Age Pension assets test rules for homeowners and non-homeowners.
The Age Pension assets test compares assessable assets against the correct single, couple, homeowner or non-homeowner threshold. Home status, couple status, financial assets, non-financial assets and the current taper can all change the estimate.
Check the income test and deeming rules too.
The assets test can be decisive, but the income test and deeming rules still shape the final Age Pension estimate. These pages belong together:
Rules checked 14 June 2026 against the current Services Australia pages.
Current assets-test thresholds used for RetireAI modelling.
The assets test starts with the household category. A homeowner and a non-homeowner can have the same assessable assets and receive different estimates because their thresholds are different.
| Household type | Full-pension threshold | Approximate cut-off |
|---|---|---|
| Single homeowner | $321,500 | About $722,000 |
| Single non-homeowner | $579,500 | About $980,000 |
| Couple homeowner | $481,500 combined | About $1,085,000 combined |
| Couple non-homeowner | $739,500 combined | About $1,343,000 combined |
What assets usually need to be counted.
Financial assets
Bank accounts, cash, term deposits, shares, managed funds and assessable super can count under the assets test and may also create deemed income under the income test.
Non-financial assets
Cars, caravans, boats, household contents, personal effects, investment property and some business assets may need to be included.
Principal home
The family home is treated differently from other assessable assets, but homeowner status changes the threshold used in the calculation.
How home status changes the result.
- A single homeowner with $500,000 of assessable assets is above the full-pension threshold, so the assets-test taper reduces the Age Pension estimate.
- A single non-homeowner with $500,000 of assessable assets is below the non-homeowner full-pension threshold, so the assets test may not be the tighter test.
- A couple homeowner with $650,000 combined assessable assets is above the couple homeowner threshold, so the combined pension estimate is reduced by the taper.
Common assets-test traps.
Using the wrong home status
Homeowner and non-homeowner thresholds are materially different.
Forgetting deeming
Financial assets can matter twice: once under the assets test and again through deemed income.
Missing younger-partner super
Mixed-age couples can need special treatment where one partner has not reached Age Pension age.
Old thresholds
Rates and limits move, so the source date matters.
Before using an assets test calculator
- Confirm single or couple status.
- Confirm homeowner or non-homeowner status.
- List financial assets separately from other assets.
- Check whether each partner’s super is assessable yet.
- Record any unusual assets, gifts, foreign pensions or defined-benefit income for official checking.
How RetireAI uses the assets test
RetireAI puts the assets-test estimate beside the income test, deeming, household spending, super drawdowns and retirement timing, so the result is easier to discuss with Services Australia or a qualified adviser.
Assets test questions people ask.
Does the family home count?
The principal home is generally treated differently, but homeowner status changes the assets-test threshold.
Can assets reduce the Age Pension to zero?
Yes. Once assessable assets are high enough, the taper can reduce the estimate to nil.
Is the assets test the whole means test?
No. The income test is also checked, and the lower payment estimate usually matters.