Any idea which group of workers are paying the highest tax? I’m disappointed to report that it’s older Australians on an Age Pension. We uncovered this disappointing fact while completing research for leading super fund HESTA. The key takeaway was the severe...
When we shared an update article on gifting rules it sparked plenty of follow up questions from our members. Retirement Essentials Head of Customer Service and Centrelink guru, Steven Sadler, was instrumental in addressing these queries. And, being the guru...
All successful relationships rely on give and take. It’s necessary in marriage, business and with any financial service relationships. And, with 70% of older Australians on an Age Pension. You would also expect it to work well with Centrelink, the agency...
Understanding your Age Pension eligibility and what you're entitled to can feel like a big puzzle, but it's a really important piece of planning for a secure retirement. At Retirement Essentials, we truly believe every Australian deserves clear,...
Here’s what Bob, Ibrahim and Monica found out There are many ways of saving for your retirement. You can pay off your home, put money into super, an investment property or managed funds. Perhaps invest in art, cars or fine wine. I’m not a big fan of those...
The twice-yearly Age Pension indexation has now been announced with changes due to start on 20 September 2025. The tables below show the changes which affect retirees, as confirmed by the Department of Social Security (DSS) on 19 August. The new...
Deeming is central to how Centrelink calculates Age Pension entitlements, but it’s often misunderstood. Whether your investments earn less (or more) than expected, deeming assumes a standard rate of return – which can affect your pension. Here are three...
How does Centrelink assess your investment property earnings? Owning an investment property can be a great way to boost your retirement income. And about one in five Australian households owns a property beyond their main home (ABS, 2019–20). So this is...
The Age Pension payment changes on 20 September could mean so much more than a few extra dollars. Here’s how to use this trigger to maximise your income sooner rather than later. As we advised late last month, 20 September will deliver a fortnightly $29.70...