A client in her early 80s recently sold her long-term family home and downsized into a smaller community-style residence.

While the move suited her lifestyle, the $850,000 sale proceeds created an unexpected issue — her assets were now too high to qualify for the Age Pension!

But… the biggest concern wasn’t the pension payments themselves.
It was losing the Pensioner Concession Card and the valuable healthcare and medication benefits that come with it.

Her goals:

✔ Retain Age Pension eligibility
✔ Keep the Pensioner Concession Card
✔ Generate enough income to support annual living expenses
✔ Make her savings last as long as possible

How did we try achieving these things? Well, we combined:

• Downsizer super contributions
• Lifetime annuities (which receive favourable Centrelink treatment)
• A modest gifting strategy
• High-interest cash reserves for flexibility

The result?

◊ Her assessable assets reduced from approximately $858,000 to $678,000
◊ She regained eligibility for the Age Pension

◊ Her pensioner Concession Card was retained!
◊ Guaranteed lifetime income established through annuities

Another satisfied customer!

This case shows that selling the family home doesn’t automatically mean losing Age Pension eligibility.

With the right structure and advice, retirees can often preserve important benefits while improving long-term financial security.

For many older Australians, the value of the Pensioner Concession Card can be just as important as the pension itself.