Australian seniors say Age Pension fails to keep pace with cost of living

Retirees across Australia are saying the Age Pension no longer provides a livable income. Pensioner Gordon Lewis told The Senior the fortnightly payments are “extremely hard” to stretch to basic necessities, and many recipients can no longer afford meat or holidays. National Seniors Australia chief executive Chris Grice said pensioners are “not living but merely existing”, and called for employment income to be exempt from the Age Pension income test, as well as a new Pensioner Concession Card+ to help with energy bills, council rates and medicines.

Research by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) found a single homeowner aged 65‑85 would need about $36,434 a year for a modest lifestyle, rising to $51,164 for a renter – far above the current maximum Age Pension of $1,200‑$1,810 fortnightly. Advocates are urging the government to lift the fortnightly rate and index it more closely to real living costs.