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

The Age Pension treats couples and singles differently. The differences are significant and affect both thresholds and payment rates.

Couples get higher asset test thresholds. But they get lower per-person pension rates. Singles get lower thresholds but higher per-person rates.

Understanding these differences helps you plan for retirement. Here is how couples and singles are treated differently.

Maximum pension rates

The maximum Age Pension rates differ for couples and singles.

Status	Maximum Pension (Annual)	Maximum Pension (Per Fortnight)	Per Person (Couples)
Single	$28,504.40	$1,096.30	N/A
Couple (Combined)	$42,504.40	$1,636.30	$21,252.20 each

Singles receive $28,504.40 per year. Couples receive $42,504.40 per year combined, which is $21,252.20 per person.

This means singles get about 34% more per person than couples. A single person gets $1,096.30 per fortnight. Each person in a couple gets $818.15 per fortnight.

The difference exists because couples are assumed to share living costs. Housing, utilities, and other expenses are shared between two people.

Asset test thresholds

Couples get higher asset test thresholds than singles. This reflects that couples typically have higher combined assets.

For homeowners in 2025-26:

Status	Full Pension Threshold	Cutoff (Zero Pension)
Single Homeowner	$327,000	$727,000
Couple Homeowner (Combined)	$490,500	$1,093,500

For non-homeowners in 2025-26:

Status	Full Pension Threshold	Cutoff (Zero Pension)
Single Non-Homeowner	$590,000	$990,000
Couple Non-Homeowner (Combined)	$753,500	$1,356,500

Couples get about 50% higher thresholds than singles. A single homeowner can have $327,000 before the asset test reduces their pension. A couple can have $490,500 combined.

But the couple threshold is not double the single threshold. It is about 1.5 times higher. This reflects shared living costs.

How couples are assessed

Centrelink assesses couples as a combined unit. Your assets and income are combined for the asset test and income test.

If you are a couple, Centrelink adds both partners' assets together. If one partner has $200,000 in super and the other has $300,000, your combined assessable assets are $500,000.

The same applies to income. Both partners' income is combined for the income test.

This means couples cannot split assets to get better outcomes. You cannot put all assets in one partner's name to reduce the other partner's assessable assets. Centrelink combines everything.

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.

Income test differences

The income test also differs for couples and singles.

Status	Income-Free Threshold (Annual)	Cutoff (Zero Pension)
Single	$5,668	$66,960
Couple (Combined)	$9,880	$102,284

Couples get higher income thresholds, but again, not double. The income-free threshold for couples is about 74% higher than for singles, not 100% higher.

This reflects shared living costs. Two people can live on less than double what one person needs.

Strategic implications

Understanding the differences between couples and singles helps with retirement planning.

If you are a couple, you have higher combined thresholds. This means you can hold more assets before your pension reduces. But you receive less per person than a single person would.

If you are single, you receive more per person, but you have lower thresholds. This means your pension reduces sooner as your assets increase.

For couples, balancing assets between partners does not help with Age Pension. Centrelink combines everything. But balancing assets can help with other strategies, like Transfer Balance Cap optimization.

For singles, you have less flexibility. You cannot split assets with a partner. But you receive higher per-person rates if you qualify for pension.

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.