Supporting documents

When claiming Age Pension, you’ll need to give us some supporting documents so we can assess your claim.

Why you need to give us documents

As you complete your claim for Age Pension, we’ll ask you to provide information and certain supporting documents. We need supporting documents to confirm information you give us in your claim. We can’t assess your claim without them. We may also ask you for more details after you submit your claim.

Which documents you must give us

We’ll tell you which information and documents you must give us before you can submit your online claim. We list the documents you have to provide in the required task list.

If you complete a paper claim, we’ll tell you next to the question what information or document we need.

You must give us the following details before or when you submit your claim. If you’ve already provided these, you may not need to do so again. Documents that show:

  • your age
  • your bank account details
  • your tax file number, or provide it in your claim
  • your Australian residence status, unless you’re an Australian citizen who was born in Australia
  • if you’re a member of a couple
  • your income and assets.

You may need to give us your identity documents so we can prove your identity. If required, you need to provide identity documents before you can submit your claim. We can’t start assessing your claim without them. Having them ready will help you finish your claim and not delay the process. If you’re unsure which documents you need to provide, call us on the Older Australians line.

Which documents you may need to give us

Which documents we may need depends on your circumstances. We’ll tell you in the claim which documents you must give us.

Circumstances What you may need to provide

Relationships

Australian residence status

  • passports
  • citizenship papers
  • other documentation.

Living arrangements

  • rent certificate, we’ll send this to you if you need one
  • current lease or tenancy agreement
  • details of other people sharing accommodation with you
  • real estate asset ownership documents.

Financial

  • income and assets details form
  • latest savings and mortgage offset statements showing account holder’s name, account number and balance
  • term deposit statements showing the current balance
  • superannuation statements for accounts in the accumulation phase showing the number of units held, if applicable, or the dollar amount of the investment
  • superannuation statements for your partner if they’ve reached Age Pension age, showing the number of units held, if applicable, or the dollar amount of the investment
  • current schedule for any income stream products completed by your provider or a completed SA330 form
  • life insurance documents showing the surrender value
  • real estate asset ownership documents for assets fully or partially owned inside and outside Australia
  • rates notices for each property owned
  • mortgage documents confirming the security held for each loan
  • latest statements for any managed investments including number and type of units, if applicable, and APIR code
  • latest shareholder and share dividend statements showing the investment owned, name and number of units or shares owned in the investment
  • latest tax return for any investment properties or latest profit and loss statement with all expenses listed including a breakdown of any amount listed as other expenses.

If you’re unsure what type of investment you have, please contact your financial adviser or the provider of your investment.

You may also need to provide:

  • Business details form and all documents as requested on the form
  • Private Company form and all documents as requested on the form
  • Private Trust form details form and all documents as requested on the form
  • latest balance sheet and profit and loss statement for businesses with all expenses listed, including a breakdown of any amount listed as other expenses
  • Profit and Loss Statement form showing current income if there’s been a change since the latest available profit and loss statement
  • current balance sheet if there’s been a change since the latest available balance sheet
  • income tax returns
  • Compensation and damages form if you’ve already received compensation, you’re getting it now, or you’re about to get.

Identity

Employment

Medical

You need to give us an ophthalmologist report if you’re vision impaired.

When we need documents after you submit your claim

After you submit your claim for Age Pension, we’ll assess your circumstances. If we need more information, we’ll ask you for it. We’ll send a letter to your myGov Inbox, if you have one. If you don’t, we’ll send you this request in the mail.

If this happens, we’ll put your claim on hold while we wait for the information.

You generally need to provide the documents we request within 14 days. If you don’t, we may reject your claim. Call us on the Older Australians line if you’re having trouble providing the information we ask for.

How to submit your documents

You can upload documents in your Centrelink online account or the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app. Read more about how to submit your Centrelink documents online.

You can also give them to us by mail or by visiting a service centre.

Page last updated: 3 March 2022