Work out how much of your gifts Centrelink counts as an asset under the $10,000 a year and $30,000 over 5 years gifting rules.
Gifts each financial year money or assets given away, or sold for less than they're worth (both of you for a couple)
| Year | Over $10,000 a year | Over $30,000 in 5 years | Counted as an asset |
|---|
Key facts
- You can give away up to $10,000 in a financial year without it affecting your Age Pension or other Centrelink payment.
- There's also a limit of $30,000 over any 5 financial years (counting this year and the 4 before it), with no more than $10,000 in any one year.
- Anything over the limits is a deprived asset: it still counts under the assets test, and is deemed under the income test, for 5 years from the gift.
- The limits are the same whether you're single or a couple; for a couple, gifts by both of you count together.
- Gifts include money and assets given away, and assets sold for less than their value.
How it's worked out
- Each financial year, anything you give away over $10,000 is assessed.
- Then add up your gifts for this year and the 4 years before, take off the amounts already assessed in those years, and assess anything over $30,000 (no more than this year's gift).
- Assessed amounts count as assets, and are deemed, for 5 years from the gift.
DSS example
| Financial year | Gift | Assessed (annual rule) | Assessed (5-year rule) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $16,000 | $6,000 | $0 |
| Year 2 | $8,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Year 3 | $17,000 | $7,000 | $0 |
| Year 4 | $9,000 | $0 | $7,000 |
| Year 5 | $16,000 | $6,000 | $10,000 |
| Year 6 | $7,000 | $0 | $0 |
Example 2 from the Social Security Guide (4.1.10), with years 2002–03 to 2007–08.
Common questions
How much can I gift on the pension?
Up to $10,000 a financial year, and no more than $30,000 over 5 financial years. Gifts within those limits don't count as your assets.
What happens if I gift more than $10,000?
The amount over $10,000 (or over the 5-year limit) is treated as your asset for 5 years from the date of the gift and is deemed to earn income, which can reduce your pension.
Is the gifting limit per person or per couple?
Per single person or per couple: a couple shares one $10,000 a year and $30,000 5-year limit.
Can I give $30,000 in one year?
Only $10,000 of it is free; the other $20,000 is a deprived asset for 5 years.
See also the Age Pension calculator, deeming rates and Age Pension rates and assets test.
Sources: Social Security Guide 4.1.10, gifting rules; Services Australia, how much you can gift. Checked 22 October 2026.