | $14.10 | $10.60 |
| Total Payment | $1,178.70 | $888.50 |
Aged Pension Eligibility Criteria
To access the Age Pension in Australia, one has to fulfill a number of requirements.
Age Start
Those born on January 1, 1957, and later reach the qualifying age of 67.
Physical Presence
Applicants tend to have lived in Australia for a minimum of ten years, including five years uninterrupted after the age of 16.
People Limit Finances and Properties
The applicant’s age, income, and savings determine the maximum payment, along with eligibility for primary and secondary payment. Contrary to the assumptions, every home single homeowner is allowed to have $321,500 else they won’t be eligible for the pension. If they have $714,500, they would get a partial pension. Other limits are in place for couples as well as for those who don’t own a home.
Payment Schedule and Frequency
Old Age Pension is typically paid every two weeks, and recipients get the money the next business day for a Tuesday. While the government finishes its part on Tuesday, the delay is caused from bank processing. Other days bank means two business days. Recipients can plan thanks to the Calendar for 2025/26 which outlines the precise dates for payment and bi-yearly adjustments in bubble inflation, which also occurs in March and September and the edges for wage increases of the dollar, thus guaranteeing that the pensions’ value sustains with time.
Impact of the New Rates
The rise in new rates will certainly shift the life of 2.5 million senior Australians the most since it will provide more security to their life after retirement. Every year, consumer indexes and the average weekly earnings prove that the government always works for the citizens and provides the most valuable form of support to the senior citizens.
