There are a number of strategies that retirees can implement to help them retain or improve their cash flow when changes to the pension assets test take effect.
Over 300,000 Australian retirees are expected to lose their Age Pension from 1 January 2017, with the federal government dramatically lowering the value of assets pensioners can hold before they begin to lose their payments. There will be many more losers than winners. The federal government estimates 326,000 people will lose some or all of their pension as disqualifying limits for the part Age Pension
payment have been reduced.
The assets test threshold, or disqualifying limit, is the maximum value of assets you can have before they affect your Age Pension payment.
On the other hand, around 170,000 people will have their pension payments increased as full pension thresholds have been raised.
For a couple aged over 65 years and on the pension, if they hold more than $816,000 in net assets (excluding the family home), then that couple will no longer receive a part pension from 1 January 2017. That threshold of allowable assets has been reduced from $1,178,500.
For single homeowners, their pension will cut out entirely if they have more than $542,500 in net assets, down from the existing allowable asset limit of $793,750.
For singles that don’t own their own home, they can hold only $742,500 in assets before their part pension is reduced, down from $945,250.
For a couple who rent, they can have net assets of $1,016,000 before they lose the pension entirely, with that threshold down from $1,330,000.
But there is some good news in that more people will be able to qualify for the full pension as full pension thresholds have been raised from January 2017. Couples that own their own home can now hold up to $375,000 in assets (excluding the family home) and still qualify for the full pension.
That asset threshold has been increased from $296,500.
An individual can hold up to $250,000 to qualify for the full pension, with that threshold up from $209,000 from 1 January 2017.
A non-homeowner couple can hold up to $575,000 in assets, up from $448,000, while a single non-homeowner can hold up to $450,000 in net assets, up from $360,500, and still get a full pension.
However, once the upper asset thresholds have been reached, people’s pensions will reduce at a dramatically faster rate from 1 January 2017 than before. Pensions will reduce by $3 per fortnight for every $1,000 of assets held above the lower assets test threshold, up from the current rate of $1.50 per fortnight.
If you would like to discuss these changes we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible. Having said that there are a number of strategies retirees can implement now to help retain or improve cash flow when the asset changes take effect.
Listed below are five areas that could be considered by retirees affected by the new assets test thresholds.
- The first could be investing in lifetime annuities. Lifetime annuities can provide advantages under the income and assets test as they are classified as long-term income streams that are not subject to
deeming and have a reducing asset value. - Re-contributing super from an older to younger spouse could be another effective strategy. This strategy is for couples with one spouse under the pension age, withdrawing part of the older person’s superannuation account and re-contributing it to the younger person’s account which may result in a reduction of assets, as superannuation is exempt in the accumulation phase until they reach pension age.
- Upscaling the family home could be another strategy. Because the family home is exempt from the assets test, strategies such as buying a more expensive principal residence or home improvements may result in reduced assessable assets. However, it is important to remember that everybody has their own unique financial circumstances and individual requirements and as such these strategies may also result in reduced liquidity and provide no extra income.
- Pre-paying funeral expenses was another possibility. Preparing for a funeral is not generally a topic of dinnertime conversation. However, pre-purchasing a burial plot, pre-paying funeral expenses or
purchasing a funeral bond of up to $12,500 may assist in reducing assessable assets and maximise Age Pension entitlements. - Gifting money to children or grandchildren could also be considered. Children and grandchildren are always happy to receive money. Ten thousand dollars per year, or $30,000 over five years, can be gifted without being subject to the assets test. The assets test is one of two means tests used by Centrelink to determine a person’s Age Pension eligibility, the second being an income test. Keep in mind that the test that produces the lowest Age Pension payment is then applied. The Pension changes were announced in the 2015 Federal Budget.
To find out more, please always feel welcome to contact us at any time.
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This article contains general advice only, which has been prepared without taking into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any person. You should, therefore, consider the appropriateness of the information in light of your own objectives, financial situation or needs and read all relevant Product Disclosure Statements before acting on the information. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the material, Paradigm Strategic Planning or Sentry Advice Pty Ltd will not bear responsibility or liability for any action taken by any person, persons or organisation on the purported basis of information contained herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no person, persons or organisation should invest monies or take action on reliance of the material contained herein but instead should satisfy themselves independently of the appropriateness of such action.
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