by Amanda Hardy Lai | Mar 13, 2025 | Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
Unlocking the most value More than a million Australian retirees are potentially eligible for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) and haven’t applied. This card offers savings that can make a real difference – on prescription medicines, bulk billing, and...
by Amanda Hardy Lai | Mar 13, 2025 | Retirement Advice
Downsizing is a major financial and lifestyle decision, offering the chance to free up home equity and boost your super balance in retirement. We regularly explore it because of the unique retirement planning opportunities it presents. At its core, downsizing...
by Kaye Fallick | Mar 13, 2025 | Centrelink Age Pension
How will these affect you? Last week we confirmed the 20 March Age Pension rate increase of $4.60 (singles) and $7.00 (couples combined) for 20 March. This week we are pleased to confirm that all Retirement Essentials calculators have been updated with the new rates,...
by the Retirement Essentials Team | Mar 11, 2025 | Centrelink Age Pension
Here’s what you’ll get The twice-yearly Age Pension increase is due to land on 20 March 2025. We reported in mid-February our predictions for singles and couples, and we’re pleased to say our predictions were correct within a few cents. The table below shows the...
by Amanda Hardy Lai | Mar 6, 2025 | Centrelink Age Pension
Why the unfreezing of deeming rates in 2025 matters. Using deeming rates is the way Centrelink calculates the income you earn from your financial asset, regardless of whether you receive that income or not. In May 2020, the then Morrison Government froze deeming rates...
by Amanda Hardy Lai | Mar 6, 2025 | Centrelink Age Pension
Maria and Carlos’s dilemma How will an inheritance affect your Age Pension entitlements? Many Retirement Essentials readers ask this question. As life expectancy increases, it’s not unusual for people to receive an inheritance much later in life—often when they are...
by Kaye Fallick | Mar 6, 2025 | Retirement Advice
A change is playing out in retiree households across the nation. One that is barely discernible but will have major repercussions for a generation of retirees to come. And that’s the change in home ownership status for Australians as they exit the workforce. Once it...
by Amanda Hardy Lai | Feb 27, 2025 | Planning for Retirement
Stop now – or keep working? Retirement at 67 is often seen as the default, but is it really the best choice for everyone? Helen, who turns 67 in April, is weighing up her options. She has $275,000 in superannuation, $25,000 in personal assets, and $10,000 in...
by the Retirement Essentials Team | Feb 27, 2025 | Centrelink Age Pension
At the time of writing we still don’t know when the Federal Election will be held, except that it will be before the end of May. This means that we still expect a Federal Budget to be delivered on 25 March. Even if an election is called, it is likely we will see a...
by Amanda Hardy Lai | Feb 27, 2025 | Retirement Income
Annuity rules explained When we talk about retirement income, Account-Based Pensions (ABPs) often take centre stage because they’re the most common retirement income streams. But they’re not the only option. Lifetime income streams, such as annuities provide...
