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Work Bonus calculator: how much can I earn and keep my full Age Pension?
See how much you can earn from work each fortnight before your Age Pension starts to reduce, and what happens to your pension if you earn more. Uses the Work Bonus and Services Australia rates from 20 September 2026, checked on 27 October 2026.
Quick answer (rates from 20 September 2026)
- Single, full pension, no other income: earn up to $526 a fortnight (about $13,676 a year): the $300 Work Bonus plus the $226 income threshold.
- Couple, both working, no other income: up to $996 a fortnight combined ($300 each plus the $396 combined income threshold), or $696 if only one of you works.
- Work Bonus balance: unused Work Bonus builds up to $11,800, which can cover a busy fortnight or a short-term job.
Deemed income from savings and other income use up the income threshold first, so your number may be lower. Use the calculator for your own figures.
Gross wages before tax for the fortnight. Couples: each person’s Work Bonus only applies to their own earnings, and this assumes you both get the Age Pension and are of Age Pension age.
Your unused Work Bonus (income bank), up to $11,800. New claims from 1 July 2024 start with $4,000. Check yours in your Centrelink online account through myGov. Leave at $0 if unsure.
Everything you (and your partner) own except your home, such as super, savings, shares, investment property, cars and contents. Couples: combined.
Bank accounts, term deposits, shares, managed funds and super. Deemed to earn 1.75% on the first $66,800 (couples $110,600 combined) and 3.75% above that.
Income that isn’t from work, such as rent or a defined benefit pension. Couples: combined. Don’t include your work income here.
You could earn up to
This fortnight
- Estimated Age Pension
- Without any work income
- Change from working
- Work Bonus applied
- Work income assessed
- Deemed income
- Total assessed income
- Income test result
- Assets test result
- Work Bonus balance after
Maximum rate: a fortnight (basic rate, Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement).
Your pension as your work income goes up
Fortnightly pension against fortnightly earnings with no Work Bonus balance, using your other inputs. For couples the earnings are split evenly between you. The dot shows your current earnings.
How it’s worked out
- Work Bonus first. Each fortnight $300 is added to your Work Bonus balance and used to offset your work income. Whatever isn’t needed stays in your balance, up to $11,800. Only work income left over goes into the income test.
- Add your other income. Deemed income from financial assets and any other income are added to the assessed work income.
- Apply the income test. Single: no reduction up to $226 a fortnight, then 50c for each dollar over. Couple: no reduction up to $396 combined, then 25c each (50c combined) for each dollar over.
- Compare with the assets test. Services Australia pays the lower of the two results. If the assets test is already lower, earnings may not change your pension at all until the income test result falls below it.
One thing that surprises people: your balance offsets work income before the income test, so if you earn more than $300 every fortnight your balance runs down even when the income threshold would have covered it. The balance is most useful for irregular or seasonal work. Read more in Income bank: how casual and seasonal work affects your pension.
Rates used (as at 20 September 2026)
| Item | Single | Couple (combined) |
|---|---|---|
| Work Bonus (each pensioner) | $300 a fortnight | $300 a fortnight each |
| Maximum Work Bonus balance (income bank) | $11,800 | $11,800 each |
| Income threshold a fortnight | $226 (then 50c per $1) | $396 (then 25c per $1 each) |
| Income cut-off a fortnight (before Work Bonus) | $2,701.40 | $4,128.00 |
| Maximum rate a fortnight (basic + Pension Supplement + Energy Supplement) | $1,237.70 | $1,866.00 |
| Full pension assets limit: homeowner / non-homeowner | $333,000 / $600,000 | $499,000 / $766,000 |
| Part pension cut-off: homeowner / non-homeowner | $745,750 / $1,012,750 | $1,121,000 / $1,388,000 |
| Deeming | 1.75% to $66,800, 3.75% above | 1.75% to $110,600, 3.75% above |
Checked on 27 October 2026. Age Pension rates and thresholds are indexed during the year (maximum rates each 20 March and 20 September); the $300 Work Bonus and the $11,800 cap are set in the Social Security Act and aren’t automatically indexed. Sources:
- Services Australia: How the Work Bonus works (page updated 14 February 2025)
- Services Australia: Who can get the Work Bonus (page updated 14 February 2025)
- Services Australia: Work Bonus balance (page updated 21 July 2026)
- Services Australia: Work Bonus and your partner’s income (page updated 10 March 2026)
- Services Australia: Income test for Age Pension (page updated 20 September 2026)
- Services Australia: How much Age Pension you can get (rates from 20 September 2026)
- Services Australia: Assets test for Age Pension (limits from 20 September 2026)
- Services Australia: Deeming (rates current at 27 October 2026)
- DSS Social Security Guide 3.1.15.30 Work bonus: application (last reviewed 6 May 2024)
- DSS Social Security Guide 3.1.15.40 Work bonus: examples (last reviewed 12 August 2024)
- DSS Social Security Guide 1.1.G.25 Gainful work (work bonus) (last reviewed 11 August 2025)
Not covered by this calculator: transitional rate pensioners (not eligible for the Work Bonus), Rent Assistance, couples where a partner isn’t getting a pension or is under Age Pension age (their wages count in full, with no Work Bonus), couples separated by illness, and age and residence rules. Self-employed? The Work Bonus can apply to self-employment income from gainful work (your personal effort, such as a tradie or celebrant; not managing investments or property), but business income is worked out under different rules from wages, so treat this calculator as a guide for employment income only.
Common questions
How much can I earn and keep my full Age Pension?
From 20 September 2026, a single pensioner with no other income can earn $526 a fortnight from work before the pension reduces: the $300 Work Bonus plus the $226 income threshold. That is about $13,676 a year if earnings are even. Deemed income from savings and any other income use up the $226 income threshold first, so the amount is lower if you have them.
How much can a couple earn on the Age Pension?
If both partners are on the Age Pension, have no other income and both work, they can earn $996 a fortnight combined before their pensions reduce: $300 Work Bonus each plus the $396 combined income threshold. If only one partner works, it is $696, because each person’s Work Bonus only applies to their own earnings.
What is the Work Bonus?
The Work Bonus is a Services Australia concession for pensioners of Age Pension age. The first $300 a fortnight of employment income (and income from gainful self-employment) is not counted in the income test, and any unused part of the $300 builds up in a Work Bonus balance (income bank) up to $11,800 that can offset future work income. It is not an extra payment.
What is the Work Bonus income bank limit?
The maximum Work Bonus balance is $11,800. New claims from 1 July 2024 start with a $4,000 balance. You can check your balance in your Centrelink online account through myGov.
What happens if I earn more than the limit?
For a single person, the pension reduces by 50 cents for every dollar of assessed income over $226 a fortnight. For couples, each partner’s pension reduces by 25 cents for every dollar of combined income over $396 (50 cents combined). Your pension stops if income reaches the cut-off ($2,701.40 a fortnight single, $4,128 combined for couples).
Does the Work Bonus help if the assets test reduces my pension?
Often your earnings are not the limiting factor. If the assets test already gives you a lower pension than the income test, extra work income only reduces your pension once it pushes the income test result below the assets test result. The calculator shows when this applies.
Does the Work Bonus apply if I am self-employed?
It can apply to self-employment income from gainful work, meaning work involving your personal effort such as a tradie, celebrant or artist. Managing your own investments or property does not count. Business income is worked out under different rules from wages, so this calculator is for employment income. Ask us or Services Australia about your situation.