Updating your asset details with Centrelink

November 24th 2022 | Categories: Government Services |

The importance of having your asset values up to date with Centrelink, when you should make these updates and how.

Many Australian retirees receive part or full Age Pension from Centrelink. If eligible, it’s important to know how you can optimise your age pension benefits. The value of your assets and income determine your eligibility and entitlement amount, and your eligibility may alter if there are changes to your financial situation. You can optimise your benefits and potentially change your eligibility by reviewing your current financial situation and updating your asset values in Centrelink.  

  In this article:

• Why should I update my asset values with Centrelink?
• When should I update my asset values with Centrelink?
• Updating your asset values in Centrelink.
• Who can assist with updating your Centrelink asset values?

Why should I update my asset values with Centrelink?

Your relationship with Centrelink begins with them applying two different financial assessments; one being the Asset Test, and the other being the Income Test. Centrelink isn’t necessarily your friend here, they look at both test outcomes and base your benefit amount on the one with the highest value. So if your Asset Test shows a higher value worth than your Income Test, your Age Pension benefits will be based on your Asset Test value. The responsibility of keeping these test records up to date sits with you as the recipient. Centrelink communicates with recipients often, reminding them to update their asset and income values when they increase. An increase in these values would lead to a decrease in entitlements. Although for obvious reasons, not as much focus is placed on the opposite scenario where markets may have fallen, your asset and income value may have decreased and your entitlements should increase. Keeping your asset values up to date in Centrelink via your MyGov account allows you to optimise your age pension payments and helps to avoid any over-payments. If you have also been previously excluded from the age pension due to the assets test, updating your asset values may alter your eligibility status. Given recent market volatility and likely falls in retirement savings, superannuation balances and investments, your assets may have decreased in value to some extent. By updating your current asset values in your MyGov account, you may be eligible for an increase in your pension payments. If you did not meet the requirements of the assets test and were not previously eligible for the aged pension, you may now be eligible if your assets have decreased in value.  

Types of assets Centrelink assesses:

• Real estate assets including
  – properties you own and live in, leave vacant or rent out
  – granny flat
  – retirement village contributions

• Financial investments
• Superannuation investments
• Lifestyle interests
• Income streams
• Business assets
• Funeral investments (may be fully or partially exempt)
• Assets are given away (need to fit within the gifting limit)
• Special disability trust (concessions may be available)
• The market value of items such as cars, boats, household belongings, life value of insurance policies, personal items such as jewellery etc.

You can read the full list of assets included and excluded in the asset test here.

When should I update my asset values with Centrelink?

You should update your details with Centrelink anytime your situation or value of assets change and the changes are relatively significant. Centrelink will generally complete a balance update for most recipients annually, commonly in July. Given the recent market falls and the likely impact on your retirement savings, if you are currently in receipt of part pension benefits due to the assets test, you should request a reassessment by Centrelink as soon as possible. If you are on a part pension, for every $1000 your asset values reduce, and you will receive a $3 fortnightly increase to your age pension benefits. For example, say your retirement account had $500,000 in it at the last update, but due to minor negative returns and the annual pension payments made, your balance is now $450,000. For a balance decrease of $50,000, a home-owning couple’s Age Pension entitlement would likely increase by an estimated $150 per fortnight ($75 per fortnight each). If you do not update your asset and income values with Centrelink in a timely manner, you will miss out on additional entitlements that you are eligible for. A similar outcome would occur for the opposite; say your retirement fund has increased by $50,000 due to market returns, and a home-owning couple’s entitlements would likely decrease by around $150 per fortnight. The difference here is that you should complete a balance update with Centrelink in a timely manner to avoid a bill for calculated entitlement overpayments. Deeming rates are used to assess income from your financial assets. For those on the pension, the current deeming rate for singles is 0.25% for assets under $56,400 and 2.25% for assets over that amount. For couples, the deeming rate is 0.25% for combined assets up to $93,600 and 2.25% for anything over.

Other scenarios that should prompt an update:

• Buying or selling of an asset
• Receiving an inheritance or other large gift
• Factoring in depreciation on assets like a car or caravan

Updating your asset values in Centrelink

If you were previously not eligible for age pension benefits due to the assets test and believe you may now be eligible, you will need to retake the assets test. You can do this by working with your financial planner, or you will be prompted for asset details upon application. If you are already in receipt of age pension benefits, you are obliged to inform Centrelink of changes in value greater than $1000 of financial assets you own directly within 14 days. Centrelink applies a bulk valuation update for shares in public companies in March and September. However, you are entitled to request a reassessment at any time, updating your asset values to current market value. For any shares you own that are company-issued options or exchange-traded options, the assessable value is the sale price at the time of reassessment. You can update your asset values and income via your MyGov account. For a step-by-step guide, visit Centrelink online account help – update your income and assets details.  

Who can assist with updating your Centrelink asset values?

If you would like assistance with updating your asset values and income with Centrelink, you can visit your local Centrelink office or call 132 300 during business hours Monday to Friday. Otherwise, if you have a financial planner, your age pension benefits will be just one aspect included in your financial plan. Your planner can help you to update your information and explain the finer details.  

If you would like to speak with a financial planner about optimising your age pension benefits and/or updating your asset and income details, please get in touch.

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