An Age Pension advance payment lets you get part of your pension early once you have received it for 3 months. From 20 September 2026 a single person can get between $588.05 and $1,764.15, and a person in a couple between $443.30 and $1,329.90, repaid through smaller payments over the next 13 payments.
If an unexpected bill lands between pension payments, an advance payment lets you get part of your Age Pension early. It is not extra money: Services Australia calls it "like a loan from your Centrelink payment", and you pay it back through smaller payments afterwards. This article sets out the current amounts, the eligibility rules and what to weigh up first. All details come from Services Australia's "Advance payment" page (last updated 20 September 2026), read on 21 October 2026. Amounts change each March and September, so check the page if you are reading this later.
What an advance is
You get some of your income support payment early as a lump sum, and you pay it back by getting a bit less in your next 13 payments. The Age Pension version is open to people who have received the Age Pension for at least 3 months. (Services Australia lists the Age Pension, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, Farm Household Allowance, JobSeeker Payment, Parenting Payment and Youth Allowance for job seekers together in that group.)
How much you can get (from 20 September 2026)
For the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment, Services Australia gives a lowest and a highest advance amount:
| Your situation | Lowest amount | Highest amount |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $588.05 | $1,764.15 |
| Part of a couple | $443.30 | $1,329.90 |
These figures change with pension amounts each March and September. If you receive a part rate of pension, Services Australia works out the advance using the pension amount you get.
The limits on how often
In any 6 months or 13 fortnights you can get only one of these:
- one advance at the highest amount
- up to 2 advances of smaller amounts
- 3 advances at the lowest amount.
You can ask for the amount to be paid all at once or in 2 instalments. If you have less than the lowest advance amount available, you must wait until you are eligible again.
When you can't get one
Services Australia says you can't get an advance if you already had one in the past 12 months, and you're also not eligible if you:
- are repaying one you got more than 12 months ago
- owe a debt to the Australian Government
- can't afford to repay it within 6 months
- have less than the lowest advance amount available
- are outside Australia.
When you apply you must tell Services Australia your income and expenses so it can check you can repay.
How to apply and repay
The quickest way to apply is online or with the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app. Repayment comes out of your regular payment: every fortnight you pay back part of the advance, starting on the next date you are paid after you get it. Services Australia's page describes this as getting a bit less in your next 13 payments.
What to weigh up first
An advance is not extra money: the payments after it are smaller, so a short-term fix can squeeze your next six months. Before applying consider:
- Whether you can really manage on a smaller payment for 13 payments, and what else is due in that time, such as rent, Centrepay deductions and utilities. See our article on the Centrepay changes from 1 November 2026.
- Alternatives for hardship, which we cover in advance payments and hardship provisions and in no-interest loans for pensioners.
- How a recent increase in your pension affects your budget; see our 20 September 2026 explainer.
- If you owe Centrelink money already, you won't be eligible; see Centrelink debts and overpayments.
- For larger or ongoing needs, an advance is the wrong tool; see our articles on the Home Equity Access Scheme and on how and when the Age Pension is paid.
Worked example
Illustrative only, not personal advice.
Margaret, 74, is single and has received the Age Pension for years. Her fridge fails and a replacement costs $1,000. She applies online, tells Services Australia her income and expenses, and asks for an advance of $1,000, which sits within the single range of $588.05 to $1,764.15. The $1,000 is paid to her bank account, and for the next 13 payments about $77 a payment is deducted ($1,000 divided by 13). Her fortnightly payment is smaller for six months, so she checks her budget before applying and sets aside the amount. If a second need arises within the six-month window, she can take one more smaller advance, subject to the limits above, but she would face a bigger squeeze.
Sources
Key takeaways
- You can apply for an Age Pension advance after at least 3 months getting the Age Pension.
- From 20 September 2026 the range is $588.05 to $1,764.15 if you are single, and $443.30 to $1,329.90 if you are part of a couple.
- In any 6 months or 13 fortnights you can get one highest-amount advance, up to 2 smaller ones, or 3 at the lowest amount.
- You can't get an advance if you had one in the past 12 months, owe a debt to the Government or can't afford to repay within 6 months.
- You repay by getting a bit less in your next 13 payments, starting on the next payment date after the advance.
Frequently asked questions
How much Age Pension advance can I get?
From 20 September 2026, $588.05 to $1,764.15 if single and $443.30 to $1,329.90 if part of a couple, according to Services Australia. The amounts change each March and September.
How do I repay an Age Pension advance?
You get a bit less in your next 13 payments. Repayments start on the next date you are paid after getting the advance.
Who can't get an advance payment?
You can't if you already had one in the past 12 months, are repaying one from more than 12 months ago, owe a debt to the Australian Government, can't afford to repay it within 6 months, have less than the lowest advance amount available, or are outside Australia.
Can I get more than one advance?
In any 6 months or 13 fortnights you can get one advance at the highest amount, up to 2 smaller advances, or 3 at the lowest amount.