Age Pension for Couples vs Singles: How Much Will You Get? 2025

Per-person comparison

When you compare per-person outcomes, singles generally do better than couples at lower asset levels.

Consider a homeowner with $400,000 in assets:

• Single: Assets are $73,000 above the $327,000 threshold. Pension reduces by about $5,694 per year. Maximum pension is $28,504, so they receive about $22,810 per year.
• Couple (combined $400,000): Assets are below the $490,500 threshold. They receive full pension of $42,504 per year combined, which is $21,252 per person.

At this asset level, the single person receives slightly more per person than each person in the couple.

But at higher asset levels, couples can do better because they have higher thresholds. A couple with $800,000 in assets might still receive part pension, while a single with $400,000 might receive less.

What counts as a couple

Centrelink defines a couple as two people who are married, in a de facto relationship, or in a registered relationship.

You are considered a couple if you live together and are in a relationship. You do not need to be married. De facto relationships count.

If you are separated but still living together, you might still be assessed as a couple. Centrelink looks at the nature of your relationship, not just your living arrangements.

If you are genuinely separated and living apart, you are assessed as singles. This can sometimes improve your pension entitlement if you have significant assets.

Planning considerations

If you are planning for retirement as a couple, remember that you are assessed as a combined unit. You cannot split assets to improve your Age Pension outcome.

But you can still optimize other aspects of your retirement. Transfer Balance Cap optimization, for example, benefits from balanced super balances between partners.

If you are single, you have less flexibility but receive higher per-person rates. Your thresholds are lower, so you need to be more careful about asset levels.

The right strategy depends on your specific assets, income, and circumstances. There is no one-size-fits-all answer.