Many cases don’t end well. Elder financial abuse is the theft or misuse of an older person’s money, property or assets, and the uncomfortable truth is that it’s most often done by someone the person knows and trusts. Here’s what it looks like, the signs to watch for, and exactly who to call.

How common is it?

The best Australian data comes from the National Elder Abuse Prevalence Study by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, released in 2021. It surveyed people aged 65 and over living in the community (not in residential care) and found:

• about one in six older Australians (14.8%) reported experiencing some form of elder abuse in the previous 12 months
• about 2% reported financial abuse in that period
• among those who experienced financial abuse, the most common form was being pressured into giving or lending money, possessions or property (41.5%), and just over a third (34%) reported behaviour amounting to theft

Two per cent may sound small. Across Australia’s millions of over-65s, it’s a lot of people. And because the study excluded people in aged care and people with cognitive impairment, who are often more vulnerable, the true figure is likely higher.

Who does it?

Mostly people close to home. According to Compass’s summary of the AIFS study, adult children were responsible for around a third of financial abuse cases. Friends, neighbours and acquaintances also feature heavily, and men made up more than two-thirds of financial abuse perpetrators.

That’s what makes it so hard. The person doing it may also be the person helping with the shopping, the medical appointments and the grandkids. Many older people stay quiet because they don’t want to get a family member into trouble or lose contact.

Common forms of financial abuse

Compass lists the most common types, drawn from the banking industry’s Safe & Savvy guide. These are the ones families most need to know about:

• Power of attorney misuse. An attorney uses their authority over your finances to take money or assets for themselves or others. This is one of the most serious forms because it’s hard to detect once you’ve lost capacity. Our guide to enduring powers of attorney explains how to choose wisely and build in safeguards.
• “Inheritance impatience”. Adult children who feel entitled to a parent’s assets now, rather than later. It can look like pressure to “give it to us now to avoid tax” or simply helping themselves.
• Pressure to sign things. Being pushed to transfer property, add someone to a title, or change a will.
• Informal family agreements gone wrong. Selling your home and putting the money into a child’s house with nothing in writing. If the relationship sours, you can be left with no home and no money. Our article on granny flat arrangements covers how to do this safely.
• Misusing access to your money. Someone with legitimate access, like a carer doing the shopping, using it for their own purposes.
• Guarantor risk. Guaranteeing a child’s loan, which can put your own home at risk even with no bad intent.
• Emotional leverage. For example, access to grandchildren being made conditional on a loan.
• Scams and fraud by strangers. We cover these in detail in scams targeting older Australians.

The warning signs

None of these prove abuse on their own, but each is worth a second look, whether it’s your own accounts or those of a parent or friend.

Money and paperwork

• money being withdrawn more often than usual, or in larger amounts
• large transfers to another person’s account or overseas
• unusual transactions appearing soon after someone is given access to an account
• bank statements going missing, or the mailing address on an account being changed
• bills going unpaid when there should be plenty of money
• new names added to bank accounts, cards or property titles
• a will or power of attorney suddenly changed, especially in favour of a new “friend” or one family member

Behaviour

• feeling confused or surprised by what’s in the accounts
• feeling intimidated, controlled or pressured to make financial decisions
• someone without financial authority coming along to the bank and doing the talking, or filling in withdrawal forms
• a family member or carer becoming reluctant to let others visit or speak to the person alone
• the older person seeming anxious, withdrawn or fearful when money comes up

One trap to avoid: assuming it’s “just memory problems”. Confusion about money can be an early sign of cognitive decline. It can also be a sign that someone is taking advantage of that decline. Both deserve attention.

What to do if you’re worried

If it’s happening to you

1. Talk to your bank. Ask to speak to a staff member privately. Banks can investigate transactions, change access, put holds on unusual activity and help you set up safer arrangements such as automatic bill payments.
2. Keep monitoring your own accounts, even if someone else has authority to manage them.
3. Call 1800ELDERHelp (1800 353 374). It’s free, confidential, and redirects you to the specialist service in your state or territory. It isn’t a 24-hour line, and hours vary by state.
4. Get legal advice before signing anything to do with your home, your will or a power of attorney. Community legal centres and seniors’ rights services can help for free or at low cost.
5. If you feel unsafe, call the police. In an emergency, call 000.

If you’re worried about someone else

Raise it gently, ideally when the person is on their own. Listen more than you talk. Remember an adult with capacity has the right to make their own decisions, including ones you think are unwise. Your job is to make sure they know their options and that someone is on their side. The state helplines also take calls from worried family, friends and neighbours.

Who to call

Most of these are not crisis or 24-hour services, so check the operating hours on the service’s website.

Protecting yourself before anything goes wrong

The best defence is setting things up well while you’re fit and capable:

• choose your enduring attorney carefully, consider appointing two who must act jointly, and ask them to keep records
• put any family money arrangement (loans, granny flats, help with a deposit) in writing with independent legal advice
• keep your own bank access and keep looking at your statements
• don’t sign anything you haven’t read or don’t understand, and never sign under time pressure
• stay connected. Isolation is one of the biggest risk factors, and people with a wide circle of friends and activities are harder to exploit.

Our view: it’s worth having this conversation with your family openly, before anyone needs help. It’s much easier to agree on how money will be handled when everyone is calm and well, rather than in the middle of a health crisis.

FAQ

Is elder financial abuse a crime?

Some of it is, such as theft and fraud, and the police can investigate. But Compass notes that much financial abuse isn’t technically illegal, such as pressuring someone into a loan. Specialist elder abuse services can help with both kinds.

What is the 1800ELDERHelp number?

1800 353 374. It’s a free national number that connects you to the elder abuse information and support service in your state or territory. It isn’t a 24-hour line.

Can I report concerns about someone else anonymously?

Many services allow it. For example, South Australia’s Adult Safeguarding Unit says anyone can call and you can remain anonymous. Ask the service in your state when you call.

What can I do if an attorney is misusing a power of attorney?

Contact your state’s elder abuse service, the Public Advocate or Public Guardian, or the guardianship tribunal in your state, which can review the attorney’s conduct. If money has been stolen, report it to police.

This article is general information only and isn’t legal or financial advice. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000. Phone numbers and service hours can change, so check the official websites linked above.

Graham now has a legal duty to tell Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads about his diabetes. Plenty of people in his position don’t know that. Being on insulin rarely means losing your licence, but driving without telling the licensing authority can put your licence, your insurance and your legal position at risk if something goes wrong. Here’s how the rules work, and how to notify in each state and territory.

One national standard, eight sets of paperwork

Every state and territory judges medical fitness to drive against the same national guidelines, Assessing Fitness to Drive, published by Austroads and the National Transport Commission. Your doctor uses these standards to decide whether you can drive, and whether you need conditions on your licence.

The states differ on the admin: who you tell, which form you use, and how often you need a fresh medical certificate. So the medical question is national and the paperwork is local.

Do you have to tell the licensing authority?

It depends on how your diabetes is treated. The NDSS (the National Diabetes Services Scheme, an Australian Government initiative) puts it plainly: it’s your legal responsibility to tell the driver licensing authority in your state or territory if you take insulin or glucose-lowering medicines.

The condition that matters most isn’t really “diabetes”. It’s the risk of a hypo (low blood glucose) at the wheel, plus complications that affect your eyes, your feet or your alertness. That’s why the rules focus on treatment type and hypo history rather than on the diagnosis itself.

Private versus commercial licences

If you drive a truck, bus, taxi or rideshare, or hold a heavy vehicle licence, a tougher commercial standard applies. Under Austroads, conditional licences for commercial drivers treated with insulin are based on advice from an endocrinologist or a consultant physician specialising in diabetes, and at least three months of blood glucose records should be reviewed.

Plenty of retirees still drive for a living part-time, whether that’s school buses, community transport or rideshare. If that’s you, tell your doctor you drive commercially. The assessment is different, and you don’t want to find out after the fact that your certificate only covered a car.

“Above 5 to drive”: the rule worth memorising

If you use insulin or certain other diabetes medicines, the NDSS rule is simple: don’t drive if your glucose level is 5 mmol/L or below. Their practical checklist:

• Check your glucose before you drive, and every two hours on long trips.
• If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), keep low and predicted-low alarms on. Don’t drive with an active low alert.
• Keep fast-acting carbohydrate (jelly beans, juice) and your meter in the car, and don’t skip meals before a drive.
• If you feel a hypo coming on, pull over, turn off the engine and take the keys out of the ignition.
• Treat it with 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, recheck after 15 minutes and repeat until you’re above 5 mmol/L. Then have some longer-acting carbohydrate.
• Wait at least 30 minutes after your level is back above 5 mmol/L before driving again, and only drive if you feel well.

The NDSS also warns that you can’t rely on a CGM alone. Sensors can lag or misread, especially when new, so if you feel low, confirm it with a finger prick.

Severe hypos and hypo unawareness

A severe hypo is one where you can’t treat yourself and need someone else to help. That includes passing out or having a seizure. The NDSS guidance is that you shouldn’t drive after a severe hypo until a diabetes specialist has cleared you.

Hypo unawareness, where you no longer feel the early warning signs, is the other red flag. It becomes more common the longer you’ve had diabetes. If you’ve noticed hypos sneaking up on you, raise it with your doctor before your next licence medical, not at it.

What a conditional licence means in practice

A conditional licence is still a full licence. The “condition” is usually just that you have regular medical reviews and stick to your treatment. Your doctor or specialist recommends how often you’re reviewed, and the licensing authority sets it. You must carry out any condition written on the licence or certificate.

In our view, this is a fair trade. Telling the authority usually costs you a GP appointment and a form. Not telling them can cost far more. If you crash and a medical condition you hadn’t reported contributed to it, you can face prosecution, and your insurer may have grounds to dispute the claim.

How to notify, state by state

Each authority works a little differently. This is how to start the process in each state and territory, as at October 2026. Check the authority’s own site for the current forms.

If you’re not sure where to start, the NDSS links to every authority’s contact details through Austroads, and its helpline (1800 637 700) can point you in the right direction.

Queensland: why it gets extra attention

Queensland’s medical reporting laws are known as Jet’s Law, named after 22-month-old Jet Rowland, who was killed in 2004 when a driver with epilepsy had a seizure at the wheel. The law says that if you drive in Queensland, even on an interstate licence, you must tell TMR about a permanent or long-term medical condition that’s likely to affect your ability to drive safely, and about any long-term worsening of a condition you’ve already reported.

The process:

1. Book a longer appointment with your GP and say it’s for a fitness-to-drive assessment.
2. Fill in part 1 of the Medical Certificate for Drivers (F3712) before you go, and take your licence and your glasses if you wear them to drive.
3. Your doctor assesses you against the national standard and may refer you to a specialist. If there’s a wait, ask whether you’re eligible for an interim certificate.
4. Report to TMR online, or send form F4355 with your certificate by email to mcr@tmr.qld.gov.au, by post, or in person at a Transport and Motoring Service Centre.

Queensland drivers aged 75 and over have an extra layer: they must carry a current medical certificate every time they drive, whether or not they have a medical condition. We cover that in our guide to older drivers’ medical checks and licence renewal rules in each state.

Don’t forget your insurer

The NDSS recommends telling your car insurer that you have diabetes. They’ll let you know whether they need more information. If you run into trouble with an insurer over your diabetes, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (1800 931 678) handles disputes for free.

When driving gets harder

Diabetes can affect driving in slower ways too: retinopathy blurring your vision, nerve damage in your feet making the pedals harder to feel, or sleep apnoea causing daytime tiredness. Regular eye and foot checks protect your licence as much as your health.

If the day comes when driving isn’t safe, it helps to have a plan in place. Most states offer seniors and pensioners transport concessions. Our guide to Seniors Cards in each state covers what’s on offer. And if staying independent at home is becoming a wider question, our piece on retirement villages versus ageing in place is a good next read.

Official sources: NDSS: Driving and diabetes; Austroads: Assessing Fitness to Drive, diabetes standards; Queensland Government: Reporting your medical condition; Legal Aid NSW: Medical illness or injury and your licence; Transport WA: Senior driver’s licence renewal.

FAQ

Do I lose my licence if I start insulin?

Usually not. Most people on insulin keep driving on a conditional licence with regular medical reviews. What matters is good glucose control, no recent severe hypos, being able to feel hypos coming on, and no complications that affect driving.

I only take tablets. Do I still have to tell anyone?

The NDSS says you must tell your licensing authority if you take insulin or glucose-lowering medicines, and that includes many tablets. Under the Austroads standard, private drivers on non-insulin medicines can generally keep an unconditional licence, with reviews every five years.

What blood glucose level is safe for driving?

Above 5 mmol/L. If you’re at 5 or below, or you have hypo symptoms, don’t drive. Treat it, recheck, and wait at least 30 minutes after you’re back above 5 and feeling well.

Does my GP tell the licensing authority for me?

Telling them is your responsibility, not your doctor’s. In some states a doctor can also report a patient they believe is unsafe to drive.

Can I still drive a bus or rideshare part-time?

Possibly, but you’ll be assessed against the stricter commercial standard. If you use insulin, that means specialist input and a review of at least three months of glucose records. Tell your doctor that you drive commercially.

This article is general information only and isn’t medical or legal advice. Licensing rules and forms change, so check with your state or territory licensing authority and talk to your doctor about your own situation.

It won’t. Thanks to the Work Bonus, the first $300 of Pat’s work income each fortnight is ignored completely, and any unused amount builds up in an “income bank” she can draw on later. Pat would keep most of what she earns. Here’s how it works, with real numbers.

What the Work Bonus is

The Work Bonus isn’t an extra payment. It reduces how much of your work income counts under the Age Pension income test. You don’t need to apply. Centrelink applies it automatically, as long as you report your earnings.

You can get it if you’re Age Pension age (currently 67) and you receive the Age Pension, Carer Payment or Disability Support Pension. People on the transitional rate of pension are not eligible.

It has two parts:

• $300 a fortnight. Up to $300 of eligible work income each fortnight is taken out before the income test applies.
• The income bank (Work Bonus balance). In any fortnight where you earn less than $300, including fortnights where you earn nothing, the unused part is added to your balance. The balance can build to a maximum of $11,800 and is used to offset work income above $300 in later fortnights.

The $11,800 cap was confirmed on Services Australia’s How the Work Bonus works page in October 2026. It was raised from $7,800 to $11,800 on 1 December 2022.

The $4,000 head start

Under rules that apply to claims made from 1 July 2024, when you claim an eligible pension for the first time you start with a Work Bonus balance of $4,000 rather than zero. If you’re re-claiming, your old balance carries over, and if it’s below $4,000 it may be topped up to $4,000 (no more than once every two years).

That head start is useful if you’re thinking about taking a short contract or casual job soon after you start on the pension.

If you’re not working at all right now, your balance still grows by $300 every fortnight until it reaches the cap. Starting from $4,000, it takes 26 fortnights, or about a year, to reach $11,800. In other words, a pensioner who hasn’t worked for a year or so is sitting on a buffer that can cover a decent stretch of casual or contract work with no effect on their pension. Many people don’t realise they have it. Our view is that it’s one of the most underused parts of the pension system.

What income counts, and what doesn’t

According to Services Australia’s list of types of income the Work Bonus applies to, it covers:

• wages and salary from work in or outside Australia
• paid leave while you’re still employed
• director’s fees
• self-employment income where you’re actively working, such as bookkeeping, lawn mowing or plumbing.

It doesn’t apply to:

• leave paid out after your job has ended
• investment income, including interest, dividends and rent
• superannuation
• passive self-employment income, such as managing your own share portfolio or rental properties.

Each person has their own Work Bonus. You can’t use yours to offset your partner’s wages, though reducing your own assessable income lowers your combined income as a couple, which helps you both.

How the income test works on top of it

Once the Work Bonus has been applied, whatever work income is left is added to your other assessable income, such as deemed income from savings. Then the normal Age Pension income test applies. As published by Services Australia in October 2026:

So a single pensioner with no other income can earn $526 a fortnight from work ($300 Work Bonus plus the $226 free area) before their pension drops at all. Most people do have some deemed income from savings, which uses up part of that free area. Our article on deeming rates shows how to work that out.

Worked examples

These use the free areas and rates above. They’re simplified and leave out things like Rent Assistance.

Pat: regular part-time work

Pat is single, earns $500 a fortnight and has $80 a fortnight of deemed income from savings. Her balance is empty.

• Work income after the $300 Work Bonus: $200
• Plus deemed income: $280 total assessable income
• Over the $226 free area by $54, so her pension drops by $27 a fortnight

Without the Work Bonus, her assessable income would be $580, and her pension would drop by $177. The Work Bonus saves her $150 a fortnight.

Joan: a seasonal job

Joan, 70, has not worked for over a year, so her balance has built up to the $11,800 maximum. She takes a six-week Christmas job paying $2,000 a fortnight for three fortnights.

• Each fortnight, the first $300 is offset by the fortnightly Work Bonus.
• The remaining $1,700 is offset from her balance.
• Her work income counts as zero for all three fortnights. Her pension is unaffected by the job.
• Her balance falls by $5,100 to $6,700, and starts rebuilding by $300 a fortnight once the job ends.

This is where the income bank really earns its keep. For occasional or seasonal work, it can shelter a surprising amount.

Bob and Mary: a couple, one working

Bob earns $1,000 a fortnight. Mary doesn’t work. Their combined deemed income is $150 a fortnight and Bob’s balance is empty.

• Bob’s work income after the $300 Work Bonus: $700
• Plus $150 deemed income: $850 combined
• Over the $396 couple free area by $454, so each of their pensions drops by 25c in the dollar, or $113.50 each

Mary’s unused Work Bonus can’t be applied to Bob’s wages.

Is working worth it?

For most part-pensioners, yes. Even above the Work Bonus, you lose 50 cents of pension per extra dollar as a single, or 25 cents each as a couple, so you’re always better off in total. There’s also a lot more to it than money. Staying in work, even a few hours a week, keeps you connected, which is a big part of why we like stories such as seniors volunteering with kids.

A few things to watch:

• Report your earnings on time, every fortnight. The Work Bonus is applied to what you report.
• Very high earnings can still take you past the income cut-off point for that fortnight, even with the Work Bonus.
• Your income tax is separate. The Work Bonus doesn’t change how your wages are taxed.
• Be wary of anyone offering “cash jobs” that skip reporting. That puts your pension at risk, and some offers are outright scams aimed at older Australians.

You can check your current Work Bonus balance in your Centrelink online account through myGov.

FAQ

How much can I earn on the Age Pension before it drops?

With no other income, a single pensioner can earn $526 a fortnight from work ($300 Work Bonus plus the $226 income free area, as at October 2026) before the pension reduces. Any deemed income from savings reduces that amount.

What is the maximum Work Bonus income bank?

$11,800, as confirmed by Services Australia in October 2026. Your balance grows by up to $300 a fortnight when you earn less than $300 from work.

Does the Work Bonus apply to rental or investment income?

No. It only applies to employment income and self-employment income where you’re actively working. Interest, dividends, rent and super don’t qualify.

Do I need to apply for the Work Bonus?

No. Centrelink applies it automatically if you’re eligible. You just need to report your employment income.

Can my partner use my Work Bonus balance?

No. Each eligible pensioner has their own Work Bonus and balance, and it can’t be transferred.

This article is general information only and isn’t financial advice. Rates, thresholds and rules change regularly, so check your own situation with Services Australia (or a Financial Information Service officer) before making decisions.

An enduring power of attorney (EPOA) avoids that. It’s a legal document in which you choose someone you trust to make financial decisions for you, and it keeps working if you lose the capacity to make decisions yourself. It’s one of the most useful documents you can sign, and one of the most open to misuse if it’s set up carelessly. The catch for Australians is that every state and territory has its own law, forms and witnessing rules.

Power of attorney vs guardianship: what’s the difference?

These get muddled all the time, so let’s be clear.

• An enduring power of attorney usually covers financial and property decisions: paying bills, managing bank accounts, selling shares or property. In some places (Victoria, Queensland and the ACT) the same document can also cover personal or health matters.
• An enduring guardian (or similar appointment) covers personal and lifestyle decisions: where you live, what services you receive, and in many states health care. NSW, for example, says a power of attorney cannot be used for health or lifestyle decisions, so you’d appoint an Enduring Guardian for those.
• A tribunal-appointed guardian or administrator is what happens when you haven’t made these documents and lose capacity. A state tribunal decides who manages your affairs. It might be a family member, or it might be the state public trustee or public guardian. It’s not necessarily who you’d have chosen.

A general (non-enduring) power of attorney is different again. It stops working if you lose capacity, which is exactly when most people need it.

How to make one in each state and territory

You must have capacity when you sign. In every jurisdiction your attorney can’t be one of your witnesses. Beyond that the rules vary.

A few state-specific points worth knowing:

• NSW: your attorney must sign to accept the appointment before the document operates. NSW Trustee and Guardian staff only witness documents it has prepared. The NSW Government’s power of attorney page lists all prescribed witnesses.
• Victoria: each attorney and alternative attorney must sign a statement of acceptance in front of a witness, which can be done later. Relatives can’t act as witnesses. See the Office of the Public Advocate.
• Queensland: the witness can’t be an attorney, a relation of you or your attorney, or a beneficiary under your will. Each attorney must also sign to accept. The Queensland Law Handbook explains the rules.
• Western Australia: there’s no register, and no more than two people can be attorneys at once. If you own property, you can lodge an original with Landgate within three months of making it so your attorney’s authority is recognised later. The OPA’s information sheet (July 2026) suggests making two originals for that reason.
• South Australia: your EPOA can start as soon as it’s witnessed, or only when a doctor confirms you can no longer make your own financial decisions. See the SA Office of the Public Advocate fact sheet.
• Tasmania: registration isn’t optional. Actions under the power only have legal effect once it’s registered with the Recorder of Titles.
• Northern Territory: the advance personal plan is completed on the official form, signed in front of an authorised witness, and can be registered with the Public Trustee. Details are on the NT Public Guardian and Trustee site.

Official forms are available from your state’s public trustee, public advocate, guardian or justice department, and many people complete them without a lawyer. Our view: if your affairs are simple and you trust your attorney completely, the official form is fine. If you own a business, have a blended family, or there’s any tension about money in the family, pay for a lawyer. It’s the cases where things are complicated that go wrong.

What your attorney must do

Being an attorney is a legal responsibility, not a favour. The exact wording differs by state, but attorneys are generally required to:

• act honestly, with reasonable care, and in your interests rather than their own
• respect your wishes and involve you in decisions as far as possible
• keep your money and property separate from theirs
• keep accurate records of what they do with your money
• avoid conflicts of interest, and not give away your assets except where the document or the law allows
• follow any conditions or limits you’ve written into the document

An attorney can’t make or change your will, and the power ends when you die. From then on your executor takes over.

When misuse does happen, it can be devastating. Power of attorney abuse is one of the most common forms of elder financial abuse, which we cover in our guide to the warning signs. Simple safeguards help: appoint two attorneys who must act jointly, require your attorney to show records to someone else (an accountant or another family member) each year, and limit what they can do with your home.

How to revoke an enduring power of attorney

As long as you still have capacity, you can cancel your EPOA at any time. In general:

1. put the revocation in writing (some states have a form, and the formalities can mirror those for making one)
2. tell your attorney, preferably in writing, and ask for the original back
3. notify your bank, super fund, financial institutions and anyone else who has a copy
4. if it was registered or lodged with a land titles office (mandatory in Tasmania, optional in WA through Landgate), register the revocation too. A fee may apply.
5. keep a copy of the revocation and a list of who you sent it to

If you’ve lost capacity and the attorney is doing the wrong thing, family members can apply to the guardianship tribunal in your state to review or revoke the appointment.

Is there a national register?

Not yet. A mandatory national register of financial enduring powers of attorney has been proposed for years as a way to reduce elder financial abuse, and the Australian Law Reform Commission’s 2017 report on elder abuse backed the idea. The Attorney-General’s Department ran a public consultation that closed on 30 June 2021.

As at October 2026, the department’s National Register page says a national registration scheme is under consideration but a register “has not yet been established”. So for now, your EPOA lives in your filing cabinet and with whoever you give copies to. Tell your attorney where the original is.

Moving interstate? States generally have rules for recognising EPOAs made elsewhere, but the details differ, so check with the public advocate or a lawyer in your new state whether you should make a fresh one.

The bottom line

Every adult should have one, and it’s never too early. You can’t make an EPOA once you’ve lost capacity, and dementia, strokes and accidents don’t give notice. While you’re sorting it out, think about the other planning documents too: an enduring guardian or advance care directive for health decisions, and an up-to-date will. And if you’re considering moving in with family under a granny flat arrangement or arranging care through My Aged Care, having these documents in place first will make everything easier.

FAQ

When does an enduring power of attorney start?

It depends on the state and what you choose on the form. Many can start straight away (once the attorney accepts) or only when you lose capacity. In SA, for example, you can choose either.

Can my attorney make medical decisions for me?

Only in some places. In Victoria, Queensland and the ACT an EPOA can cover personal or health matters. In NSW, WA, SA and Tasmania you need a separate enduring guardian appointment or advance care directive for health and lifestyle decisions.

Is my power of attorney valid in another state?

Usually it can be recognised, but the rules differ between states, so check with the public advocate or a lawyer in the state where it needs to be used.

Can I have more than one attorney?

Yes. You can usually appoint attorneys to act jointly (together), severally (separately), or as alternatives. WA limits it to no more than two attorneys at any one time.

This article is general information only and isn’t legal advice. Forms, witnessing rules and laws differ between states and change from time to time, so check with your state’s public advocate, public trustee or a lawyer before signing.

No. An aged care assessment is how the government works out what help someone needs and which services they can get. For most people that means help at home, not a move. It’s a conversation at your kitchen table with a trained assessor, and a bit of preparation makes a real difference to the outcome. Here’s what to expect, step by step.

Who can be assessed

To access government-funded aged care you need an assessment first. My Aged Care says you can generally apply if you need help with everyday tasks and you’re:

• 65 or older, or
• an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 or older, or
• aged 50 or older and homeless or at risk of homelessness.

You can apply for yourself, or a family member or friend can apply on your behalf with your consent.

One assessment system for everyone

If you went through this years ago with an ACAT or a Regional Assessment Service, it’s changed. Under the Single Assessment System, the government brought in the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) from 1 July 2024, and one assessment workforce now handles home support and residential care assessments. Whatever you’re assessed for, you get the same standard set of questions, and they’re used the same way across the country.

Under the new Aged Care Act, which started on 1 November 2025, that one assessment can approve you for the Commonwealth Home Support Program, the new Support at Home program, short-term care, respite or an aged care home.

Step 1: Apply

There are two ways to start:

• Online: the My Aged Care application form takes about 15 to 20 minutes. You need the applicant’s Medicare card and contact details. Part A checks age and needs, Part B covers who the assessor should contact, and an optional Part C lets you request a registered supporter.
• By phone: call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm). Phone rather than using the online form if you’ve been assessed before, you’re already registered, or you need care urgently.

An assessment organisation will then ring to confirm your needs, check whether you need an interpreter or an advocate, and book a time.

Step 2: Prepare

Assessments are done in person, usually in your own home. Have these ready:

• your Medicare card and one other form of ID (driver’s licence, concession card, passport or DVA card)
• copies of any referrals from your doctor
• contact details for your GP and other health professionals
• information about any help you already get, paid or unpaid
• a list of your medicines (not required, but handy)
• your questions, written down.

Before the day, spend some time listing what’s actually hard. Think about showering, getting in and out of bed, stairs, cooking, cleaning, shopping, the garden, getting to appointments, managing medicines, keeping track of bills and feeling lonely. Note any falls or near misses, with dates.

Bring a support person

You can have a family member, friend, carer or registered supporter with you, and they can give the assessor information before the assessment if you’d like. We’d strongly suggest it. If you don’t have someone you’re comfortable with, a care finder may be able to come along. Older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can bring an Elder Care Support worker. Free, independent advocates are also available through the Older Persons Advocacy Network on 1800 700 600. Interpreters are free, and you can ask for one at any point.

If you want someone to help you make decisions and deal with providers on an ongoing basis, ask the assessor to register them as your supporter. They can do it during the assessment. This is separate from an enduring power of attorney, which is covered in our guide to enduring powers of attorney by state.

Step 3: The assessment itself

The assessor will already have the information you gave My Aged Care. They’ll ask whether you agree to the assessment, and whether they can talk to the people who support you. Then they work through the IAT questions, which cover:

• your physical health and medical conditions
• how you’re managing daily tasks around the home
• memory and thinking
• mood and wellbeing
• safety at home, including falls
• the support you already have, and whether it will continue
• family, community and cultural activities
• your goals and what you’d like to keep doing.

With your consent, they may also look at your medical records or contact your GP. Allow a good part of the morning or afternoon.

The honest-answer problem

Here’s the part most families warn each other about. Many older people put on their best face for a visitor. “I manage fine” is a very common answer, even from someone who hasn’t showered properly in a week.

Describe your bad days, not your best day. The assessment decides your funding level, and understating your needs can leave you with too little help. If you’re the support person, it’s fine to add gently, “Dad, tell them about the fall in the bathroom.” The assessor can correct answers if something was recorded wrongly.

What the assessment decides

The assessor writes a support plan with you that records your strengths, difficulties, goals and preferences, and which services you’re eligible for. For Support at Home, the information also sets two things:

• Your classification, which is how much funding you get. There are eight ongoing levels, worth from about $11,000 to about $80,000 a year as at 1 October 2026.
• Your priority, which is how quickly funding reaches you: urgent, high, medium or standard. The criteria include living alone, being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, having an assessed cognitive impairment, being homeless or at risk of homelessness, needing services urgently, and having motor neurone disease.

A clinically trained delegate from the assessment organisation reviews and confirms these decisions. You can choose whether your support plan is added to your My Health Record.

Step 4: The outcome

You’ll receive an assessment outcome letter, sometimes called a Notice of Decision, plus your support plan. My Aged Care says this can take up to two weeks. You can track progress in your My Aged Care Online Account or by calling 1800 200 422. If your carer needs urgent respite while you wait, Carer Gateway is on 1800 422 737.

The letter includes referral details for providers. For home care, that’s when the real choosing starts: compare providers’ published prices before you sign anything.

If you disagree

You have options:

1. Talk to the assessment organisation first. Their details are on your letter. Sometimes a misunderstanding can be fixed quickly.
2. Request an internal review. It’s free. You must ask within 28 days of receiving your outcome letter, using the Request for an Internal Review of a Decision form or a letter to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. A family member, friend or registered supporter can request it for you. A reviewer checks whether IAT answers were entered incorrectly and may order a supplementary assessment. You’ll hear the result within 90 days.
3. Make a complaint if the problem is how the assessment was done rather than the decision itself.

If your needs change later, after another fall or a hospital stay, you don’t have to start from scratch. You can ask for a support plan review, and the assessor can refer you for a full reassessment if things have changed significantly.

Our take

The assessment can feel like a test you can fail. It isn’t. It’s the gate to services you’ve paid taxes towards your whole working life, and the more accurately it captures your situation, the better the help you’ll get. Prepare a list, bring someone who knows you well, and tell the truth about the hard days.

And if you’re weighing up a move against staying put, our article on retirement villages versus ageing in place is a useful next read.

Official sources: My Aged Care: Apply for an assessment online; My Aged Care: Preparing for your assessment; My Aged Care: How the assessment process works; My Aged Care: Receiving your assessment outcome; Department of Health, Disability and Ageing: How aged care needs assessments work.

FAQ

How long does a My Aged Care assessment take?

The online application takes about 15 to 20 minutes. The assessment visit itself is longer, so set aside a few hours to be safe. After the visit, My Aged Care says the outcome can take up to two weeks.

Does the assessment cost anything?

No. The assessment is free, and so is requesting an internal review of the decision. Any contributions only apply once you start receiving services.

Can my daughter or son be there?

Yes. You can have a family member, friend, carer or registered supporter with you, and they can share information with the assessor beforehand. You can also ask for an interpreter or a free advocate.

What if I’m assessed as not eligible?

You’ll get a letter explaining why. You can talk to the assessment organisation, ask for an internal review within 28 days, or look at privately paid services in the meantime.

Do I need a new assessment if things get worse?

Not always. Contact My Aged Care and ask for a support plan review. If your circumstances have changed significantly, you can be referred for a full reassessment, which may lead to a higher classification or a different type of care.

This article is general information only and isn’t medical, legal or financial advice. Aged care rules and processes change, so check the current details with My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or at myagedcare.gov.au.

The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) is the card for self-funded retirees. It has no assets test at all, the income limit is far higher than most people expect, and plenty of retirees who would qualify have never applied. Here’s who gets it, what it’s worth, and how it compares with the Pensioner Concession Card.

Who can get the card

According to Services Australia, you need to meet all of these:

• You’ve reached Age Pension age, which is currently 67.
• You meet the residence rules.
• You’re not getting an income support payment (like the Age Pension) from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
• You give your tax file number (and your partner’s, if you have one), unless you’re exempt.
• You meet identity requirements and the income test.

That third point matters. If you get even a small part Age Pension, you already have the Pensioner Concession Card, which is the better card, so you can’t hold both. The CSHC is for people who earn or own too much for the pension.

The income test, in plain terms

There’s no assets test. You could have millions in super, shares and property and still qualify, as long as your income is under the limit. From 20 September 2026, the income limits are:

Add $639.60 to these amounts for each child in your care. The limits are reviewed every 20 September in line with the Consumer Price Index, so check the official page for the current figures.

What counts as “income” is the part people get wrong. Centrelink adds together two things.

1. Your adjusted taxable income

This starts with your taxable income from your tax return (wages, rent, dividends, interest, capital gains and so on), then adds back some items that don’t show up there. According to Services Australia’s explanation of adjusted taxable income, these include foreign income, total net investment losses (so negative gearing gets added back), reportable fringe benefits, reportable super contributions and certain tax-free pensions or benefits. If you have a partner, their adjusted taxable income counts too.

2. Deemed income from account-based pensions

Here’s the twist. For most people over 60, payments from an account-based pension in super are tax-free, so they don’t appear in taxable income at all. Instead, Centrelink applies deeming to the account balance. It doesn’t matter how much you actually draw down. It assumes the balance earns a set rate and adds that figure to your income.

From 20 September 2026, the deeming rates are 1.75% and 3.75%. For a couple where neither of you gets a pension, the lower rate applies to the first $55,300 of each person’s financial assets, and the higher rate to the rest. For a single person the lower-rate threshold is $66,800. Our guide to how deeming rates work goes into this in more detail.

There’s an older exception. An account-based pension isn’t deemed for CSHC purposes if you bought it before 1 January 2015, haven’t changed it since, and have held the card continuously since before that date. Most people applying today won’t fall into that group, but if you do, don’t roll your pension over without checking first. You could lose the exemption.

Worked examples

All figures use the rates and limits in place from 20 September 2026.

Margaret, single, $500,000 account-based pension, $8,000 of other taxable income. Her deemed income is $66,800 at 1.75% ($1,169) plus $433,200 at 3.75% ($16,245), so $17,414. Add her $8,000 and her test income is about $25,400. That’s a long way under $105,048. She qualifies easily.

Ron and Helen, a couple, $700,000 each in account-based pensions, plus $40,000 of rent from an investment unit. Each of them is deemed to earn $967.75 on the first $55,300 and $24,176.25 on the remaining $644,700, which is $25,144 each, or $50,288 together. Add the $40,000 rent and they’re at roughly $90,300, well under the $168,076 couple limit, even with $1.4 million in super between them.

Graham, single, $1.5 million account-based pension, $55,000 of dividends and rent. His deemed income is $54,914. Add $55,000 and he’s at about $109,900, which is just over the $105,048 limit. No card, at least for now.

The lesson is that the income test is generous to retirees whose wealth sits in super, and tougher on those with large taxable investments outside super. If you’re anywhere near the line, it’s worth running your own numbers.

What the card actually gets you

The CSHC is mainly a health card. According to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, which issues the same card to eligible veterans, the benefits include:

• Cheaper PBS medicines. You pay the concessional rate for prescriptions on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which is $7.70 per script at the time of writing, instead of the general rate.
• Free scripts after the PBS Safety Net. Once your spending reaches the PBS Safety Net limit in a calendar year, further PBS scripts are free for the rest of that year.
• Possible bulk billing. GPs may bulk bill concession card holders, though it’s up to each practice.
• Medicare Safety Net help, so you get more back on medical costs once you’ve spent up to the limit, which matters if you see the doctor or have tests often.
• Other concessions that may cover electricity and gas, property and water rates, ambulance, dental, eye care and public transport. These are set by state and territory governments and businesses, not the federal government, so they vary a lot from place to place.

Our honest view is that if you take several regular medications, the card pays for itself within months. Even if you’re healthy now, it costs nothing to hold and the card is valid for two years at a time. Services Australia sends a replacement before it expires if you’re still eligible.

How it differs from the Pensioner Concession Card

The Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) comes automatically with the Age Pension and some other payments. You don’t apply for it. The two cards overlap on the federal health benefits, but they’re not the same.

The gap is mainly at state and council level. Depending on where you live, some concessions, such as council rate rebates, may be limited to Pensioner Concession Card holders. It’s worth checking your own state’s concessions list or our guide to Seniors Cards by state, which is a separate card again with its own discounts.

One practical point: if your income or assets fall enough that you start getting a part Age Pension, you’ll move onto the PCC automatically. As our article on the Age Pension assets test explains, some people with substantial wealth still qualify for a part pension, so check that first before settling for the CSHC.

How to apply

You can claim through your Centrelink online account in myGov, or through DVA if you’re eligible there. You’ll need details of your income, any account-based pensions (your fund can give you a Centrelink schedule) and your partner’s details. If you estimate your income when you apply, you’ll need to send in your tax notice of assessment later.

Once you have the card, tell Services Australia within 14 days if your income goes over the limit, you start a new account-based pension, or your family situation changes.

Our honest advice: if you’re 67 or over and not on the pension, assume you might qualify until the numbers prove otherwise. Too many self-funded retirees rule themselves out without checking.

FAQ

Does the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card have an assets test?

No. Only income counts. Your home, super balance, shares and investment properties don’t count as assets, although income from them, and deemed income from account-based pensions, does count towards the income test.

Do my super pension payments count as income for the card?

Not the payments themselves. Instead, Centrelink deems your account-based pension balance to earn income at the current deeming rates and adds that amount to your adjusted taxable income.

Can I have the CSHC and the Pensioner Concession Card at the same time?

No. If you get the Age Pension you’ll have the Pensioner Concession Card instead, which generally comes with more concessions.

Is the income limit indexed?

Yes. The limits are reviewed on 20 September each year in line with the Consumer Price Index. The figures in this article apply from 20 September 2026.

Can I lose the card if my investments do well?

Yes, if a big capital gain or extra income pushes your adjusted taxable income over the limit. You need to tell Services Australia within 14 days if your income goes over the limit.

This article is general information only and isn’t financial advice. Rates, thresholds and rules change regularly, so check your own situation with Services Australia (or a Financial Information Service officer) before making decisions.

The answer depends almost entirely on how the arrangement was set up in the first place. Centrelink has a specific set of rules for this, called a granny flat interest, and done properly it can protect both your pension and your money. Done on a handshake, it can go badly wrong.

What a granny flat interest actually is

Despite the name, it has nothing to do with the type of building. Services Australia describes a granny flat interest as paying for the right to live in a specific home for life, in a property that belongs to someone else. It can be a separate flat in the backyard, a room in your daughter’s house, or even the home you used to own.

To count, the home must be your principal home, and it can’t be owned by you, your partner, or a trust or company you control. The right lasts for your lifetime only and isn’t part of your estate when you die.

You usually create one in one of these ways:

• transferring ownership of your home to a family member but keeping a lifelong right to live there (or in another property)
• paying to build a granny flat on someone else’s property
• paying to convert someone else’s home to suit your needs
• buying a property in someone else’s name and keeping a right to live there for life
• handing over money or other assets in exchange for a lifelong right to live in their home

Services Australia sets all this out on its granny flat interest page for Age Pension, and it recommends getting financial and legal advice before you go ahead.

Homeowner or non-homeowner? That’s the big question

Once you’ve sold your house and moved into someone else’s, you might assume Centrelink now treats you as a renter. Not necessarily. How much you paid for the granny flat interest decides whether you’re assessed as a homeowner or a non-homeowner, and that affects which assets test limit applies to you and whether you can get Rent Assistance.

The test works like this. Non-homeowners get a higher assets test limit than homeowners. The gap between the two is called the extra allowable amount. Centrelink compares what you paid for the granny flat interest (your entry contribution) with that gap.

From 20 September 2026, the full-pension assets limit for a single homeowner is $333,000 and for a single non-homeowner it’s $600,000. For couples it’s $499,000 and $766,000 combined. So the extra allowable amount is $267,000 in both cases. These figures are reviewed regularly, so check the current numbers on the Age Pension assets test page.

In Margaret’s case, her $400,000 contribution is well above $267,000, so she’d be treated as a homeowner and the $400,000 wouldn’t count as an asset. That’s often a good outcome. It works a lot like the family home exemption we explained in our piece on the assets test and the family home.

The reasonableness test, and why paying too much can count as gifting

Here’s where it gets trickier. If you hand over more than your granny flat interest is “worth”, Centrelink can treat the extra as a gift. Gifts above the free area count as deprived assets for five years. The free area is $10,000 in a financial year and $30,000 over five financial years, per the Services Australia gifting rules.

To work out what an interest is worth, Centrelink uses the reasonableness test. It applies when you’ve transferred extra assets, or when you’ve paid a lump sum towards accommodation that already exists at someone else’s place, with no building or renovation involved.

The calculation, set out in the Department of Social Services Social Security Guide, multiplies the annual combined partnered pension rate (as at the date the interest is created) by an age-based conversion factor. The older you are, the lower the factor, because a life interest is worth less when you have fewer years left to use it. For couples, the younger partner’s age is used.

The good news: Centrelink says it won’t treat you as having paid too much if you’re transferring the title of your home and keeping a lifetime right to live there, paying to build a granny flat, paying to convert someone’s home for your needs, or buying a property in someone else’s name. In those cases the whole amount is generally accepted as the value of the interest. The reasonableness test bites mainly when cash changes hands for a room in an existing house.

If you’re anywhere near the line, talk to Services Australia’s free Financial Information Service before money moves. A financial planner can also run the reasonableness numbers for you.

Get it in writing. Really.

Centrelink may accept a granny flat interest that isn’t written down. But it recommends a legal document that confirms your right to live in the home for life, says whether you’ll pay rent or contribute to upkeep, and says how the owner will compensate you if they want you to give up the interest.

There’s a second, very practical reason to formalise it: tax. Since 1 July 2021, the ATO’s CGT exemption for granny flat arrangements means capital gains tax doesn’t apply when a granny flat arrangement is created, varied or terminated. Without it, your son or daughter could face a CGT bill simply for granting you the right to live in their property.

To qualify for the exemption:

• the property owners must be individuals (not a company or trust)
• the person with the granny flat interest must have reached Age Pension age, or need help with day-to-day activities because of a disability likely to last at least 12 months
• the arrangement must be in writing, show that the parties intend to be legally bound, and not be commercial in nature

The ATO suggests the agreement name all the parties, including everyone with an ownership interest, and spell out when it can be varied or ended and what happens if it is. The parties don’t have to be related. Note the exemption only covers the arrangement itself. If you sell shares to fund the build, that sale is taxed under normal rules.

Our view: paying a lawyer to draw up a proper agreement is cheap insurance compared with the six-figure sums usually involved, and it protects the adult children as much as the parent.

What happens if the family arrangement breaks down

This is the part nobody wants to think about, and it’s exactly the scenario in our opening example.

Services Australia reviews a granny flat interest if you leave within five years. If the reason you left was something you could have expected when you set it up, the gifting rules apply, which could leave part of your money counted as a deprived asset even though you no longer have it or the home. If the reason was unexpected, the gifting rules may not apply. Centrelink lists sudden illness, family relationship breakdown, elder abuse and property damage as examples of unexpected reasons.

You can also be away temporarily during those five years for up to 12 months, or up to two years if the property was lost or damaged.

If the owner sells, they can’t simply take your interest away. Centrelink says they can make your right to live there a condition of sale, transfer your interest to another property, or pay you money or assets in return for giving it up. That last option is where a written agreement matters most. Without one, you’re relying on goodwill at the exact moment goodwill is in short supply.

The ATO’s own examples show how a well-drafted agreement handles this: parents hand over $500,000 for a lifetime right to live in their daughter’s unit, and the agreement says the money is repaid if they have to leave because of ill health, a relationship breakdown, or a sale.

Informal family money arrangements that go sour are a well-known pathway to financial abuse. We cover the warning signs in our guide to elder financial abuse.

Is a granny flat right for you?

For many families it’s a genuinely good setup: company, help close by, and money that might otherwise sit in a house you can’t maintain. But it’s a big, hard-to-reverse decision. If you’re still weighing it up against other options, our comparison of retirement villages and ageing in place is a useful next read.

Before you sign anything, we’d suggest:

1. call Centrelink on your regular payment line and ask how the plan would be assessed
2. book a session with the Financial Information Service
3. get your own lawyer, separate from the family member’s, to draft or review the agreement
4. make sure an enduring power of attorney is in place and that you trust the person named

FAQ

Do I need a written agreement for Centrelink to recognise a granny flat interest?

Not always. Services Australia may accept an unwritten arrangement, but it recommends a legal document as proof of what was agreed. You’ll need a written, legally binding agreement to get the ATO’s CGT exemption.

Will I lose my pension if I give my house to my children and keep living there?

Not necessarily. Transferring your home’s title while keeping a lifetime right to live there is a recognised way to create a granny flat interest. Whether you’re assessed as a homeowner depends on the value of the interest compared with the extra allowable amount ($267,000 from 20 September 2026).

Can I get Rent Assistance in a granny flat?

Only if you’re assessed as a non-homeowner, which happens when your entry contribution is equal to or less than the extra allowable amount, and you pay enough rent to qualify.

What if I have to move into aged care within five years?

Centrelink will review the interest. If the move was something you could have expected when you set up the arrangement, the gifting rules apply. If it was unexpected, such as a sudden illness, they may not. Tell Centrelink as soon as your situation changes.

This article is general information only and isn’t legal, financial or tax advice. Pension rules and thresholds change regularly, so check the official Services Australia and ATO pages linked above and get advice about your own circumstances before acting.

Both are right. Australia has no national age for older driver checks. Whether you need a medical, a driving test or nothing at all depends on the state you live in. NSW and Queensland start yearly medicals at 75, Western Australia at 80, and Victoria has no age-based checks at all. Here’s what applies where, what the GP actually checks, and how to handle the day you decide to hand in the keys.

The rules by state at a glance

This table covers a standard car (class C) licence, based on state government information and the federal Office of Road Safety’s summary of older driver rules. Heavy vehicle, motorbike and public passenger licences often have earlier or stricter requirements. Rules can change, so confirm with your licensing authority before your birthday.

In every state, at any age, you must report a medical condition that’s likely to affect your driving. Age-based checks sit on top of that duty. They don’t replace it. If you have diabetes, our guide to driving with diabetes in Australia explains the extra rules.

New South Wales: 75, 80 and 85

NSW has the most detailed system. There’s no upper age limit on a licence, but for an unrestricted car licence:

• 70 to 74: no medical or driving test unless a doctor recommends one.
• 75 and over: a medical assessment for fitness to drive every year. You can see your doctor in the months before your birthday, and the doctor submits the report online.
• 85 and over: a yearly medical, plus a practical older driver test every two years.

The test takes about 15 to 20 minutes. You can sit it free at a service centre (call 13 22 13), with a limit of three attempts, or from your home with an accredited older driver assessor for a fee. It checks your road rules knowledge, your decision-making and your control of the car. Take someone with you to a service centre test so you have a lift home if it doesn’t go your way.

The alternative at 85 is a modified licence. It restricts you to driving certain distances within your local area, and you don’t need the older driver test unless your doctor recommends it. For plenty of people, that’s a sensible middle ground: you keep driving to the shops, the doctor and the club, and skip the motorway.

Queensland: carry the certificate

From 75, Queensland drivers need a Medical Certificate for Drivers from their doctor. It’s valid for a maximum of 13 months, even if the doctor writes a later date. The catch most people miss is that you must carry the current certificate every time you drive, whether or not you have any medical condition. A photocopy or a clear digital photo is fine. The Queensland Government says driving without one can mean a fine of more than $170, as at its July 2026 update.

You only need to send the certificate to TMR if you have a long-term condition likely to affect your driving, if your doctor recommends a licence condition, or if you’re renewing your licence at a service centre. If you do send it in, TMR will send you a courtesy reminder about six weeks before it expires. Don’t rely on that alone. The certificate’s expiry doesn’t change your licence’s expiry, and you can still choose a licence period of up to five years.

Western Australia: 80 and over

From 80, WA drivers need a yearly medical assessment before they can renew. About 12 weeks before your licence expires you’ll be posted a Medical Assessment Certificate (Form M108A). You fill in the driving history and medical questions, see your doctor, and the doctor sends the forms to the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure. Your doctor may ask you to pass a practical driving assessment.

Aged pensioners pay no licence fee in WA, and other pensioners and seniors pay a reduced fee, according to the department’s fee table as at October 2026.

South Australia: a self-assessment first

From 75, South Australians who hold only a car licence and have no recorded medical condition are posted a self-assessment form each year. If you answer yes, or aren’t sure, on any question, you’ll need to see a doctor to finish the assessment. Drivers with a recorded medical condition, or aged 70 and over with a licence class other than a car licence, get a Certificate of Fitness for a doctor to complete.

Victoria, Tasmania and the NT

These have no routine age-based medicals for car drivers. Victoria’s approach is fitness to drive regardless of age: a medical review starts when a driver reports a condition, or when a doctor, police officer or family member raises concerns. There has been public debate in Victoria about whether to change that, so check VicRoads for the latest.

What happens at the GP assessment

The fitness-to-drive check is longer than a normal consult, so tell the clinic what it’s for when you book. In Queensland, for example, you fill in part 1 of the form before you go and bring your licence and your driving glasses. Doctors assess you against the national Assessing Fitness to Drive standards. In practice, expect questions and checks on:

• your eyesight, including side vision
• your medical conditions and any changes, such as heart problems, diabetes, sleep apnoea, seizures or dementia
• the medicines you take, and whether any cause drowsiness
• your movement and strength, such as turning your neck to check blind spots and working the pedals
• your memory and thinking
• any recent near misses, crashes or changes to how you drive.

Be honest. The doctor’s job is to keep you driving safely, and an honest answer often leads to a fix (new glasses, a medication change) rather than a refusal. If the doctor isn’t sure, they may refer you to a specialist or to an occupational therapist driving assessment, which is a practical drive with a specially trained OT. In Queensland, ask about an interim certificate if there’s a wait for a specialist.

Conditional and modified licences

If you’re safe in some conditions but not others, a doctor can recommend conditions rather than cancellation. Common ones are daylight driving only, a set radius from home, no freeways, or an automatic car only. You must follow them. NSW’s modified licence is a formal version of the same idea.

We think these are under-used. Many older drivers do almost all their driving locally and in daylight anyway, and a condition that matches how you already drive costs you very little.

Giving up driving well

Most of us will stop driving before we stop needing to get around. People who plan for that tend to do better than people who have the decision made for them after a scare. A few things help:

1. Do a trial run. Spend a fortnight getting around without the car: bus, train, community transport, taxis, lifts. You’ll find the gaps before they matter.
2. Do the sums. Rego, insurance, fuel and servicing on a car you drive a few times a week can pay for a lot of taxi trips.
3. Use your concessions. Most states offer discounted or free public transport to seniors. In WA, for example, seniors ride free on Transperth outside peak times with a Seniors, Pensioner or Veterans SmartRider. Our guide to Seniors Cards in each state covers the rest.
4. Keep photo ID. Your licence is probably your main ID. Before you surrender it, get a state photo card or proof of age card.
5. Protect your social life. Losing the car is a common way older Australians become isolated. Line up regular lifts, and consider activities you can reach on foot. Volunteering is a great one, as we wrote in when seniors volunteer with kids, everybody wins.

If where you live only works with a car, that’s worth thinking about before it becomes urgent. Our article on retirement villages versus ageing in place looks at that trade-off.

Worried about a parent’s driving?

Start with a conversation, not a confrontation, and ideally go with them to their GP. Most licensing authorities accept reports from family members if you believe someone is unsafe. The authority then decides whether a medical review is needed.

Official sources: NSW Government: Your licence from age 70; NSW Government: Older driver and rider assessments; Queensland Government: Driving when you’re 75 and over; Transport WA: Seniors 80 years or more; Office of Road Safety: Rules for older drivers by state and territory (PDF).

FAQ

At what age do you need a medical to drive in Australia?

It depends on the state. For a car licence, it’s 75 in NSW, Queensland and the ACT, and 80 in WA. South Australia sends a self-assessment form from 75. Victoria, Tasmania and the NT have no age-based medical, although anyone of any age must report a medical condition that affects driving.

Do I have to sit a driving test when I’m older?

Only NSW has a routine age-based test for car drivers: every two years from 85, unless you take a modified licence. In other states you’d only be tested if a doctor or the licensing authority asks for it.

What is a modified licence in NSW?

It’s a licence that limits you to driving within your local area. If you choose it, you don’t need the older driver test unless your doctor recommends one.

What happens if I drive in Queensland without my medical certificate?

If you’re 75 or over, you can be fined. The Queensland Government says the fine is more than $170. A photocopy or a clear photo on your phone counts, as long as it’s current and readable.

Can my doctor stop me driving?

Your doctor assesses your fitness and makes a recommendation. The licensing authority makes the decision, and you’ll be told of any appeal rights. Always follow your doctor’s advice in the meantime.

This article is general information only and isn’t legal or medical advice. Rules were checked against official sources in October 2026 and can change, so check with your state or territory licensing authority before your licence or medical falls due.

Neither. Centrelink treats them exactly the same, because it doesn’t look at what their money actually earns. It uses deeming, a set of assumed rates, to decide what their savings “should” be earning. Keith gets to keep his extra interest without it touching his pension. Bev is assessed on income she isn’t getting. That’s deeming in a nutshell.

What deeming is

According to Services Australia, deeming assumes your financial assets earn a set rate of income, no matter what they really earn. That deemed income is added to your other income, and the total goes through the income test for the Age Pension and other payments.

The government’s reasoning is that it keeps payments steady rather than bouncing around with markets, and it rewards people who earn more than the deemed rate, because the extra doesn’t count.

Current deeming rates and thresholds

Deeming rates were frozen at very low levels for several years after COVID. That freeze ended in 2025, and the rates have been rising in steps since, most recently on 20 September 2026. According to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs rate tables, the low rate went from 1.25% to 1.75% and the high rate from 3.25% to 3.75% on 20 September 2026. The thresholds were set from 1 July 2026 and didn’t change in September.

These rates apply from 20 September 2026. The Minister for Social Services sets the rates, and they can change at any time, so check the Services Australia deeming page linked above for the current figures.

What gets deemed

Deeming applies to financial assets. Services Australia lists the main types as:

• savings accounts and term deposits
• managed investments, loans and debentures
• listed shares and securities
• some income streams, including most account-based pensions
• some gifts you make.

Things that aren’t deemed include your home, cars, household contents and investment property. Rent from an investment property is assessed on what you actually receive, not deemed. Your home is also exempt from the assets test, which we cover in our piece on the Age Pension assets test and the family home.

A few special cases are worth knowing:

• Home sale proceeds. If you sell your home and intend to use the money to buy, build or renovate another one, the proceeds set aside for that are deemed at the lower rate only. This applies to home sales from 1 January 2023.
• Home Equity Access Scheme payments. Advance payments are subject to deeming. See our guide to the Home Equity Access Scheme.
• Failed investments. You can apply for a deeming exemption if an investment has failed and you can’t get your money back, but not just because an investment performed poorly.

Account-based pensions

If you’ve moved your super into an account-based pension, the balance is treated as a financial asset and deemed like your bank savings. The payments you draw don’t count as income themselves. Only the deemed amount does.

There’s an important older exception. According to Services Australia’s guide to income streams, an account-based pension is assessed the old way (gross payments less a deduction amount, rather than deeming) if both of these apply:

• you started it before 1 January 2015, and
• you’ve been on a pension or allowance without a break since 31 December 2014.

Lose either condition, for example by rolling the pension into a new product or going off the pension for a while, and deeming applies from then on. If you have one of these older pensions, talk to Centrelink before you change anything. The grandfathered treatment is often more generous and you can’t get it back.

Deeming of account-based pensions also matters for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, which uses deemed income from these pensions in its income test.

Worked examples

Centrelink works in fortnights, so we’ve divided the annual deemed income by 26. These use the rates from 20 September 2026 and the income test free areas published by Services Australia in October 2026 ($226 a fortnight for singles, $396 combined for couples).

Keith and Bev, single, $250,000 each

The first $66,800 is deemed at 1.75%, or $1,169. The other $183,200 is deemed at 3.75%, or $6,870. That makes $8,039 a year, or $309.19 a fortnight. With no other income, that’s $83.19 over the $226 free area, so the pension is reduced by about $41.60 a fortnight under the income test. (Whichever of the income and assets tests gives the lower pension is the one that applies.)

Keith’s term deposit actually pays $10,000 a year, but only the $8,039 counts. Bev’s account pays almost nothing, but she’s still assessed on $8,039.

A couple with $400,000

The first $110,600 at 1.75% is $1,935.50. The remaining $289,400 at 3.75% is $10,852.50. Total: $12,788 a year, or $491.85 a fortnight. That’s $95.85 over the $396 couple free area, so each partner’s pension drops by about $23.96 a fortnight under the income test.

What the September 2026 rise cost

Under the old rates of 1.25% and 3.25%, the same $250,000 was deemed to earn $6,789 a year. The 0.5 percentage point rise adds $1,250 a year of deemed income. For a single pensioner affected by the income test, that’s roughly $24 a fortnight less pension, partly offset by the September pension indexation.

What you can do about it

Deeming isn’t something to fight, but it is something to plan around:

• Don’t leave big sums earning nothing. If you’re deemed to earn 3.75% anyway, letting cash sit in a 0% account is the worst of both worlds.
• Know your exempt assets. Money spent on your home or genuine home improvements isn’t deemed, but don’t make big decisions purely to chase a pension.
• Check before rolling over an old account-based pension. You may lose grandfathered treatment.
• Update Centrelink when your balances change, so you’re paid correctly and avoid a debt later.

Moneysmart has a clear overview of how the Age Pension and other government benefits fit together, and Centrelink’s free Financial Information Service can run through your own numbers.

FAQ

What are the deeming rates right now?

From 20 September 2026, 1.75% applies to the first $66,800 of financial assets for a single person (or $110,600 combined for a pensioner couple) and 3.75% to anything above that. Check Services Australia for the latest rates.

Is my account-based pension deemed?

Usually yes. It’s only assessed under the older rules if you started it before 1 January 2015 and have received a pension or allowance without a break since 31 December 2014.

Does my house get deemed?

No. Your principal home isn’t a financial asset. Money from selling it may be deemed, though proceeds you intend to put towards a new home are deemed at the lower rate only.

If my savings earn more than the deeming rate, do I lose pension?

No. Anything you earn above the deemed amount doesn’t count as income for the income test.

Why did my pension drop in September 2026?

The deeming rates rose by half a percentage point from 20 September 2026. If your pension is set by the income test and you have significant savings, the higher deemed income may have reduced your payment.

This article is general information only and isn’t financial advice. Rates, thresholds and rules change regularly, so check your own situation with Services Australia (or a Financial Information Service officer) before making decisions.

The Home Equity Access Scheme (HEAS) is the government’s answer to that problem. It’s a loan from Services Australia, secured against your home, paid as a fortnightly top-up, a lump sum, or both. You don’t repay anything until you sell or die. It’s cheaper and more tightly controlled than a commercial reverse mortgage, but it isn’t free money, and the interest adds up faster than most people expect.

Who can get it

According to Services Australia, you must meet all of these:

• you or your partner are Age Pension age or older
• you get, or are eligible for, a qualifying pension (this includes people who qualify for the Age Pension but get nothing because their income or assets are too high)
• you or your partner own Australian real estate that can be used as security
• nobody on the title is bankrupt or under a personal insolvency agreement
• the property is insured for at least 90% of the value of the buildings

That second point surprises people. You don’t have to be on a pension to use HEAS. Self-funded retirees who would qualify for the Age Pension except for the means tests can borrow too.

The current interest rate

The rate is 3.95% a year, compounding every fortnight on the outstanding balance. The Minister for Social Services sets it, and Services Australia says it will tell borrowers if it changes. Check the HEAS interest rate page for the latest figure.

On top of interest, you repay any legal costs added to the loan.

How much you can get each fortnight

The key rule is 150%. Your combined pension plus HEAS loan payment can’t be more than 1.5 times the maximum pension rate (including supplements) each fortnight.

From 20 September 2026, the maximum Age Pension is $1,237.70 a fortnight for a single person and $1,866.00 combined for a couple. That gives these ceilings:

If you’re on a part pension, you can borrow more to bring the total up to the same ceiling. If you get no pension at all, you can borrow up to the full 150% as a loan. Pension rates change every March and September, so the dollar figures will move. The how much you can get page and the HEAS calculator have the current numbers.

There’s also an overall cap, the maximum loan amount. It’s based on your age (or your younger partner’s age) and the value of the property you offer as security. It rises as you get older. Once your balance hits it, payments stop, though interest keeps running.

Lump-sum advances

You can also take part of the loan as a lump sum. The rules, per the advance payments page:

• you can advance up to 50% of the annual maximum pension rate in any 26-fortnight period
• you can take that as one payment or two, but no more than two advances in 26 fortnights
• taking an advance reduces your fortnightly loan payments for the next 26 fortnights

Using Services Australia’s own worked examples on rates from 20 September 2026, that’s up to $16,090.10 for a single person and up to $12,129 for each member of a couple.

Two catches. The advance counts as a financial asset for pension purposes, so it’s deemed under the income test and assessed under the assets test. If you used your principal home as security, it’s exempt from the assets test for the first 90 days only. So if the money sits in your bank account, it can trim your pension. Spend it on what you took it for.

The no-negative-equity guarantee

HEAS loans carry a no-negative-equity guarantee. When the debt is settled, you or your estate won’t have to repay more than the market value of the property, less any other mortgages or legitimate claims. Services Australia’s example: a $250,000 debt on a house that sells for $200,000 means you repay $200,000.

The guarantee can be lost if you increase a mortgage or other encumbrance on the property, misrepresent your circumstances or commit fraud. Tell Services Australia early if you plan to sell or change a loan on the property. Details are on the repaying your loan page.

The real cost: compound interest

This is the bit glossy summaries skip. Because you’re not making repayments, interest is charged on interest, every fortnight, for as long as the loan runs.

Services Australia’s own example at 3.95%: someone takes $750 a fortnight for 10 years. They receive $195,000. The balance after 10 years is $239,269.71, so more than $44,000 is interest. In its 15-year example, $526,500 drawn becomes a debt of $718,810.81.

And the interest doesn’t stop when you stop drawing. If you hit your maximum loan amount at 80 and live to 95, the balance keeps growing for those 15 years. That money comes out of your estate, which can affect what’s left for your family, or what’s left for you if you later need to fund an aged care deposit.

When the borrower dies, Services Australia generally seeks repayment from the estate after 14 weeks. It may defer repayment if a surviving partner is Age Pension age and still living in the property, but interest keeps accruing.

HEAS versus a commercial reverse mortgage

Our honest take: if you want a steady top-up to your income, HEAS is usually the cheaper option and hard to beat. A commercial reverse mortgage mainly makes sense if you need a larger lump sum than the HEAS advance limits allow, say for major renovations or to pay out an existing mortgage. If you’re comparing, use ASIC’s Moneysmart reverse mortgage calculator. Lenders are required to take you through it before you sign.

Alternatives worth a look first

Before borrowing against the house, it’s worth checking whether you’re getting everything you’re already entitled to. Working a few hours? The Work Bonus lets you earn more without losing pension. Wondering why your part pension is lower than expected? Deeming rates might be the reason. And if the house is simply too big, selling and using the downsizer super contribution might suit you better than borrowing against it.

Services Australia’s Financial Information Service can walk you through the options for free, and it’s worth getting independent financial or legal advice before applying.

FAQ

Do I have to make repayments on a HEAS loan?

No. You can repay part or all of it at any time, but you don’t have to. The loan is usually repaid when the property is sold or from your estate.

Can I get HEAS if I don’t receive the Age Pension?

Yes, if you meet the rules for a qualifying pension but your rate is zero because of the income or assets test. You can then borrow up to 150% of the maximum pension rate each fortnight.

Will a HEAS lump sum reduce my pension?

It can. Advance payments are deemed under the income test and assessed under the assets test. If your principal home secures the loan, the advance is exempt from the assets test for the first 90 days only.

Can my children end up owing more than the house is worth?

No. The no-negative-equity guarantee means the debt can’t exceed the property’s market value, less other legitimate claims, unless you breach the conditions such as increasing another mortgage or misrepresenting your situation.

This article is general information only and isn’t financial or legal advice. Rates, payment limits and rules change, so check the Services Australia pages linked above and consider independent advice before applying.