Payments, concessions and support

There are other payments, concessions and help available for people who get Age Pension.

Payments

If you get Age Pension, there are other payments and supplements you may be eligible for.

Pension Supplement

To help with your bills and medicine costs, you may get an extra Pension Supplement with your Age Pension.

Energy Supplement

If you get Age Pension you may get an extra payment to help with your energy costs.

Carer Allowance

If you give daily support to someone, you may get Carer Allowance each fortnight. The person you care for must meet all of the following:

  • need care for at least 12 months, or have a terminal medical condition
  • be assessed as needing care by a medical professional
  • be able to receive care in their home or your home
  • meet the residence rules.

Essential Medical Equipment Payment

If you need help with energy costs, you may get an Essential Medical Equipment Payment each year. You can get this payment if you or the person you care for meet all of the following:

Home Equity Access Scheme

If you need a little extra to live on each fortnight, you can apply for a voluntary non-taxable loan. You must qualify for Age Pension and own a property in Australia to be eligible. Under the Home Equity Access Scheme you’ll get a payment each fortnight and you can pay it back at any time. The loan accrues compound interest each fortnight until you repay the loan in full.

Remote Area Allowance

If you live in an identified remote area you may get Remote Area Allowance each fortnight.

Rent Assistance

If you pay rent, you may get Rent Assistance with your Age Pension to help with this cost.

Concessions

If you get Age Pension, you’ll also get a Pensioner Concession Card which gives you:

  • cheaper health care
  • cheaper medicine
  • some other discounts in your community.

Read more about the benefits of this card.

Support

We have support services you may be interested in.

Centrepay

Centrepay is a free and voluntary service to help you pay bills and expenses as regular deductions from your Age Pension.

Financial Information Service

Our free Financial Information Service can inform and educate you about financial matters.

Advance payment

You may be able to get part of your Age Pension as an advance payment. You pay it back later out of your payments from us.

Rent Deduction Scheme

Use the Rent Deduction Scheme to pay your public housing rent straight from your Age Pension.

Deduct tax from your payment

Age Pension is a taxable payment. You can ask us to deduct tax from your Age Pension to help reduce how much tax you may have to pay at the end of the tax year.

Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers

Our Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers help grandparents and non parent carers who provide ongoing care for children.

Centrelink Indigenous Call Centre

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australians can call the Centrelink Indigenous Call Centre about our payments and services.

Multicultural Service Officers

Our Multicultural Service Officers help migrant and refugee communities connect with our services.

Social work services

If you’re going through a difficult time, our social workers can help you.

Deduct tax from your payment

Age Pension is a taxable payment. You can ask us to deduct tax from your Age Pension. This may help to reduce how much tax you may have to pay at the end of the financial year. 

Work Bonus

You can earn more income from working, if you’re an eligible pensioner, without reducing your Age Pension. We call this the Work Bonus.

Page last updated: 22 November 2023.
QC 51936