When we pay your pension and allowance

This page provides information on how a ‘pension period’ relates to the instalment of pension paid to you each fortnight.

This information is for recipients of Service Pension, Veteran Payment, Income Support Supplement, Social Security Age Pension (paid by DVA), Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) holders and eligible Veteran Gold Card holders who receive their energy supplement from DVA.

What is a pension period?

A 'pension period' is 14 days long, starting on a Tuesday and ending a fortnight later on the Monday before pension payday. Your pension instalment is the sum of the pension amounts you are entitled to for each of the 14 days in the pension period. Changes to your personal, residential and financial circumstances may mean that pension amounts owed to you will need to be reviewed. We always aim to review your pension amount quickly. Wherever possible, we aim to complete the review so that changes to your pension during a pension period are reflected in the next pension instalment that we pay you. If the review is unable to be completed in time for the next pension instalment, we may then need to make an appropriate adjustment to your pension (up or down) in a later instalment. You can assist by telling us about your changes within 14 days of them happening.

Here is a table to illustrate the ‘14 Day Pension Period’.

Pension periods for 2024

A list of pension periods for the 2024 year is on the following page. 

Pension indexation increases and paydays

For the first payday occurring after an indexation increase, your pension is calculated for part of the fortnight where the old rate is correct and the rest of the fortnight at the new increased rate. This ensures that you receive your correct daily entitlement.

Pensions are paid fortnightly, but calculated on a daily entitlement basis. This means that your first full payment at the new rate of pension will be paid from the 2nd payday after the indexation date.

Obligations

You will need to tell us about changes to your circumstances and the date the change occurred within 14 days (or 28 days for those who live overseas or receive remote area allowance).

For more information about your obligations, please see  What You Need to Tell Us About

2024 Pension Periods