Adjust the sliders to see your projected super balance and annual retirement income alongside the ASFA Retirement Standard for context. Updates live as you go.
This is a generic calculator that uses standardised assumptions. Your actual outcome will depend on a wide range of factors not captured here.
Investment returns (net of fees and tax, real — i.e. after inflation): The return rates used sit within the default ranges used by the ASIC MoneySmart calculator and are widely accepted as standard generic assumptions for retirement projection purposes.
Housing at retirement: The ASFA Comfortable standard assumes you own your home outright with no mortgage or rent to pay. ASFA also publishes a separate modest renter standard ($49,676/yr single, $67,125/yr couple, Dec 2025 quarter) for those still renting at retirement — it does not define a comfortable tier for renters because private rent absorbs most of the comfort budget. When "Renting" is selected, the rent burden shown ($14,477/yr single, $16,259/yr couple) is derived from ASFA's own figures — the difference between their renter and homeowner modest standards — which reflects typical retiree rent after Commonwealth Rent Assistance. When "Still paying" a mortgage is selected, the calculator subtracts an estimated repayment of $20,000/yr (single) or $24,000/yr (couple) from your projected income. This figure is anchored to ABS Lending Indicators and AIHW housing data for older Australian households still servicing a mortgage at retirement age — approximately 10% of over-65s (NAB Wellbeing Survey, Q2 2025), typically with smaller remaining balances than new buyers. Actual repayments vary significantly based on your remaining balance, loan term, and interest rate.
Age Pension estimate: The Age Pension component shown is an estimate based on the assets test for homeowners. It assumes the full Age Pension applies below ~$314,000 (single) / ~$470,000 (couple) of assessable assets, tapering to zero around ~$695,000 (single) / ~$1,045,000 (couple). The estimate does not include the income test, the value of your home, non-super assets, partial work bonus, or rental assistance — all of which can change your actual Age Pension entitlement. The Age Pension may also change over time due to legislation.
Drawdown phase (the second chart): The "will it last?" projection uses the ATO's minimum pension drawdown rates applied to your account-based pension balance from retirement. These rates are floors set by legislation to maintain the tax-free status of the pension — they are not recommendations. Most retirees draw more than the minimum to fund their actual lifestyle, which would deplete the balance sooner than shown. Rates start at 4% under 65, rise to 5% at 65-74, 6% at 75-79, 7% at 80-84, 9% at 85-89, 11% at 90-94, and 14% at 95+. The drawdown projection assumes a 3.5% real return on the remaining balance during retirement (more conservative than the accumulation rate, consistent with the typical shift toward defensive assets in retirement).
Age Pension during retirement: The drawdown chart shows the Age Pension stepping up as your super balance falls and crosses the assets-test thresholds. This is illustrative only — the actual Age Pension you receive depends on the income test, the value of your home, non-super assets, indexation of pension rates over time, and any partial work bonus.
Other key assumptions:
What this calculator does not do: It does not take into account your full personal circumstances, your fund's actual fees and returns, insurance premiums deducted from your super, salary sacrifice tax benefits, asset-test impacts on your Age Pension, or any non-super assets (such as your home or investments outside super). It is not personal financial advice and should not be relied on as the sole basis for any financial decision. For personal advice, speak with a licensed financial adviser.