Is the Old Age Pension Ending In May? Urgent Info For Australian Seniors

As May 2025 approaches, many Australian seniors are asking a critical question: Is the Age Pension ending this month? The short answer is no.

The Age Pension remains a cornerstone of Australia’s retirement income system, and there are no government announcements indicating a cancellation or end of this benefit in May or beyond.

However, new updates to rates, payment dates, and eligibility rules are in effect, and seniors must stay informed to avoid missing out on their entitlements.

Is the Age Pension Being Discontinued in May 2025?

Despite circulating rumors, there is no plan to discontinue the Age Pension in May 2025. What’s happening instead is a regular series of payment adjustments, eligibility revalidations, and ongoing indexing based on inflation and living cost changes.

The government continues to support retirees aged 67 and above with means-tested payments, reviewed twice a year—in March and September.

Updated Age Pension Rates (As of March 2025)

Age Pension payments have been adjusted from March 2025, increasing slightly to reflect the cost-of-living pressures. Here’s a summary of the updated rates:

Recipient TypeFortnightly PaymentAnnual Payment
Single$1,149.00$29,874.00
Couple (each)$866.10$22,519.00
Couple (combined)$1,732.20$45,037.00
Couple (illness-separated, each)$1,149.00$29,874.00

These amounts include the base pensionpension supplement, and energy supplement.

Next Payment Dates for Seniors in May–Dec 2025

Here are the upcoming payment dates for the Age Pension (especially relevant for recipients outside Australia, but applicable nationwide):

Payment Issue DateDeposit DateCovers Payment Period
May 1, 2025May 7, 2025April 3 – April 30, 2025
May 29, 2025June 4, 2025May 1 – May 28, 2025
June 26, 2025July 2, 2025May 29 – June 25, 2025
July 24, 2025July 30, 2025June 26 – July 23, 2025
August 21, 2025August 27, 2025July 24 – August 20, 2025
September 18, 2025September 24, 2025August 21 – September 17, 2025
October 16, 2025October 22, 2025September 18 – October 15, 2025
November 13, 2025November 19, 2025October 16 – November 12, 2025
December 11, 2025December 17, 2025November 13 – December 10, 2025

Age Pension Eligibility in 2025

To receive the Age Pension in 2025, seniors must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Age Requirement: Must be 67 years or older.
  • Residency Requirement: Must be an Australian resident for at least 10 years, including at least 5 continuous years.
  • Income and Assets Test: Pension amount depends on income from work, investments, and total owned assets.

Income and Assets Test Thresholds (Updated)

The amount of pension received depends on the lower result between the income test and assets test. Here are the key thresholds for full and part pensions:

Income Test (Fortnightly Limits)

Household TypeFull PensionPart Pension Cut-Off
SingleUp to $212.00Up to $2,510.00
Couple (combined)Up to $372.00Up to $3,836.40

Assets Test (For Homeowners)

Household TypeFull Pension Asset LimitPart Pension Cut-Off
Single Homeowner$314,000$697,000
Couple Homeowners$470,000 (combined)$1,047,500 (combined)

Assets Test (For Non-Homeowners)

Household TypeFull Pension Asset LimitPart Pension Cut-Off
Single Non-Homeowner$566,000$949,000
Couple Non-Homeowners$722,000 (combined)$1,299,500 (combined)

Deeming Rates for 2025

For financial assets like savings and shares, the government uses deeming rates to calculate income:

  • 0.25% on the first $62,600 (single) or $103,800 (couple).
  • 2.25% on the remainder.

These rates are frozen until June 30, 2025 and are expected to be reviewed thereafter.

Australian seniors can rest assured—the Age Pension is not ending in May 2025. However, staying updated on eligibility rulespayment dates, and thresholds is essential. Make sure your documentation is current and that you meet the income and asset criteria.

With proper planning and awareness, seniors can continue to rely on the Age Pension as a stable financial support system well into the future.

FAQs

Is the Age Pension ending in May 2025?

No, there is no plan to stop the Age Pension in May. Payments will continue based on updated eligibility and rates.

What if I don’t revalidate my documents?

If you are required to revalidate your pension documents and fail to do so by the due date, your payments could be delayed or suspended.

Are Age Pension payments increasing in 2025?

Yes, pension rates were increased in March 2025 and will be reviewed again in September based on inflation and CPI.

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