Age Pension increases: 20 March 2020

Age Pension | Age Pension payment rates > Age Pension increases March 2020

How much more Age Pension will you receive?

Ben Hocking

Digital Editor

11th Mar 2020

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91 comments

In accordance with indexation, Age Pension payment rates will increase as of 20 March 2020, but today, we can help you find out if you’ll receive more money as a result.

From 20 March 2020, the following fortnightly pension payment rates apply:

Maximum fortnightly Age Pension payment rates

		Previous	Current	Increase
Single	Base	$850.40	$860.60	$10.20
	Supplement	$68.90	$69.60	$0.70
	Energy Supplement	$14.10	$14.10	—
	Total	$933.40	$944.30	$10.90
Couple (each)	Base	$641.00	$648.70	$7.70
	Supplement	$51.90	$52.50	$0.60
	Energy Supplement	$10.60	$10.60	—
	Total	$703.50	$711.80	$8.30

The Pension Supplement is paid as part of certain regular fortnightly income support payments to help eligible recipients meet the costs of daily household and living expenses.

Pension Supplement* basic amount

	Previous	Current	Increase
Single	$23.90	$24.20	$0.30
Couple separated	$23.90	$24.20	$0.30
Couple (each)	$19.70	$19.90	$0.20

Pension Supplement# minimum amount

	Previous	Current	Increase
Single	$37.00	$37.40	$0.40
Couple separated	$37.00	$37.40	$0.40
Couple (each)	$27.90	$28.20	$0.30

* Pension Supplement basic is for those receiving a pension while overseas
# Pension Supplement minimum is for those paid a pension under the transitional rules

Planning your finances in retirement will help you decide whether you can support your ideal retirement lifestyle with or without the help of the Age Pension.

And, if you’ve just missed out on a part Age Pension due to your income or assets, indexed thresholds may mean you now qualify, so what are the new rates?

Age Pension increases March 2020

Will you get more pension?

Pension thresholds March 2020

Will you get more money?

JobSeeker changes 20 March 2020

Will you get more?

COMMENTS

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Colours
11th Mar 2020
5:31pm

Wow. $10.90. Now I can afford one packet of toilet paper every fortnight - if I can find one.

This government is entirely clueless.

Incognito
11th Mar 2020
6:04pm

Better than those stuck on Newstart (soon to be called Jobseeker payment), they only got $6 per fortnight.

ourjeffie
11th Mar 2020
10:19pm

Use both sides of the toilet paper - that way a roll will last twice as long.

Skiing
12th Mar 2020
9:12pm

10 bucks will get you 20 rolls from coles express so if you’re using that much a fortnight, you’ve got a problem

SuziJ
20th Mar 2020
11:46am

Not at the moment, it won't Skiing. Coles Express don't have any because of this 'stupid' panic buying, and they're probably not going to get any more into store because of it.

Hasbeen
20th Mar 2020
12:41pm

Who gets the pension supplement?

I don't. Should I & how do you get it?

Mariner
20th Mar 2020
2:57pm

Hasbeen - you get it automatically if you are on the age pension (living here in Oz). You might get it quarterly like me or it can now be included in your ordinary fortnightly pension, I still had a choice, now I do not know.

ronnieb
11th Mar 2020
5:36pm

Just don't spend it all at once. You don't know what little problem is just around the corner.

mogo51
11th Mar 2020
5:54pm

You mean like dysentery? Pension rise gone!!!

KSS
12th Mar 2020
7:50am

When was the last time dysentery was diagnosed in Australia?

Mamacrystal
15th Mar 2020
2:32pm

KSS.....dysentery DOES occur in Australia.....just google "Shigella" which is the organism causing it. I have nursed a number of children in my working years who had it.

James@
11th Mar 2020
5:42pm

Big deal as usual particularly when your spouse is below pensionable age but is being used to reduce the rate, i.e. half of the married rate.

Karen
11th Mar 2020
7:57pm

Duty of care to look after the taxpayer's money, James - oops - was that a sports scandal just flew past?

panos
20th Mar 2020
11:25am

This one is a biggie that needs to be FIXED......ASAP................. It;s criminal

curaeus
11th Mar 2020
5:45pm

Wow. Scotty from Marketing and Freudo the Cruel come through YET AGAIN for the poor and downtrodden. One possible caveat though. I hear you only get the extra 10m bucks or so if you reside in an electorate Scotty & Co want to win or keep!

KB
11th Mar 2020
5:46pm

It will help me pay for my increase in health care insurance

Mariner
11th Mar 2020
6:28pm

Just paid ours this morning for another year, $5600. Another step towards getting the full age pension.

older&wiser
11th Mar 2020
7:13pm

KB, agree. And as usual, my increase is well above the so-called 'average'.

KSS
12th Mar 2020
8:01am

My health insurance has gone up $48 per year! Less than a dollar a week!

Yes it is more than the average 2.92% at 3.21% but even at these rates I could still pay the increase and have 2 cups of coffee a week with the pension increase - IF I was on the pension of course.

FrankC
12th Mar 2020
12:12pm

My extras insurance has reduced by 60 cents a fortnight. The utilising opf that knows no bounds.

SuziJ
20th Mar 2020
11:48am

My extras cover is going up by 50c per fortnight ($26 pa) :)

Tadpole
11th Mar 2020
5:55pm

Wow I'm off to book me a cruise $3.35 a week ! Their generosity knows no bounds

arbee
12th Mar 2020
4:07pm

Cheap cabins will be available on the diamond Princess right now.

ozrog
11th Mar 2020
5:58pm

If you are in welfare housing you rents will go up by that amount.

Mez
11th Mar 2020
6:30pm

Yep, that's how it was when I was a student nurse living in the Prince Henry's Hospital in Melbourne nurse's home in Grant Street next to the Victoria College of Arts, in 1968/9.

panos
20th Mar 2020
11:27am

Don't say things like 1968/9 it just made me feel bloody old.....

Misty
11th Mar 2020
6:01pm

Big whoopy do, pension supplement up a huge 30 cents, can't have the budget not balanced can they, what a joke this is.

80 plus
11th Mar 2020
6:06pm

If you cannot manage on the governments charity I suggest you move to a marginal L.N.P. Electorate, goodies will come before the next election

Incognito
11th Mar 2020
6:06pm

Considering that the pension is much better than those stuck on Newstart, I think they really need to get Newstart recipients out of poverty.

ozrog
11th Mar 2020
6:14pm

I was thinking it is all centrelink including dead people.

Mondo
11th Mar 2020
6:17pm

Better than those who worked too hard and paid too much tax to qualify for a pension at all!

panos
20th Mar 2020
11:29am

" paid too much tax to qualify for a pension at all! "

If that was the case you would be on the pension..Tax avoidance anyone???

Coops
11th Mar 2020
6:30pm

I'm not sure why it was ever called newstart, some have been ie older Aussies on this poverty line for years, friends that we know and cannot get work. Both volunteer to receive it, it is so demoralising. Six dollars a fortnight is a national disgrace .

Incognito
11th Mar 2020
6:49pm

Work for the dole is a big scam, so is Job Providers. Is changing from Newstart to Jobseekers now.

Paul
11th Mar 2020
6:54pm

What do you want? People in some countries have to live on $10.90 a month.

Some Australians don't appreciate how privileged they are.

m52
11th Mar 2020
7:53pm

Rubbish, many are homeless with little income

panos
20th Mar 2020
11:30am

" What do you want? People in some countries have to live on $10.90 a month."

Cost of living in these countries are $12.00 a month so they are doing well..!!!!

Paul
11th Mar 2020
6:54pm

What do you want? People in some countries have to live on $10.90 a month.

Some Australians don't appreciate how privileged they are.

JB
11th Mar 2020
7:29pm

Agree 100% with you Paul !!!

Incognito
11th Mar 2020
7:44pm

Which countries are you talking about? Where cost of living is low?

Gra
11th Mar 2020
7:15pm

So many whingers, expecting CEO rates for sitting on their blot.

ozrog
11th Mar 2020
7:27pm

Just cause thats what you do.

Incognito
11th Mar 2020
7:45pm

I don't think anyone wants CEO rates, they just want to live comfortably without trying to make ends meets each week.

m52
11th Mar 2020
7:52pm

Boomer share rorting whingers are the worst.

Mariner
13th Mar 2020
5:45pm

m52 - you whinge without having shares. I do not whinge and I do not own shares but I am a Boomer.

Alan
11th Mar 2020
7:27pm

How pathetic is this increase. NOBODY gets an increase like ALL greedy politicians who get at least 3% per year every year. When was the last time pensioners got 3%. What did they give pensioners, a miserable 1.2%. How dare they have the audacity to do this.

almost a grey hair
11th Mar 2020
7:35pm

As usual the same old whingers and whiners with short arms and deep pockets.
My kids , who happen to be well employed are paying for yet another increase for pensioners in the form of payg tax without having a pay rise for the last six increases in age pension. So while you lot sit there drinking your extra coffee just remember who is going without so you can enjoy it. Why do so much whinging you are getting more just for being a burden

Incognito
11th Mar 2020
7:46pm

Wages are stagnant at the moment, so nothing to do with it.

m52
11th Mar 2020
7:50pm

You are most probably getting taxpayers money in the form of share rorts. As for your kids, they will probably need assistance at some time in their lives.

Misty
11th Mar 2020
10:15pm

How dare you call pensioners a burden, PLEASE APOLOGISE, most of whom probably worked hard all their lives and through no fault of their own were unable to save enough to be self funded.

Misty
11th Mar 2020
10:49pm

Almost a grey hair you know nothing about most pensioners, so many lost money during the GFC and never recovered their investments and not all working people had high paying jobs enabling them to save for a SFR, please show a bit more compassion for those worse off then you, also most pensioners paid their taxs and worked darn hard for their pension, those I know have.

Misty
11th Mar 2020
10:54pm

Also which government has kept the wages stagnant for ther last few years?, the one in government now, this Federal Coalition Government.

Mookie
12th Mar 2020
12:06am

Think about this you piece of crap i am on a disability with my own business which runs at a loss , i have shares which run at a loss at the moment , i am a highly skilled automotive technician investing whatever money i get into helping people , am i allowed to have a small business and invest in shares all which make losses the answer is YES all of its declared , i do all my own taxes hand in profit and loss statements to centrelink Order parts , research tons about the jobs i do so i get it right , i have filing cabinets i bought for a bargain you have zero clue about crap a burden on society am i ?? As for jobs you have any automotive work you need doing or are you going to continue to discriminate and masturbate all over that coffee ?

diamond
12th Mar 2020
2:58pm

You must be a laugh a minute at family gatherings.

almost a grey hair
14th Mar 2020
7:08pm

I am not getting anything in the way of share rorts (franking credits) as I don't have any shares
wages are stagnant but pension increases are not.
How am I discriminating when all I stated are facts , pensioners get an increase twice a year ,there can be no denying that - its a fact . Someone has to pay for these increases thats a fact.
Mookie I am a time served diesel fitter with 40 yrs underground experience and I have never been without work until I reached 59 and had to give up due to injury -fact I am now 63 with 3and a half yrs to wait until pension I am not on Newstart, sickness benefits or disability pension I am simply living off money I put away in the form of salary sacrifice since the super guarantee scheme was introduced. If I needed any automotive work doing I will do it myself rather than employ a loser like you you tosser.

panos
20th Mar 2020
11:34am

Shh he's busy with hand work !!!

Karen
11th Mar 2020
7:56pm

Hush - two drinks at the club and I'm rosy....

Alan
11th Mar 2020
8:05pm

There’s obviously a lot of LNP backers on here that nave never had to live on $900 per week for 2 people. I think people have forgotten about the tax all the pensioners paid in the early days which was supposed to be in a fund for there retirement. This was stolen by the government to use on other projects ( NB doesn’t matter which party). The ones who are calling the rest whingers are probably living comfortably on a huge pension. Most likely ex politicians.

m52
11th Mar 2020
8:32pm

Amazes me how people could still sit there and openly defend this LNP Government

Worked hard to retire
11th Mar 2020
9:22pm

How pathetic ,this Government is so far out of touch with reality its now beyond a joke .

Worked hard to retire
11th Mar 2020
9:22pm

How pathetic ,this Government is so far out of touch with reality its now beyond a joke .

Arvo
11th Mar 2020
9:49pm

You're right. But, they don't care, they really wanted an increase of $5 pf. If Labor was in government you would've got $15-$21.90 pf extra.

Mariner
13th Mar 2020
5:47pm

Arvo - if only Whitlam was still alive. The good times then, we could all go mud bathing naked with Jim Cairns.

Nobby
11th Mar 2020
10:12pm

This is about a 2% pay rise. There are people on here saying we should all just be quiet and accept it and be thankful ... one person even comments about us sitting on our butts and complaining. Perhaps if they have worked all their lives and paid taxes for decades and some of us have defended our country. We have a right to expect a genuine increase so that we do not have to chose if we have lights, fan, tv, or food.
The big big problem is that when incomes had a big increase about 10 years ago that did not happen with pensions. So all we have been getting is 2% increases and 2% of not a lot is not very much.
Perhaps what the government needs to do is increase pensions basic rate by $100-$200 a week, then that will allow us to catch up, and we can survive.
One thing with pensioners if the government increases our pensions or gives us bonus payments then we will spend it and we will stimulate the economy and businesses.

KSS
12th Mar 2020
8:04am

Wage earners are not even getting 2% rises and you are getting a rise twice a year!

Misty
12th Mar 2020
11:27am

The fault of this current LNP Government KSS.

Misty
12th Mar 2020
11:36am

The Surplus and Budget must be protected at all cost, well that just went out the window didn't it with this Targetted Stimulous Package, for which I give them credit, but it remains to be seen how well it works, will people go out and spend that extra money?, I wonder, I hope so.

panos
20th Mar 2020
11:37am

Can't you all see it's the bosses (Ceo's) that have been getting the big pay rises by screwing over the workers courtesy of the LNP and there policy's

Mookie
11th Mar 2020
11:59pm

Indexed to what ? It sure is not indexed to the massive rort cost of living big companies such as coles and other supermarkets who continue the massive onslaught of price rises. Since coles got this steven cain as CEO gone is the slogan down ,down , down that new CEO has been busy skyrocketing prices , anyway this country is screwed

Teacher
12th Mar 2020
1:07am

How can we put back into the community the wonderful $10.90 per fortnight we have been granted when we can't even buy the staples of life - bread and milk. This amount would only buy me 5 cartons of long life milk and 4 loaves of bread, that is, if I could get any long life milk. That has vanished from the shelves too along with the various types of pasta. At the moment I am ashamed to say I am Australian what with the way my local community is massing at Woolies' doors at 7 am, rushing in and buying up all the toilet rolls, long life milk and varieties of pasta before I have even gotten out of bed, taken my usual pills and medicine, made breakfast, got dressed and trundled the car out to drive to the supermarket. Even then I probably wouldn't get a parking spot. I look to God to save us 'because nothing will save the Prime Minister'.

panos
20th Mar 2020
11:38am

Nice last sentence LOL memories

Teacher
12th Mar 2020
1:07am

KSS
12th Mar 2020
7:53am

Chorus all the usual suspects and their cries of woe!

At least you are still getting a twice a year increase, wage earners aren't!

Misty
12th Mar 2020
11:26am

And whose fault is that KSS?, the current LNP Government.

Alexii
12th Mar 2020
9:46am

It's almost 11 cups of $1 coffee at 711 or two cups of coffee at a cafe. Aren't we lucky ones!

80 plus
12th Mar 2020
12:05pm

This government could increase employment by engaging more staff for the taxation office who could then chase up the corporate entities which according to the press this morning owe $770,000,000 in unpaid tax. the bonus would be we might get towards the L.N.P. HOLY GRAIL, A budget surplus.

Incognito
13th Mar 2020
12:09am

Just need to stop subsidizing mining companies who are rich enough.

FrankC
12th Mar 2020
12:09pm

wow, a 1.1% increase per person per couple. I'm sure the CPI is a bit more than that !

FrankC
12th Mar 2020
12:16pm

1.18% to be precise.

retired lady
12th Mar 2020
12:16pm

As much as it is nice to get a rise, why bother? Keep your money Mr Morrison and put it towards your next wage rise.

Triss
12th Mar 2020
6:16pm

Hey, don't say that, retired lady, or he might just do that.

jug head
12th Mar 2020
3:58pm

to save money on toilet rolls do pualine hanson suggested and piss of the kolas use there gum leafs

catsahoy
12th Mar 2020
10:02pm

OZROG, the ministry will NOT touch the one off payment , they may charge us $2,50 on the $10 utility payment, but they CANNOT touch the one off payment, they didnt last time,

Misty
12th Mar 2020
10:49pm

Different government then.

Incognito
13th Mar 2020
12:11am

Rudd spent $50 billion on stimulus package, Scomo $17 billion.

Misty
13th Mar 2020
1:58pm

And that $50 billion saved us from a recession, but hese are different times so don't know if this one will work as well, especially if people do not go out and shop and I think the tourist industry will suffer big time. Who wants to go touring, cruising or holidaying from home, I know I wouldn't, the thought of getting sick so far away from home and family is enough to put me off goiing anywhere in the near future.

Unikat
13th Mar 2020
12:01pm

Costs of my Medication has risen 25% My basic groceries 20%, my bills 10-15%.
Polies wages, entitlements and pensions???

Olesarge
15th Mar 2020
10:23am

All BS but what do you expect when the countries finances are run buy a Jew and a Nazi sympathiser.

How is it a single gets more than a couple if one is not of age but has never worked.

All part of the planned genocide for people over 65.

Ducky
16th Mar 2020
5:43am

And we worked and paid taxes for all of those years so these underworked and overpaid people can have the enormous pay packets they receive. If I was young again I would work hard on cheating the system so that life when older would be easier.

patti
20th Mar 2020
10:19am

Wow, between this and the $750 I can hardly contain my excitement! I guess every little helps.......

Tags: age pension, pension increases, payment rates, indexation, centrelink