Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Home / 376

How the age pension helps retirees cope with losses

The immense value of the age pension is often underappreciated when markets are strong, but its worth is never greater than in a crisis.

The government age pension can potentially offset a one-third decline in the value of a wealthy retired couple's investment portfolio, according to our analysis. This revelation will provide some much-needed comfort to investors as the COVID-19 pandemic creates widespread job losses and wipes billions of dollars from retirement balances.

How the age pension makes a difference: a practical example

Theo and Sue are a hypothetical 65-year-old couple who own their home and have $1 million in pension assets.

Their comfortable position means they initially aren’t eligible for the age pension. However, they may well become eligible in future as they draw income from their investments. This can provide them with enormous additional value.

Milliman has modelled thousands of future scenarios for the couple, which demonstrates that the potential future age pension payments they might receive over the next 25 years have a median value of about $180,000 over the course of their retirement.

If Theo and Sue’s assets fall by 30% in a major shock to the market, the value of the age pension increases even more. This is because they are more likely to receive larger age pension payments, as well as benefiting from receiving them earlier into their retirement.

In fact, the median value of their age pension more than doubles, rising to approximately $500,000, essentially offsetting the entire fall in their retirement savings.

(The current level of a full age pension is $37,000 a year or $1,423 a fortnight including supplements for a couple).

What it means for different people

Wealthier retirees often receive the largest financial buffer from the age pension as their private savings decrease, even where they consider themselves to be self-funded retirees.

That’s because retirees with lower retirement savings already receive a full age pension. Those people, most of whom don’t receive financial advice, benefit far less as there is no more age pension to receive either now or in the future.

This is demonstrated in the following graph, which shows how the median value of future age pension amounts (the black line) can combine with the value of their private superannuation savings (blue line) to protect the value of their total retirement income (orange line) as retirement savings fall.

As eligibility for the full age pension becomes more likely at around a $400,000 pension balance, the value of future age pension payments levels off, leaving these individuals' retirement incomes more exposed to further market falls.

Source: Milliman analysis

Financial advice in turbulent times

The emotional impact on retirees of seeing huge falls in the value of their retirement savings needs to be appreciated, along with the behavioural biases that come to the fore at times like these. The pain felt by many retirees has been proven to be much greater than that experienced by younger people.

In the current environment of falling investment values, understanding the role of the age pension as part of their retirement plan can provide welcome reassurance.

These complexities underline the value of ongoing advice and analysis to assist retirees in navigating turbulent and volatile environments. Advisers can help retirees better manage this issue in the current climate, by implementing portfolios that provide explicit protection against current and future market falls.

Key assumptions and methodology

Analysis is modelled using the Milliman GBA Platform to model 1,000 random future scenarios. Analysis assumes a couple, both aged 65-years-old who own their own home. The couple’s assets are all invested in a 70/30 Growth/Defensive asset mix within an account-based pension, with no further sources of income or assets (for age pension means-test purposes).

The couple draw down the usual minimum required income each year from their pension account (not the temporary COVID levels). All income (including age pension) is assumed to be spent, with no reinvestment of future income.

Future age pension payments are valued by means testing to determine payment amounts in each modelled scenario, then discounting those payments to today’s dollars using modelled wage inflation in each scenario. Future age pension amounts assume payment rates and thresholds (indexed in line with AWOTE) as at 20 March 2020 with deeming rates based on the announced deeming rates effective from 1 May 2020.

The analysis runs 1,000 stochastic simulations through to age 90 (i.e. over 25 years), assuming both of the couple survive to this time.

Economic models use Milliman’s standard Australian Stochastic ESG calibration and setup as at 31 December 2019. This setup is intended to be used to model the long-term dynamics of a wide range of economic variables, including asset returns, income, inflation and interest rates, and is updated quarterly as part of Milliman’s GBA Platform modelling services.

 

Wade Matterson is a Principal, Senior Consultant, and leader of Milliman’s Australian Financial Risk Management practice and a fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia. This article is general advice only as it does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person.

 

6 Comments
Andrew Long
October 01, 2020

This is a fantastic article! Is there a link to white paper at all by any chance that delves into this analysis further?

Janis Flynn
September 30, 2020

Doesn't this show that it would be better to make superannuation voluntary and give workers their 9.5% now, save the Govt $43B a yr now in tax breaks for the high income contributor to Super and increase the age pension which has been shown does not get affected in times of financial downturn. We don't need to be told when, how, and how much to save. Go back to Simon Crean speech in 1981 when he said "the early stage of union involvement in Superannuation issues is that control over funds will provide unions and govt with financial leverage which can be used to advance the cause of Socialism in Australia" 

ERIC COWAN
September 24, 2020

I still can't see how the government justified giving jobseekers more fortnightly income than people who worked for 50 years paying the government taxes.

C
September 26, 2020

Maybe the government realised that the sudden huge increase in unemployment would lead to massive social unrest and likely reduce their chances of staying in power. Also, consider the ramifications across the whole economy. We would likely be in a depression, not just a recession. The Newstart payment was/ is barely enough to live on. People receiving it still rely on charity to survive. The poorest people spend all their income. The government needed to keep money flowing around the economy and keep businesses going and people employed. I actually think that this was one of their better decisions. Imagine how much worse things could be.

Aussie HIFIRE
September 23, 2020

Retirees who get the age pension should be the least affected by the current situation. Their age pension payments have likely gone up, they've got two extra payments of $750 per person (so $3,000 for a couple), their expenses have likely gone down, and the value of their investments assuming a 50/50 split between broadly diversified growth and defensive investments has fallen by maybe 5-7% or so from a year ago. There are a lot of people who are working who would love to be in that position!

Trevor
September 30, 2020

"There are a lot of people who are working who would love to be in that position!" Really? Swap  youth and opportunity for a pitiful income ? Those "beneficiaries" are old and reduced to living on "the pension" having worked and paid taxes almost all their lives ! There were no "hand-outs" for them during the polio and flu epidemics so they could "shelter at home" in style! It's amazing to me how people can justify this governmental-largesse to support a lifestyle that is profligate and "unsustainable" at the very least ! Can't even be bothered to accept a job fruit-picking when it is urgently needed. There seems to be no end to the "feeling of entitlement" evident in your envious remarks. 

 

Leave a Comment:

RELATED ARTICLES

Retiree spending patterns differ from most expectations

Time to smash the retirement nest egg - but how?

Four reasons many Australians will work until they're dead

banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

Australian house prices close in on world record

Sydney is set to become the world’s most expensive city for housing over the next 12 months, a new report shows. Our other major cities aren’t far behind unless there are major changes to improve housing affordability.

The case for the $3 million super tax

The Government's proposed tax has copped a lot of flack though I think it's a reasonable approach to improve the long-term sustainability of superannuation and the retirement income system. Here’s why.

Tariffs are a smokescreen to Trump's real endgame

Behind market volatility and tariff threats lies a deeper strategy. Trump’s real goal isn’t trade reform but managing America's massive debts, preserving bond market confidence, and preparing for potential QE.

The super tax and the defined benefits scandal

Australia's superannuation inequities date back to poor decisions made by Parliament two decades ago. If super for the wealthy needs resetting, so too does the defined benefits schemes for our public servants.

Meg on SMSFs: Withdrawing assets ahead of the $3m super tax

The super tax has caused an almighty scuffle, but for SMSFs impacted by the proposed tax, a big question remains: what should they do now? Here are ideas for those wanting to withdraw money from their SMSF.

Getting rich vs staying rich

Strategies to get rich versus stay rich are markedly different. Here is a look at the five main ways to get rich, including through work, business, investing and luck, as well as those that preserve wealth.

Latest Updates

SMSF strategies

Meg on SMSFs: Withdrawing assets ahead of the $3m super tax

The super tax has caused an almighty scuffle, but for SMSFs impacted by the proposed tax, a big question remains: what should they do now? Here are ideas for those wanting to withdraw money from their SMSF.

Superannuation

The huge cost of super tax concessions

The current net annual cost of superannuation tax subsidies is around $40 billion, growing to more than $110 billion by 2060. These subsidies have always been bad policy, representing a waste of taxpayers' money.

Planning

How to avoid inheritance fights

Inspired by the papal conclave, this explores how families can avoid post-death drama through honest conversations, better planning, and trial runs - so there are no surprises when it really matters.

Superannuation

Super contribution splitting

Super contribution splitting allows couples to divide before-tax contributions to super between spouses, maximizing savings. It’s not for everyone, but in the right circumstances, it can be a smart strategy worth exploring.

Economy

Trump vs Powell: Who will blink first?

The US economy faces an unprecedented clash in leadership styles, but the President and Fed Chair could both take a lesson from the other. Not least because the fiscal and monetary authorities need to work together.

Gold

Credit cuts, rising risks, and the case for gold

Shares trade at steep valuations despite higher risks of a recession. Amid doubts that a 60/40 portfolio can still provide enough protection through times of market stress, gold's record shines bright.

Investment strategies

Buffett acolyte warns passive investors of mediocre future returns

While Chris Bloomstan doesn't have the track record of his hero, it's impressive nonetheless. And he's recently warned that today has uncanny resemblances to the 1990s tech bubble and US returns are likely to be disappointing.

Sponsors

Alliances

© 2025 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The data, research and opinions provided here are for information purposes; are not an offer to buy or sell a security; and are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Morningstar, its affiliates, and third-party content providers are not responsible for any investment decisions, damages or losses resulting from, or related to, the data and analyses or their use. To the extent any content is general advice, it has been prepared for clients of Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), without reference to your financial objectives, situation or needs. For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. You should consider the advice in light of these matters and if applicable, the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to invest. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product’s future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Articles are current as at date of publication.
This website contains information and opinions provided by third parties. Inclusion of this information does not necessarily represent Morningstar’s positions, strategies or opinions and should not be considered an endorsement by Morningstar.