The free Retirement Pathway Calculator compares four options side by side: staying in your home, buying a smaller home or apartment, moving to a land lease community, and moving to a retirement village. This page explains what it counts, the Centrelink rates it uses, and what it leaves out, so you can judge the results for yourself.
What it counts
- Selling your current home: the sale price you enter, less preparation costs, the agent’s fee, legal and conveyancing costs, and moving costs.
- Your next home: the purchase price or entry price you enter for each option, plus its upfront costs.
- Ongoing costs: rates, insurance and upkeep if you stay or buy smaller; the weekly site fee in a land lease community; the weekly fees in a retirement village.
- When you leave later: for a retirement village, the exit fee and costs from the contract terms you enter.
The cash each option could free up is what is left after these costs. It is shown before any choices about how you use the money.
How it estimates the Age Pension
The calculator follows the way Services Australia works out the Age Pension. It applies the assets test and the income test, and uses whichever gives the lower pension. Your home is not counted while you live in it. Money you free up by moving is counted as an asset, and deemed income applies to it under the income test. It also estimates Commonwealth Rent Assistance where it may apply, such as site fees in a land lease community.
Rates used (from 20 September 2026, per fortnight unless shown):
| Rate | Amount |
|---|---|
| Maximum Age Pension, single | $1,237.70 |
| Maximum Age Pension, couple combined | $1,866.00 |
| Assets test, full pension limit: single homeowner | $333,000 |
| Assets test, full pension limit: couple homeowners | $499,000 |
| Assets test, full pension limit: single non-homeowner | $600,000 |
| Assets test, full pension limit: couple non-homeowners | $766,000 |
| Assets test taper | $3 a fortnight for every $1,000 over the limit |
| Income test free area | $226 single, $396 couple combined |
| Income test taper | 50 cents for every $1 over the free area |
| Deeming rates | 1.75% up to $66,800 single or $110,600 couple; 3.75% above |
| Rent Assistance, single | Starts when rent is over $157.80; up to $223.80 |
| Rent Assistance, couple combined | Starts when rent is over $255.80; up to $211.00 |
| Age Pension age | 67 |
These rates change, usually in March and September each year. We update the calculator when they do.
Assumptions behind the projections
- Projections run 10 years ahead unless you choose a different period.
- Savings and investments earn 4.5% a year; super earns 5% a year.
- Living costs rise with inflation at 3% a year.
- Home values grow 2.5% a year. Land lease site fees rise 4% a year; village fees and home running costs rise 3% a year.
- Super in pension phase is drawn down at least at the legal minimum rate for your age.
These are reasonable middle-of-the-road settings, not forecasts. Real returns, fees and prices will differ.
What it doesn’t do
- It isn’t financial, legal or tax advice, and it doesn’t take your full personal circumstances into account.
- It doesn’t check any contract. Village and land lease contracts vary widely, so the exit fee and fee terms you enter matter.
- It doesn’t include aged care costs.
- It doesn’t store the figures you type into the first screen.
Use the results to compare options and to work out which questions to ask. Before you decide, check your situation with Services Australia and speak with a licensed financial adviser or a solicitor. Our Where to get advice page lists free and low-cost places to start.
Sources
Rates are from Services Australia and the Department of Social Services, current from 20 September 2026: Services Australia, payment rates from 20 September 2026.
General information only. Not financial, legal or tax advice.
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