FINANCE
Reducing the impact of the assets test – what you need to know
When applying for the Age Pension, your assets can make a big difference to your eligibility and payment amount. But what exactly is the assets test, and how can you manage its impact?
Centrelink uses the assets test to determine how much you own, including property( other than your home), superannuation, investments, vehicles and contents. If your assets are above the threshold, your pension payment will reduce by $ 3 per fortnight for every $ 1,000 over the limit. The limits differ depending on whether you’ re single or a couple, and whether you own your home.
The important thing to understand is that many retirees can unintentionally hold assets in ways that reduce their Age Pension unnecessarily. Sometimes this happens because they don’ t know what counts as an asset, or how Centrelink values it. Other times, it’ s because their financial position has changed over time, but their pension hasn’ t been reviewed.
There are often legitimate ways to reduce the impact of the assets test, for example, by making sure your funds are structured appropriately for your stage of life, or ensuring Centrelink’ s records reflect the current market values of your assets. Each person’ s situation is different, so there’ s no one-size-fits-all answer, but even small adjustments can sometimes make a significant difference to your payment or eligibility.
Financial advice can play a key role here. A qualified adviser can help identify strategies that align with your goals while improving your Age Pension position. For example, investing in a funeral bond( within the allowable limit) can reduce assessable assets while setting funds aside for future expenses.
Certain lifetime annuities can also receive concessional treatment under the assets test, providing both income security and a potential pension boost. In addition, new IRIS products have been developed to meet these same goals, combining flexibility and Centrelink efficiency in one. Advice ensures these strategies are used appropriately for your needs and circumstances.
If you’ re unsure how the assets test affects you, or if your pension could be higher, it’ s worth having your situation reviewed. We specialise in helping people understand and apply for the Age Pension in plain language, no forms, no online portals, just personal service and clear answers.
Call us today on 1300 222 484 to find out whether your assets are affecting your Age Pension and what steps might help improve your position.
IDEAL
FIT FOR ANY ATV
summer25
SMOOTHFLO SPRAYERS
AUSTRALIA’ S FAVOURITE PULSATION FREE PUMP, MATCHED TO A TOWBAR BOOM FOR ANY USE
200L SMOOTHFLO TRUKPAK SPRAYERS 7 L / min, 120psi pump. Spotjet spray gun with adjustable nozzle and 500mm lance 15m RETRACTABLE REEL MODEL $ 1,515 6m HOSE MODEL $ 1,319
RECHARGABLE SPRAYERS
$ 12L RECHARGABLE
210 $
407
BACKPACK SPRAYER
3 Bar / 45 psi maximum pressure pump. Long reach spraygun( extendable from 780mm to 1150mm) with lockable trigger and adjustable
UP TO 6 TANKS
OF SPRAYING PER CHARGE
nozzle. Up to 2 hours continuous run time with battery life indicator.
5 Walker St, South Windsor Phone 4577 4622 www. gwsmachinery. com. au SCAN TO VIEW OUR WEBSITE
30M MANUAL REEL
$
1,515
25L RECHARGABLE TROLLEY SPRAYER
1.25 L / min, 45 psi max. 6m of delivery hose and trigger jet spray gun with adjustable nozzle and 550mm stainless steel lance. Up to 3 tanks for spraying per charge.
Weekly recycling collection over Christmas and the New Year
Council will provide weekly recycling( yellow bin) collections to help residents with the extra recyclables over Christmas and the New Year. The weekly collections will take place on your usual bin night, from Monday 22 December 2025 to Friday 2 January 2026.
Council’ s‘ Find Your Bin Collection Day’ Dashboard Hawkesbury residents can search their address and print a PDF annual calendar which shows their collection days and which week and day their recycling and garden organics bins get collected. It will even show what week your extra Christmas Recycling falls on!
If you are unsure about your collection day, search your address on the Find your Bin Collection Day Dashboard at: https:// data. hawkesbury. nsw. gov. au / pages / waste-dashboard / For more information on your Recycling Collection Calendar, please contact Council’ s Sustainability Officer through the Ask a Waste Expert Form: www. hawkesbury. nsw. gov. au /_ resources / forms / ask-a-wasteexperthow-to-reduce-reuse-and-recycle
Waste Collection Services during the Festive Season
- General Waste: No change including collections scheduled on public holidays
- Garden Organics: No change including collections scheduled on public holidays
- Recycling: Weekly recycling bin collections, between Monday, 22 December 2025, and Friday 2 January 2026. This service will be provided on your regular scheduled bin collection days including public holidays.
- To avoid a missed collection these holidays; leave one metre between bins, leave plenty of room between parked cars and bins, don’ t overfill your bins, present your bins kerbside the night before collection
- PLEASE NOTE: there won’ t be missed bin collections between Christmas and New Year
Additional Hawkesbury Recycling Options Residents can also drop off any additional paper, cardboard, bottles and cans free of charge at the Hawkesbury Waste Management Facility, 1 The Driftway, South Windsor. Open seven days( excluding public holidays) 8am to 4pm, with the last entry at 3:45pm. Last entry on 24 December and 31 December 2:45pm. Residents can also use the facility for other waste items, details are available at https:// data. hawkesbury. nsw. gov. au / pages / waste-dashboard /
Return and Earn also allows you to drop off your bottles and cans for a refund. To find a return point near you, see https:// returnandearn. org. au / return-point
16 ISSUE 176 // DECEMBER 2025 MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS! theindependentmagazine. com. au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT