Work Bonus Scheme for Pensioners

From 20 September 2009 the Work Bonus Scheme was introduced to encourage work force participation for pensioners over age pension age. It established a new pension income test concession for employment income.  This replaced the Pension Bonus Scheme for new pension applicants.

Under the above Work Bonus Scheme, half of the first $500 of fortnightly employment income was disregarded from the income test for pensioners over Age Pension age. This meant the maximum that could be disregarded was $250 per fortnight. Unused entitlements were forfeited.

From 1 July 2011 a more generous Employment Income Concession arrangement was introduced.

NB! The employment income of each member of a couple is assessed separately.  Therefore if one member of a couple earns $500 a fortnight and the other earns nothing, the employed member cannot use the unemployed members unused work bonus allowance.

Unused fortnightly entitlements of $250 can be accumulated until they reach the cap of $6,500.  Therefore by July 2014 each income tested pensioner could have accumulated $6,500 of Work Bonus entitlements that can be set off against income earned in 2014/2015

NB! Employment Income does not include self-employed income.

Refer to the DOHS link below for more details.

1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022

A single income tested pensioner can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$300	From Employment Income	$7,800
$180	From Any Income	$4,680
$480	Total Income	$12,480

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021

A single income tested pensioner can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$300	From Employment Income	$7,800
$178	From Any Income	$4,628
$478	Total Income	$12,428

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020

A single income tested pensioner can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$300	From Employment Income	$7,800
$174	From Any Income	$4,524
$474	Total Income	$12,324

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019

A single income tested pensioner can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$250	From Employment Income	$6,500
$172	From Any Income	$4,472
$422	Total Income	$10,972

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018

A single income tested pensioner can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$250	From Employment Income	$6,500
$168	From Any Income	$4,368
$418	Total Income	$10,868

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017

A single income tested pensioner can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$250	From Employment Income	$6,500
$164	From Any Income	$4,264
$414	Total Income	$10,764

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016

A single income tested pensioner can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$250	From Employment Income	$6,500
$162	From Any Income	$4,212
$412	Total Income	$10,712

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015

A single income tested pensioner can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$250	From Employment Income	$6,500
$160	From Any Income	$4,160
$410	Total Income	$10,660

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014

A single income tested pensioner can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$250	From Employment Income	$6,500
$156	From Any Income	$4,056
$406	Total Income	$10,556

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013

A single income tested pensioner can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$250	From Employment Income	$6,500
$152	From Any Income	$3,952
$402	Total Income	$10,452

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012

A single income tested pensioner can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$250	From Employment Income	$6,500
$150	From Any Income	$3,900
$400	Total Income	$10,400

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022

A pensioner couple that both earn employment income can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$600	From Employment Income	$15,600
$320	From Any Income	$8,320
$920	Total Income	$23,920

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

A pensioner couple that both earn employment income can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$600	From Employment Income	$15,600
$316	From Any Income	$8,216
$916	Total Income	$23,816

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

 

1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020

A pensioner couple that both earn employment income can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$600	From Employment Income	$15,600
$308	From Any Income	$8,008
$908	Total Income	$23,608

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019

A pensioner couple that both earn employment income can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$500	From Employment Income	$13,000
$304	From Any Income	$7,904
$804	Total Income	$20,904

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018

A pensioner couple that both earn employment income can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$500	From Employment Income	$13,000
$300	From Any Income	$7,800
$800	Total Income	$20,800

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017

A pensioner couple that both earn employment income can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$500	From Employment Income	$13,000
$292	From Any Income	$7,592
$792	Total Income	$20,592

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016

A pensioner couple that both earn employment income can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$500	From Employment Income	$13,000
$288	From Any Income	$7,384
$788	Total Income	$20,384

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015

A pensioner couple that both earn employment income can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$500	From Employment Income	$13,000
$284	From Any Income	$7,384
$784	Total Income	$20,384

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014

A pensioner couple that both earn employment income can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$500	From Employment Income	$13,000
$276	From Any Income	$7,176
$776	Total Income	$20,176

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013

A pensioner couple that both earn employment income can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$500	From Employment Income	$13,000
$268	From Any Income	$6,968
$768	Total Income	$19,968

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.

1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012

A pensioner couple that both earn employment income can earn:

Up to:
Per Fortnight		Per Annum
$500	From Employment Income	$13,000
$264	From Any Income	$6,864
$764	Total Income	$19,864

before having the maximum age pension reduced under the Income Test.