What actually changes when you turn 67?

On the headline rates, a single person on JobSeeker gets $808.70 a fortnight and the full single Age Pension is $1,200.90 — about $392 a fortnight, or roughly $10,200 a year. But the headline gap is usually the smallest part of the difference, because the two payments are means-tested completely differently. Enter your own assets and income above and the gap is often far wider.

Because the JobSeeker assets test is a cliff, not a taper. Services Australia puts it plainly: “Your payment will cancel when your assets are more than” the limit. There is no gradual reduction. The Age Pension works the opposite way — it reduces gradually, so at the very asset level where JobSeeker pays you nothing, the Age Pension may still pay you almost in full.

JobSeeker’s income test is steeper and has two steps: nothing up to $150 a fortnight, then 50 cents in the dollar to $256, then 60 cents above that. The Age Pension has a higher free area and a flat 50 cents. So the same job costs you noticeably more JobSeeker than it would Age Pension.

You need to claim the Age Pension — it is not always automatic, and claims can be lodged up to 13 weeks before you reach qualifying age. Do not leave it to the day: a late claim generally cannot be backdated. This calculator shows what changes; Services Australia decides your actual entitlement.

Principal carers of a dependent child, people with a partner under 22, people assessed as having a partial capacity to work under 15 hours, and anyone receiving Rent Assistance. It also does not model the Working Credit or Income Bank, which matters if your earnings are irregular. Those situations change the answer, so the calculator says so rather than guessing. The full guide covers more ground.

No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is transmitted, stored or emailed. We record only anonymous usage — that the calculator was used, and a broad outcome band — never the figures you type.