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Impact of Equalisation
Last amended: 1 July 2008
Overview of age equalisation for females
VEA ?
Under age equalisation[glossary:,:] pension age for females is being gradually increased, the first increase effective from 1 January 1996. It increases in six-month increments every two years so that by 1 January 2014 the pension age for females will be the same as the pension age for males.
Why age equalisation was introduced
The increase in pension age for females is in recognition that females:
- live longer than males,
- now have an increased participation in the labour force,
- level of wages can be expected to further increase in the future, and
- have increased access to superannuation.
Eligibility exceptions
The increase in pension age will not affect the eligibility of the following groups:
- female veterans who qualify for invalidity service pension, More ?
- war widows who qualify for income support supplement (ISS). More ?
Superannuation managed investments
Irrespective of what age a female is granted service pension, the pension age (or qualifying age if granted income support supplement) applying at the time of the assessment will be used to determine when any superannuation fund investment they hold becomes assessable under the income and assets test.
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Taxation
Irrespective of what age a female is granted pension, the pension age that is current at the time the pension is received is used to determine whether or not her pension payment is taxable. For taxation purposes, pension age refers to the definition under the Social Security Act 1991, which is the same as the definition for pension age for non-veterans under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.
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Section 5QA VEA
Section 5QB VEA
Invalidity Service Pension
Income Support Supplement (ISS) eligibility
Superannuation Funds
In order to bring pension age for women in line with that required of men, age equalisation was introduced on 1/7/95. This will increase pension age in six monthly increments every two years for a period of 20 years. Refer to the age equalisation tables in section 5QA of the VEA and section 5QB of the VEA.
Currently, the pension age for a veteran is 60 years of age (VEA 5QA).
The pension age for a non-veteran is determined by the table below:
Date of birth (both dates inclusive) | Age Pension age |
1 July 1952 to 31 December 1953 | 65 years and 6 months |
1 January 1954 to 30 June 1955 | 66 years |
1 July 1955 to 31 December 1956 | 66 years and 6 months |
On or after 1 January 1957 | 67 years |
A service pension is an income support payment broadly equivalent to the social security age and disability support pensions. It may be paid once a veteran or partner has reached the nominated age or is incapacitated for work.
ISS is an income support payment that may be paid to eligible war widows and widowers under the VEA and persons receiving wholly dependent partners' compensation under the MRCA, and who satisfy the means tests. It is an indexed rate, increased twice-yearly in March and September in line with changes to the cost of living and/or average wages. Income Support Supplement (ISS) legislation commenced on 20 March 1995. It is a payment created to replace the ceiling rate income support age, carer, wife and disability support pensions, paid to war widows/widowers by Centrelink.