Age Pension after your spouse dies — what changes in Australia

When a spouse or partner dies in Australia, the surviving partner's Age Pension entitlements change immediately. Understanding what changes, how much you will receive, and what you need to do is essential — particularly in the weeks following the death when finances are uncertain.

What happens to the Age Pension when your partner dies?

If both you and your partner were receiving the Age Pension, you were on the couples rate. When your partner dies, you automatically move to the singles rate. The singles rate is higher per person than the couples rate — so your individual fortnightly payment increases.

Current Age Pension rates (from 20 March 2026)

• Single person: $1,200.90 per fortnight ($31,223 per year)
• Each member of a couple: $905.20 per fortnight ($23,535 per year)

Moving to the singles rate increases your fortnightly payment by approximately $295. Centrelink applies this automatically — you do not need to lodge a new claim.

The 14-week bereavement period

During the 14 weeks immediately following your partner's death, Centrelink applies special bereavement rules. You continue to receive payments at the couples rate rather than having payments immediately reduced to the single rate. This gives you financial breathing room to adjust. After 14 weeks, your pension transitions to the full singles rate automatically.

The bereavement lump sum payment

You may also be entitled to a lump sum bereavement payment — the difference between what you received as a couple and what you will receive as a single person, calculated over the 14-week period.

To receive the lump sum, both you and your partner must have been receiving an income support payment from Centrelink for at least 12 months before the death.

How the assets test changes

Current thresholds for full and part pension (from 20 March 2026):

• Full pension — single homeowner: assets up to $314,000
• Part pension — single homeowner: assets up to $697,000
• Full pension — single non-homeowner: assets up to $566,000
• Part pension — single non-homeowner: assets up to $949,000

You must notify Centrelink within 14 days of any changes to your assets or income following the death. The family home remains exempt as your principal place of residence.

Superannuation and the pension

Super does not form part of the deceased estate — it is distributed directly by the super fund. If you receive a super death benefit, it may affect your assets and income tests. Contact Centrelink after receiving any superannuation payment.

Step by step — what to do

1. Notify Centrelink as soon as possible — call 132 300
2. Ask about bereavement payment entitlement when you call
3. Continue receiving normal payments during the 14-week bereavement period
4. After 14 weeks, pension adjusts to the singles rate automatically
5. Notify Centrelink within 14 days of any changes to assets or income
6. Contact each super fund directly to lodge death benefit claims

Other payments you may be eligible for

• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
• Rent Assistance — if you are renting and receiving the Age Pension
• Pension Bonus Bereavement Payment — if your partner was in the Pension Bonus Scheme
• DVA payments — if your partner was a veteran, call 1800 555 254

Get free financial guidance from Centrelink

Centrelink's Financial Information Service Officers provide free, confidential guidance on how your pension will change. Call 132 300 and ask to speak with a Financial Information Service Officer before making major financial decisions.

Managing the estate alongside your pension

While Centrelink adjusts your pension automatically, there are many other organisations to notify. WithPassage generates formal bereavement letters, sends them and tracks every response — so you are not managing paperwork alone.