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How Equalisation Works

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Last amended: 1 July 2008

How do the equalisation timetables work?

Identify the age equalisation timetable applicable to the person's circumstances.

If the person is a female...

Then use the age equalisation timetable labelled...

  • veteran, or
  • partner claiming partner service pension, or
  • war widow claiming income support supplement, or
  • to whom qualifying age applies to their eligibility to access entitlements or for certain pension assessment rules

Pension Age for Female Veterans and Qualifying Age for Females.     

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  • claiming or receiving service pension to establish the tax status of income support payment, or
  • to whom pension age applies to their eligibility to access entitlements, or for certain pension assessment rules

Pension Age for Female Non-Veterans.    

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When pension age increases

Pension age increases at the start of each 18 month date of birth range. This is calculated by working out the date that a person born on the first day of that date of birth range would reach the relevant pension age.

Six month period where no females turns pension age

In the last 6 months before each increase, it is not possible for a female to gain eligibility on the basis of age. This is because the pension age for a person born on the last day of the date of birth range is 6 months younger than for a person born the following day on the first day of the next date of birth range.

What if there is no corresponding date on calendar

Where pension age is based on a number of years plus six months (eg. 55 years and 6 months), there may be no corresponding date in the calendar six months forward of a person's birthday. For example there is no 30 or 31 February. In this circumstance, the last day in the relevant month is taken as the day the person turns pension age.

Example - Person reaching pension age on non-existent calendar date

A female veteran claiming service pension, was born on 31 August 1941. She reaches pension age at 55 years and 6 months of age.     

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This is calculated to be 31 February 1997 (ie 31 August 1996 plus 6 months). As February has only 28 days, there is no such day as 31 February 1997 on the calendar. Therefore, the last day of the month, being 28 February 1997 is taken to be the day she turns pension age.

How pension age/qualifying age should be described

Female pension age/qualifying age should be described with reference to the woman's date of birth. Age equalisation must always be mentioned when referring to female pension age/qualifying age. The following phrases are to be used for describing female pension age/qualifying age:

  • If you are a veteran born between 1 January 1948 and 30 June 1949, then your pension age is 58 years.
  • The qualifying age for a partner born on 1 November 1950 is 58 years and 6 months.
  • The pension age for a non-veteran born on 17 August 1942 is 62 years and 6 months.