“My spouse doesn’t qualify, I didn’t know I could still get the Age Pension”
DID YOU KNOW: 75% of Older Australians surveyed by YourLifeChoices in 2018 say the rules and regulations of retirement income are too complicated.
“They are not sure about Age Pension entitlements and could potentially be missing out on income that could help them live a better retirement,” the report says.
And with 33 million Centrelink calls went unanswered in 2017, it is not surprising seniors find it hard to get questions answered.
For example, many age pensioners are not aware that if one spouse does not qualify, it’s still possible that the other spouse may be eligible.
In our interview with Tim Bridge (64-year-old retiree from Glendale NSW) he shared his experience of nearly missing out his entitlements because he was unaware of his eligibility for the pension with his wife Bronwyn.
“We actually thought we are not eligible or couldn’t be considered then we never really thought of the concept of a ‘split pension’ or the process where one of us would be eligible and the other one wasn’t,” says Tim. “We’re also very tunnel-visioned in the age process you know I’m not at pension age but my wife is well and truly there.”
So if you are in the process of applying for your Age Pension entitlements, remember that your relationship status can affect your payment rate.
In your application, you need to declare if you’re a single or in a relationship as this information can affect if you are really eligible for a pension, the type of payment you are entitled, and the amount you will receive.
In some instances, a pension is approved by Centrelink if one spouse is not yet eligible to receive the pension, and the other spouse already meets the criteria. In these cases, the eligible spouse will not receive the full age pension, but half the couple Age Pension amount.
It is crucial to check with an Age Pension Specialist to evaluate your situation, so you will not miss on your entitlements.
To learn more or if you have other Age Pension questions, you can call us on 1300 527 727 during office hours.
I am 68, married, and receive a super pension. I didn’t think I was entitled to an age pension (from when I turned 65) and so didn’t lodge a claim.
(I didn’t expect a greeting card from Centerlink at age 65 but it would have been nice to receive some sort of information alerting me to possible assistance and entitlements).
I have only recently found that I can claim an age pension and have done so. It will be effected by my Super but should put a few more dollars in my pocket.
I’m a bit annoyed that I have missed out on 3 years of income that would have greatly assisted my living expenses.
So, to any readers who receive a super pension; don’t make my mistake. Three (3) yrs of extra assistance is an expensive lesson.
Thanks for your comment Bruce. We see a lot of people that make this expensive mistake. As you pointed out you won’t get that money back as Centrelink won’t backdate payments, even if you were eligible all that time. It never hurts to check your eligibility which you can do here
Hi
My husband has reached his retirement age and I am not. I just want to find out, does my superannuation include in he calculation of investment/asset
Hi Jaime. If you are not receiving an income from your super then your superannuation does not count in his calculation/assessment until you reach age pension age- but you should still declare it
Thanks James for your quick reply
Hi,
I am 66 and my wife 63. For the past 45years my wife has been financially dependent on me and still is. Is there any way we can claim a full couple pension before my wife reaches 67.
Hi Grahame, thank you for reaching out. The guidelines for Age Pension eligibility are very black and white. There is no option for you or your wife to receive her portion of the Age Pension prior to her turning of age. If your wife’s dependence on you is due to injury or illness then you may be able to apply for Disability or Carer payments however it would be best to speak with Centrelink directly about this on 132 717 Monday to Friday from 8am-5pm.