How to Claim the Age Pension 2026
Knowing how to claim the Age Pension ahead of time saves weeks of delay. You can start before your 67th birthday, most of it is done online through myGov, and getting your documents ready first is what makes it smooth. Here’s the whole process.
Last updated: August 2026 · Services Australia · FY 2026–27
When You Can Claim
Age Pension age is 67. Services Australia lets you lodge your claim in the weeks before your 67th birthday, so it can be assessed and ready to pay from the day you qualify — there’s no benefit to waiting until the day itself. You also need to meet the residence rules (generally a minimum period of Australian residence) and pass the income and assets tests. If you’re a little over the limits now, it’s still worth claiming: circumstances change, and being in the system makes a later grant faster.
Two Ways to Claim
1. Online through myGov (the usual way). Sign in to myGov and link a Centrelink account. If you’ve never dealt with Centrelink you may first need to prove your identity, which you can do online or at a service centre. Once linked, you complete the Age Pension claim, upload your supporting documents, and track its progress in the same place.
2. With help, by phone or in person. If online isn’t for you, call the Older Australians line or visit a Services Australia service centre. You can also appoint a nominee — a trusted person or organisation — to deal with Centrelink on your behalf, which many people set up as they get older.
Documents You’ll Need
- Proof of identity — passport, birth certificate, driver licence
- Income details for you and your partner — any wages, pensions from other sources, and financial assets that are deemed to earn income
- Assets details — balances of savings, super, shares and investments; the value of vehicles, contents and any property other than your home
- Bank account details for payment
- Residence details — dates of arrival and any time spent living overseas
Having accurate income and asset figures ready matters most, because those are exactly what the two tests assess — the Age Pension calculator is a good way to see where you’ll land before you lodge.
How Long It Takes
Processing times vary with demand and how complete your claim is — a claim with every document attached is assessed far faster than one Services Australia has to chase. If your claim is granted, payment generally starts from the date you became eligible (or the date you claimed, if later), so lodging early and getting the paperwork right is the single biggest thing within your control. You’ll be told the outcome, your rate, and which test set it.
If Something Goes Wrong
If you’re refused or you think your rate is wrong, you can ask Services Australia to review the decision — first an internal review, then, if needed, an appeal to the Administrative Review Tribunal. If your assets or income are just over the limit and you’re in genuine hardship, ask about Asset Hardship provisions or the Home Equity Access Scheme. And if you’re over 67 but don’t qualify for any pension, check whether you’re eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, which still gives cheaper medicines and concessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim before I turn 67?
Yes. Services Australia lets you lodge in the lead-up to your 67th birthday so the claim is assessed and ready to pay from the day you reach Age Pension age. There’s no advantage in waiting.
Do I claim through Centrelink or myGov?
Both — you claim online by signing in to myGov and linking a Centrelink account, then completing the Age Pension claim there. Phone and in-person options exist if you’d rather have help.
What if my partner isn’t old enough yet?
You can still claim in your own right at 67, but Services Australia assesses your and your partner’s combined income and assets against the couple limits, so their finances affect your rate even before they reach pension age.
What if I’m just over the limits?
Claim anyway. A small change in your assets or income can bring you under the cut-off, and being assessed now makes any later grant quicker. You may also qualify for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card in the meantime.
Also in Australia:
📋 Verified — Official source: Services Australia — Who can get Age Pension
⚠️ This is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. KnowMyGovt is an independent service with no affiliation with or endorsement by Services Australia, Centrelink or the Australian Government, and is not responsible for decisions you make based on it.
