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Picture Book · Home Equity Access Scheme

A loan from your own front door

Story pages

A grey-haired woman in her mid seventies watering pot plants on the front steps of a small timber Queenslander home
Meet Margaret. She's 74, owns her Brisbane home outright, and her pension only just covers the bills.
A grey-haired woman in her mid seventies at a kitchen table looking thoughtfully at a pile of envelopes
Her house is worth a lot, but she can't pay the power bill with a front door.
A cosy timber home with a gentle glow of warm light spilling from its open front door onto the garden path
The Home Equity Access Scheme lets people of Age Pension age borrow from the Government, using Australian real estate as security.
A grey-haired woman in her mid seventies reading a letter in a comfortable armchair by a window
It's voluntary, and the loan payments are not taxed.
A small wooden boat tied to a jetty with a rope
But it is a loan, not a gift. It has to be repaid with interest and costs, usually when the home is sold.
A grey-haired woman in her mid seventies and her adult daughter looking at a laptop together at a dining table
Margaret checks the Services Australia calculator, then talks it through with her family and an adviser.

The end

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General advice warning. This picture book is general information only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs, and it is not personal advice. Rules and thresholds change. Before acting, consider whether it is right for you, read any relevant Product Disclosure Statement and our Financial Services Guide, and seek personal advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Information as at 27 October 2026. Sources:

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Every situation is different. One of our advisers can help you work out what applies to you.

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Keep exploring: More home equity access scheme stories · All picture books · Age Pension what-if planner · Cost-of-living help for homeowners