Changes to minimum pension payments

The minimum pension drawdown rates have been halved again for the 2022/23 financial year.

The measure was introduced in 2020 as part of the government's response to COVID-19 which has been in place for the 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22 financial years and is being extended to the 2022/23 financial year.

How does this benefit me?

This change to minimum pension payments is welcome news for retirees with account-based pensions, market-linked pensions and transition to retirement pensions.

It will offer flexibility for retirees, who won’t now be forced to sell their shares, property or other assets at a time when their value is reduced simply to fund their income stream.

Instead, if they have sufficient ongoing cash flow to meet day-to-day living expenses, retirees will be able to ride out the current volatility and avoid capitalising any losses by keeping more of their money invested. When the share market recovers, they’ll also be well positioned to take advantage of any opportunities that brings.

New pension drawdown rates

What is an account-based pension?

An account-based pension offers retirees regular, flexible and tax-effective income from their superannuation account. You might also see it referred to as an allocated pension.

Members of a Self-Managed Super Fund can also have an account-based pension, provided the payment is allocated to a separate account for each member of the fund.

You can access an account-based pension once you reach your 'preservation age' (between 55 and 60 based on when you were born) with just a few simple choices¹.

• Decide how much you want to transfer to the pension phase.
• Choose the frequency of your payments – monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annually.
• Choose the amount you want to receive in each payment (subject to minimum and maximum requirements).
• Consider how you want the remainder of your superannuation to continue to be invested so it keeps working hard for you.

While the pension income isn’t guaranteed for life, the income stream will continue for as long as your accumulated superannuation money does.

Why is there a minimum pension payment?

The Government sets minimum pension payment rules for just one simple reason – to satisfy the sole purpose test.

The sole purpose test requires that all activities of super funds must be for the sole purpose of providing retirement benefits to their members².

It prevents super funds and their members from taking advantage of the attractive tax concessions and using superannuation as a way to transfer wealth to the next generation.

The rules

1. Pension amount

The minimum pension drawdown rates are calculated as an annual percentage of your account balance.

This percentage amount increases with age and is based on assumptions around what’s considered a sensible amount to withdraw annually while maintaining an account balance that’s enough for you to draw an income throughout retirement

Each year, the minimum amount you will receive is recalculated based on your age and account balance as at 1 July. If you open a new pension account part way through a financial year, the minimum pension drawdown rate is pro-rated and calculated based on the number of days left until the end of the financial year.

2. Pension frequency

You can choose whether you want to receive pension payments monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annually – whichever suits your individual circumstances.

But it’s a condition of all account-based pensions that you must receive at least one pension payment annually between 1 July and 30 June each financial year.

How can I adjust my minimum pension payment?

We’ve updated all our systems to take account of the new reduced pension minimums.

So, if you’re worried that your superannuation balance has been impacted by recent share market volatility and you would like to change your minimum pension drawdown amount to take advantage of the temporary reduction in rates, we recommend you speak to your financial adviser.

They can work with you to ensure your investments are structured in the best way to help you achieve your longer-term retirement goals while still providing you with adequate income for daily essentials.

Next: How much will you need to enjoy your retirement?

References

¹ Moneysmart Moneysmart.gov.au https://moneysmart.gov.au/retirement-income/account-based-pensions
² SuperGuide https://www.superguide.com.au/smsfs/what-is-the-sole-purpose-test-and-how-does-it-work