Do I lose my pension if I sell my house in Australia?

Yes, selling your home in Australia can significantly affect your Age Pension because the sale proceeds become assessable assets and income, potentially reducing or stopping payments unless you use the money to buy, build, or renovate a new principal home within 24 months. While the new home (and the funds for it) might be exempt from the assets test, the money is still subject to "deeming rules" for income, and any leftover funds after buying a new home are fully assessed, so you must inform Centrelink (Services Australia) of your plans.

Does selling a house count as income for Centrelink Australia?

The deeming rules are used to assess income from financial investments for social security purposes. Even though principal home sale proceeds can be exempt from the assets test for up to 36 months, the proceeds will still be subject to deeming under the income test.

Does the value of your home affect your pension in Australia?

Your home is not counted as an asset when calculating pension or payment, but it does affect how your pension or payment is assessed under the assets test. If you are a homeowner your asset value limit is lower than someone who does not own their residence.

Does selling your house affect your Social Security?

Selling your home, or any other asset, during retirement will not make you lose your Social Security benefits. Social Security benefits are calculated based on your lifetime earnings and work history—not your current assets or homeownership status.

How much cash can you have and still get the pension in Australia?

A single homeowner with more than $321,500 in assets will start to see a decrease in their Age Pension payments. If their assets reach $714,500, their Age Pension payments will be reduced to $0. For a non-homeowner couple, the maximum assets cut-off is $1,332,000.

What happens to my Age Pension if I sell my home?

Does selling a home count as income?

Taxpayers who don't qualify to exclude all of the taxable gain from their income must report the gain from the sale of their home when they file their tax return. Anyone who chooses not to claim the exclusion must report the taxable gain on their tax return.

What is one of the biggest mistakes people make regarding Social Security?

One of the biggest mistakes people make with Social Security is claiming benefits too early, usually at age 62, which results in a permanently reduced monthly check, sometimes by as much as 30%, instead of waiting for a larger, inflation-adjusted benefit that grows significantly until age 70. Other major errors include over-relying on Social Security as primary retirement income (it's only meant to replace ~40% of pre-retirement earnings) and not understanding spousal/survivor benefits or the tax implications.
 

Will my Medicare go up if I sell my house?

Although your Medicare benefits shouldn't change when you sell your home, your monthly premiums may. It depends on whether the sale of your home affects your taxable income. Medicare doesn't limit enrollment based on income or resources the way that Medicaid does.

Is $600,000 enough to retire at 60 in Australia?

For many Australians, the answer is yes, especially if they own their home and plan their retirement income carefully. The key is understanding how long $600K can last, how the Age Pension fits in, and what kind of lifestyle this level of super realistically supports.

What are the new rules for pensioners downsizing in Australia?

Get to know the downsizer contribution rules to see if you meet the eligibility requirements . The big news is that from 1 January 2023 the eligibility was lowered from age 60 to age 55, and you can contribute up to $300,000 for singles and $600,000 for couples.

How much will a $100,000 pension pay per month?

A £100,000 pension pot could provide roughly £500 to £700+ per month, but this varies greatly based on your age (older means more), gender, chosen annuity type (single vs. joint life), and the current interest rates, with older individuals at 70 potentially getting around £700+ monthly and younger ones starting lower, but it's essential to consult an advisor for personalized quotes. 

How do I avoid capital gains tax when selling a house in Australia?

The main residence exemption is one of the most powerful tools available to Australian property owners. It allows you to avoid capital gains tax on the sale of a property if it has been your principal place of residence (PPOR) for the entire ownership period. To qualify, the property must have been your genuine home.

How much capital gains do I pay on $100,000?

For a $100,000 capital gain, you'll likely pay 15% on most of it as a long-term gain (around $12,000-$13,500), possibly some at 0% if you're in a lower bracket, but if it's a short-term gain (held 1 year or less), it's taxed as ordinary income, potentially at 22% or more (around $22,000+), depending on your total income and filing status, using the 2025/2026 brackets. 

Can I own two houses and still get the pension in Australia?

How home ownership impacts the assets test. If you own the home you live in (providing it's on less than 2 hectares of land), it generally won't count as an asset in the assets test. However, owning your own home could still affect the rate of your fortnightly Age Pension payment.

What is the $1000 a month rule for retirement?

The $1,000 a month rule for retirement is a simple guideline stating you need $240,000 saved for every $1,000 in monthly income you want, based on a 5% annual withdrawal rate ($240,000 x 0.05 = $12,000/year or $1,000/month). Popularized by financial planner Wes Moss, it helps estimate savings goals but doesn't account for inflation, taxes, or variable market conditions, requiring adjustments for a complete plan, notes as it's a rule of thumb, not a guarantee. 

What is the number one regret of retirees?

The #1 regret of retirees is not saving enough money, with studies showing a large majority wish they had saved more and started earlier, leading to financial stress and limitations in their desired lifestyle. Other major regrets often center around a lack of planning for time, health, and experiences, such as working too long, putting off travel, or not planning for future healthcare costs, says financial experts and financial planning sources. 

How many people have $500,000 in their retirement account?

Only a minority of Americans have $500,000 or more in retirement savings; recent data from late 2025 and early 2025 reports suggest around 7% to 9% of Americans have reached or surpassed this milestone, with some figures showing 7.2% to 9.3% have $500K or more, though many more have significantly less. For example, a December 2025 report noted 7.2% of Americans had $500K or more, while another noted 9.3% of households with retirement accounts had over $500K. 

What is the 6 year rule?

If you use your former home to produce income (for example, you rent it out or make it available for rent), you can choose to treat it as your main residence for up to 6 years after you stop living in it. This is sometimes called the '6-year rule'. You can choose when to stop the period covered by your choice.

When you sell a house, do you get a tax document?

The seller should also be aware of Form 1099-S, “Proceeds From Real Estate Transactions.” A seller will receive this form if the gain on the sale of the home is not entirely excluded from income. The gain from your home can be tax-free up to $250,000 if single or $500,000 if married.

Do you have to pay taxes on money received from the sale of a house?

Yes, you often have to pay taxes on the profit (capital gain) from selling a house, but you can typically exclude up to $250,000 ($500,000 if married filing jointly) of the gain if you meet ownership and use tests (lived there as your main home for at least 2 of the last 5 years). Any gain above these amounts, or if you don't meet the tests, is subject to capital gains tax, which depends on your income and holding period.
 

What is considered a wealthy retiree in Australia?

With that being said, what is a wealthy retirement? Well, according to ASFA, a comfortable retirement for a couple is around $75,000 per year and $53,000 for a single person. Given this, I would consider achieving a retirement income of, say, 30% over these amounts to be a wealthy retirement.

How much money do you need to retire with $70,000 a year income?

To retire on $70,000 a year, you'll likely need a nest egg between $1.4 million and $2.8 million, depending on your desired retirement lifestyle, combining sources like Social Security, and using rules of thumb like the 4% rule (multiply your needed income by 25) or the 25x rule (12-25 times your final salary), factoring in that $70k today needs to cover future inflation to maintain your living standard. 

What are common retirement mistakes?

Among the biggest mistakes retirees make is not adjusting their expenses to their new budget in retirement. Those who have worked for many years need to realize that dining out, clothing and entertainment expenses should be reduced because they are no longer earning the same amount of money as they were while working.