When we pay your pension and allowance
This page provides information on how a ‘pension period’ relates to the instalment of payments made 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
- 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 payment 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 payment amounts owed to you will need to be reviewed. We always aim to review your payment amount quickly. Wherever possible, we aim to complete the review so that changes to your payment during a pension period are reflected in the next payment that we pay you. If the review is unable to be completed in time for the next payment, we may then need to make an appropriate adjustment to your payment (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’.
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | ||
| Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 11 | Day 12 |
| Day 13 | Day 14 | PAYDAY |
Pension indexation increases and paydays
For the first payday occurring after an indexation increase, your payment 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.
Payments are paid fortnightly, but calculated on a daily entitlement basis. This means that your first full payment at the new rate will be paid from the 2nd payday after the indexation date.
Back to topObligations
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
Back to top2026 Pension Periods
The paydays in 2026 are:
| Quarter | Dates |
|---|---|
| First quarter | 8 January, 22 January, 5 February, 19 February, 5 March and 19 March |
| Second quarter | 2 April, 16 April, 30 April, 14 May, 28 May, 11 June and 25 June |
| Third quarter | 9 July, 23 July, 6 August, 20 August, 3 September and 17 September |
| Fourth quarter | 1 October, 15 October, 29 October, 12 November, 26 November, 10 December and 24 December |
You can also download the full calendar from 2026 Pension Paydays Calendar.
Back to top