Pensioner Education Supplement rates 2026
Pensioner Education Supplement · Full rate (full-time study)
Basic rate per fortnight · $1,622.40 ≈ per year (×26 fortnights)
- Pensioner Education Supplement
- $62.40
- Total per fortnight
- $62.40
Effective 1 January 2026 · Source: DSS / Services Australia · What changed on 1 January 2026
Pensioner Education Supplement helps with the ongoing costs of study for people who get certain income support payments and are studying. It is an extra amount on top of your main payment, not a payment you claim on its own. It is paid by Services Australia through Centrelink.
This page explains the Pensioner Education Supplement and shows the full-time and part-time rates. It is a fixed amount: it is not indexed, so it does not rise when pensions and allowances do.
Full Pensioner Education Supplement rate table
| Variant | Base rate | Supplements | Total /fortnight | ≈ per year (×26) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full rate (full-time study) | $62.40 | — | $62.40 | $1,622.40 |
| Half rate (part-time study) | $31.20 | — | $31.20 | $811.20 |
Source: Services Australia, A guide to Australian Government payments (CO029), 20 September 2026 edition — Pensioner Education Supplement
Pensioner Education Supplement is a flat amount paid every two weeks while you study. There is a full-time rate and a lower part-time rate, so how much you get depends on your study load.
The rate table on this page shows both rates. The supplement is the same set amount whichever qualifying payment you are on, as long as you meet the study rules.
Pensioner Education Supplement in 2026
Pensioner Education Supplement amounts are fixed: none changed at the 4 indexation dates of 2026 (1 January 2026, 20 March 2026, 1 July 2026, 20 September 2026).
How much Pensioner Education Supplement pays
The Pensioner Education Supplement rate is shown in the data block above, with a full-time rate and a part-time rate. It is paid every two weeks while you are studying.
You get the full-time rate for a full-time study load and the part-time rate for a lower load. The amounts are fixed and are not indexed.
| Situation | Payment |
|---|---|
| Full-time study | $62.40 a fortnight |
| Full-time study, over a year | $1,622.40 a year |
| Part-time study | $31.20 a fortnight |
| Part-time study, over a year | $811.20 a year |
Amounts are per fortnight and are not indexed. The yearly figure is 26 fortnights.
- The full-time rate of $62.40 is $31.20 more than the part-time rate of $31.20.
- Over a year the full-time rate comes to $1,622.40, $811.20 more than part-time study.
What this means
Pensioner Education Supplement is paid every two weeks on top of your main payment while you study. It is meant to help with the regular costs of studying, such as books and travel.
There are two rates. The full-time rate is paid if you are studying full time, and a lower part-time rate is paid if you are studying part time. It is a flat amount, so it is not reduced a little at a time by an income test of its own.
To get the supplement you have to be on a qualifying payment and be enrolled in an approved course. If you stop getting the qualifying payment, or stop studying, the supplement stops too.
Pensioner Education Supplement is not indexed. Its rates stay the same at each indexation date until the government changes them, and this page updates if that happens.
Who can get Pensioner Education Supplement
Services Australia assesses Pensioner Education Supplement on whether you get a qualifying payment, such as certain pensions or other income support, and whether you are enrolled in an approved course. Your study load decides whether you get the full-time or part-time rate.
This page explains how the supplement works and shows the rates. It does not decide your claim. For the eligibility rules that apply to your own situation, check the official Pensioner Education Supplement page linked at the top and bottom of this page.
Related
- 20 September 2026 indexationEvery payment, old against new
- Payment dates 2026Cycles and public holidays
Pensioner Education Supplement: common questions
- How much is the Pensioner Education Supplement?
- It is a flat amount paid every two weeks, with a full-time rate and a lower part-time rate. The rate table at the top of this page shows both. Which one you get depends on your study load.
- Who can get the Pensioner Education Supplement?
- It is for people who get a qualifying income support payment and are enrolled in an approved course. It is paid on top of your main payment. If you stop getting the qualifying payment or stop studying, the supplement stops.
- Is the Pensioner Education Supplement income tested?
- The supplement itself is a flat amount and is not reduced a little at a time by its own income test. Your main qualifying payment has its own income test, and you need to keep getting that payment to keep the supplement.
- Does the Pensioner Education Supplement go up at indexation?
- No. The Pensioner Education Supplement is a fixed amount and is not indexed, so it stays the same when pensions and allowances are indexed. This page updates if the government changes it.
Estimates and general information only — not financial advice. Check Services Australia for your circumstances.
Rates effective 1 January 2026 · a fixed amount, not indexed. Source: DSS / Services Australia. Last checked 23 September 2026.