Centrelink / Veteran Payments / Pension Payments

An overview of how to access different payments and which forms to use.

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Understanding pension payments

The Age Pension is a support payment from the Federal Government that you can access once you reach the pension age and if your income and/or assets are under the applicable limits. It is one of a network of income support payments for Australians working less hours or not working at all, also including the Disability Support Pension and carer payments.

The Age Pension can support you to be able to afford everyday living expenses such as food, medical services and housing costs, and to engage in the community.

It can also help you to maintain your financial independence and to live at home for longer.

Alongside the Age Pension, which is paid through Centrelink, you may be able to receive financial support from the Government through other Services Australia payments. These include rent assistance, a mobility allowance if you are unable to use public transport, a Remote Area Allowance to help with the cost of living away from services and the Pensioner Concession Card for access to cheaper healthcare, medication and other discounts.

More information about how pension rates are worked out is contained in our guide to what you need to know about the pension.

Super funds have a complex relationship with the Age Pension as a type of income stream and it is best to speak to a financial adviser about how this works. The adviser will also be able to explain how you can access pensions and any impact they may have on accessing aged care services.

For financial advice call 1300 863 216 or search for a financial adviser online.

Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and services

If you’re a veteran, war widow or widower, you may be able to access additional financial supports and look for aged care services through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). There are a number of different payments that you could apply for ranging from income support and housing assistance to support with accessing health services.

To be eligible for supports through the DVA you must meet the criteria of having served in the Australian Defence Force, be a veteran of certain countries allied with Australia or be a Reservist who participated in Disaster Relief Service or Border Protection Service.

There are specific rules around what constitutes as service, which can be read on the DVA website, but there are no age requirements for DVA supports or payments.

Find out more about the benefits of care designed for veterans here.

For some of these services the DVA will cover the entire cost – for example for community nursing – and for some the DVA will contribute towards the cost, with the rest covered by another Government department or possibly yourself, such as for residential aged care.

A financial adviser will be able to assist in working through the different options available to you and how you can make the most of these supports.

For advice you can speak to a financial planner on 1300 863 216.

Centrelink

Centrelink can help you to pay for the costs of living, including food, electricity, housing rent, and engaging in the community if you don’t have enough income to be able to afford them alone.

Payments from Centrelink can also help with more specific costs for older Australians, like the cost of continence aids, the costs of caring for another person, concessions for health services and medication and loans to supplement your retirement income.

Once you find out what support Centrelink can give you, it’s likely you will be in contact with the organisation regularly, as you will need to report any changes in your circumstances to make sure Centrelink doesn’t pay you more than what you are entitled to.

Centrelink also has a mobile phone app linked to your online account, which you sign into via myGov.

The online account, whether you use it through the internet on a computer or through your mobile phone application, can be used to change your contact details – which needs to be done as soon as they change, for example if you move to a new address.

You can also view, print and save documents you may need from your online account – such as forms for Deduction Statements, Statement of debt and for a Replacement Concession Card.