Australian Pension News

Issue 47

Accessing your Centrelink online account using myGov

myGov is a simple and secure way to access a range of government services online in one place. Using
myGov will save you time and you may not have to call us.
Did you know you can create a myGov account even if you are outside Australia? To link your Centrelink
online account to myGov you generally need an Australian proof of identity such as an Australian
passport. If you don’t have the required documents and you live outside Australia, you can call us (see
page 4) and we will help you link your Centrelink online account to myGov.
You can find out more about myGov by going to servicesaustralia.gov.au/mygov

Proof of Life form

If you are older than 80 and live outside Australia you may need to complete a Proof of Life form. We
may send you a Proof of Life form if you get one of the following payments:

 Age Pension
 Disability Support Pension
 Carer Payment.
If we send you a Proof of Life form, you will need to do all of the following:

 complete the form

 visit, in person, an authorised certifier as listed on the form and get it signed
 return the form to us by the due date, otherwise your payment may stop.
If you can not return your form by the due date, let us know otherwise your payment may stop. We will
then send you a letter with a new due date to give you more time to complete the form.

Stay connected with us on social media

Follow Seniors Update on Facebook to keep up to date with our latest news and information. Seniors
Update provides information for seniors living in and outside Australia or living overseas. If you have a
general question, you can ask us on social media and one of our team members will respond. Just
remember not to share any personal information on social media.
Go to servicesaustralia.gov.au/socialmedia for more information.

Information about your payments

You will get 13 regular 4-weekly payments each year.
 4-weekly pension payment calendar – November 2022 to February 2023

Date we’ll issue Direct deposit Cheque customers Payment covers the period
your payment customers should should get
get payment by payment by

17 November 2022 23 November 2022 7 December 2022 20 October to 16 November 2022

15 December 2022 21 December 2022 4 January 2023 17 November to 14 December

2022

12 January 2023 18 January 2023 1 February 2023 15 December 2022 to 11 January

2023

9 February 2023 15 February 2023 1 March 2023 12 January to 8 February 2023

9 March 2023 15 March 2023 29 March 2023 9 February to 8 March 2023

*Tuesday 4 April 10 April 2023 24 April 2023 9 March to 4 April 2023

2023

4 May 2023 10 May 2023 25 May 2023 5 April to 3 May 2023

1 June 2023 7 June 2023 21 June 2023 4 May to 31 May 2023

29 June 2023 4 July 2023 18 July 2023 1 June to 28 June 2023

27 July 2023 2 August 2023 16 August 2023 29 June to 26 July 2023

24 August 2023 30 August 2023 13 September 2023 27 July to 23 August 2023

21 September 2023 27 September 2023 11 October 2023 24 August to 20 September 2023

19 October 2023 25 October 2023 8 November 2023 21 September to 18 October

2023

16 November 2023 22 November 2023 6 December 2023 19 October to 15 November 2023

14 December 2023 20 December 2023 3 January 2024 16 November to 13 December

2023

* Payment date brought forward due to an Australian Public holiday.

Cheque delivery may be later than these dates due to delays in mail delivery.
Direct deposit payments
In most countries we pay pensions directly into bank accounts. We encourage this method of payment
as it is safe, quick and reliable.
If you get your payment by direct deposit into your bank account it will be available within 2 to 6 days
after issue. If your payment hasn’t arrived within 10 days of issue, check with your local bank before
contacting us.

International Services closure dates

International Services will be closed on:

Christmas Day public holiday 26 December 2022

Boxing Day public holiday 27 December 2022

Public Service holiday 28 December 2022

New Year’s Day public holiday 2 January 2023

Australia Day Holiday 26 January 2023

Good Friday 7 April 2023

Easter Monday 10 April 2023

ANZAC Day 25 April 2023

Rates
Outside Australia pension rates and thresholds are re-assessed in January, March, July and September
each year.

Rates and thresholds

These Australian dollar (A$) figures are a guide only and are effective from 20 September 2022 unless
otherwise stated.

Outside Australia SINGLE COUPLE both COUPLE one COUPLE

pension rates eligible eligible partner separated due to
and thresholds ill health

How much Per year Per year Per year Per year each
pension 1, 2, 3
Outside Australia SINGLE COUPLE both COUPLE one COUPLE
pension rates eligible eligible partner separated due to
and thresholds ill health

Maximum basic A$24,356.80 A$36,722.40 A$18,361,20 A$24,356.80

rate

Basic Pension A$681.20 A$1123.20 A$561.60 A$681.20

Supplement

Total A$25,038.00 A$37,845.60 A$18,922.80 A$25,038.00

Allowable Per year Combined Combined Combined

Income 4

Full pension up to up to up to up to
A$4940.00 A$8736.00 A$8736.00 A$8736.00

Part pension Less than Less than Less than Less than
A$55,016.00 A$84,427.20 A$84,427.20 A$108,888.00

Allowable Assets Single Combined Combined Combined

5

Full pension — A$280,000 A$419,000 A$419,000 A$419,000

Homeowner

Full pension — A$504,500 A$643,500 A$643,500 A$643,500

Non-homeowner

Part pension — Less than Less than Less than Less than
Homeowner A$601,000 A$904,500 A$904,500 A$1,061,000

Part pension — Less than Less than Less than Less than
Non-homeowner A$825,500 A$1,129,000 A$1,129,000 A$1,285,500

Deeming rates Single Combined Combined Combined

and thresholds

Threshold A$56,400 A$93,600 A$93,600 A$93,600

Rate below 0.25% 0.25% 0.25% 0.25%

threshold

Rate above 2.25% 2.25% 2.25% 2.25%

threshold
These rates apply to customers who are permanently outside Australia or absent from Australia for
longer than 6 weeks.
1. We calculate the rate of payment under both the income and assets tests. We apply the test that
results in the lower rate or nil rate. Some assets are deemed to earn income and there are special
rules for other types of income. There is no income or assets test for customers who are permanently
blind.
2. Some customers may get a transitional rate of pension based on the pre 20 September 2009 income
test rules and payment rates.
3. Some customers may get a reduced rate of pension based on how long they were an Australian
resident.
4. Every 2 weeks, the Work Bonus disregards up to A$300 of employment income, or income from self
employment generated by your personal exertion, earned by eligible pensioners over Age Pension
age unless you get Parenting Payment Single. If your employment income is less than A$300, we
bank the unused Work Bonus up to a maximum amount of A$7,800. If you are eligible for a
transitional rate, we’ll compare the transitional rate that has no Work Bonus to the new rate which
has the Work Bonus. We’ll pay the transitional rate whenever it pays the higher rate.
5. We reduce single and combined couple rates by A$3.00 per 2 weeks for every A$1,000 of additional
assets above the allowable assets limit. We don’t include certain assets in the assets test.

International exchange rates available online

We work out the amount of payment you get by using an income and assets test. If you have assets in,
or get income from another country, we need to work out their value in Australian dollars. To do this we
use exchange rates. We publish exchange rate information on our website.
To check exchange rates go to servicesaustralia.gov.au/international

Keep up to date with the latest pension payment rates and dates
For the latest information about pension rates and payment dates outside Australia go to
servicesaustralia.gov.au and search for Outside Australia pension rates. We update pension rates,
and income and asset thresholds on our website as soon as they change.
This newsletter is also available on our website at
servicesaustralia.gov.au/customer/publications/int001
Disclaimer: The Commonwealth of Australia has attempted to ensure the information in this publication
is accurate. However, the Commonwealth does not warrant that the information is accurate or complete
nor will it be liable for any loss suffered by any person because they rely on it in any way. You should
contact the Australian Government Services Australia for full details of any entitlements and services to
which you may be eligible or how any pending changes in legislation, programs or services may affect
you.

How to contact us
Go to servicesaustralia.gov.au to find out information about your payment as well as our other
payments and services.
Call us Monday to Friday, between 8 am to 5 pm Hobart time.
Phone calls from the following countries are Freecall™. Dial the number shown without any international
or country codes before it.
Austria Freecall™ 0800 295 165
Canada Freecall™ 1888 2557 493
China (North)* Freecall™ 10 800 6100 427
China (South)* Freecall™ 10 800 2611 309
Denmark Freecall™ 8088 3556
Germany Freecall™ 0800 180 2482
Greece Freecall™ 0080 0611 26209
India Freecall™ 000 800 61 01098
Indonesia Freecall™ 001 803 61 035
Ireland Freecall™ 1800 200 333
Italy Freecall™ 800 781 977
Korea Republic Freecall™ 003 081 32326
Netherlands Freecall™ 0800 0224 364
New Zealand Freecall™ 0800 441 248
Philippines Freecall™ 1800 1611 0046
Poland Freecall™ 00 800 6111 220
Portugal Freecall™ 800 861 122
Singapore Freecall™ 800 6167 015
Spain Freecall™ 900 951 547
Thailand Freecall™ 001 800 611 4136
Turkey Freecall™ 00 800 6190 5703
United Arab Emirates Freecall™ 800 061 04319
United Kingdom Freecall™ 0800 169 5865
USA Freecall™ 1866 3433 086
* China (North) includes the provinces of Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang,
Liaoning, Jilin, Shandong and Henan. We consider all other provinces as China (South) for this purpose.
Note: a Freecall™ may not be available from every location within the country. It may not be free from
mobile or public phones. If using a pay telephone, you’ll need to insert coins or a card as for a local call.
You may not get a refund at the end of the call.
If you’re in a country that’s not in the list, or if you’re not able to use the Freecall™ number listed, please
contact us on +61 3 6222 3455.
You can also fax us on +61 3 6222 2799, or write to us at:
International Services
PO Box 7809
Canberra BC ACT 2610
Australia
Please include your name, Centrelink Customer Reference Number and your telephone number in your
query.
INT001.2211