Planning for retirement

Get your paperwork organised

Save time and hassle by getting your personal documents in order and stored together in a safe place.

Identity documents

Providers such as Service NSW, Services Australia, Medicare, the ATO, banks and others often need proof of your identity. Have your documents handy when making applications for benefits and other support. 

• Apply for a birth certificate​​​​
• Apply for a marriage certificate
• Apply for a change of name certificate
• Apply for a registered relationship certificate
• Request a proof of divorce order
• Apply for a single status certificate

Online applications

If you're making an online application for a certificate, you can save your application and resume it later. Once you have submitted your application, your can check how it is progressing.

• Resume your online certificate application
• Check the status of your online certificate application

Related information

• Australian passports and visas

Put your future plans in writing

You can decide in advance who you'd like to make decisions for you if you're not able to.

• Get started making a will
  Sets out how you want the things you own distributed when you die.
• Get started making a power of attorney
  Appoint a power of attorney to make financial decisions on your behalf.
• Appoint an enduring guardian
  Determine the lifestyle decisions your enduring guardian can make for you.
• Make an Advanced Care Directive (living will)
  Document your wishes for medical care, particularly when you're seriously ill or injured.
• Store your planning ahead documents in Will Safe
  A secure place to store your documents so they can easily be found when needed.

Money in your retirement

Calculate and organise your finances for when you stop paid work. 

• Super and pension age calculator
  Work out when you can get your super and when you can apply for the age pension, if applicable.
• Retirement planner
  Shows you how super contributions, investment options, fees and retirement age affect your retirement income.
• When and how to access your super
  The minimum age that you can access your super and rules for getting your super early.
• Finding lost money
  How to claim money that may be owing to you from inactive bank accounts, shares and investments, insurance policies, unpaid wages, unclaimed super, and deceased estates.
• Net worth calculator
  Compare what you own with the money you owe to understand your financial situation.
• Super contributions optimiser 
  Work out how much your superannuation can increase if you make more contributions while you're working.

Transport savings

• Apply for a gold senior/pensioner Opal card
  Enjoy travelling across the Opal network in NSW for no more than $2.50 a day
• Register your concession card to access Pensioner Travel Vouchers
  You can use 4 Pensioner Travel Vouchers for 2 return or 4 single trips within regional NSW.
• Find out about vehicle registration concessions for pensioners
  Eligible pensioners do not pay registration fees, motor vehicle tax or conditional registration fees.
• Apply for an E-Toll account concession
  Concessions on new or existing E-Toll accounts.
• Check the Transport for NSW benefits available for pensioners
  Eligible pensioners can apply for free licences, Photo Cards and driving tests.
• Apply for a new pensioner refund on a Mobility Parking Scheme permit
  A partial refund is available if you become a pensioner while holding a Mobility Parking Scheme permit.
• Apply for a carer's registration refund
  A refund for eligible carers on some of the vehicle tax they pay when registering their vehicle.
• Apply for a seniors discount on National Parks annual passes
  Generous savings on the full price of vehicle entry to parks that charge entry fees.

Utility bill savings

• Apply for the Seniors Energy Rebate
  Available to eligible self-funded retirees who hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.
• Apply for pensioner council rates rebates (water)
  Water bill rebates for owner-occupiers who receive a government pension.
• Apply for the NSW Gas Rebate (retail customers)
  Helping eligible concession card holders to pay their natural gas or bottled LPG bills.

More savings

• Apply for a NSW Seniors Card or NSW Senior Savers Card
  Discounts and special offers at thousands of businesses across NSW.
• Apply for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
  Concessions on some medical expenses and bulk billing of doctor visits (where available).

Stay active and healthy

• Get advice on healthy eating and active living
• Find a Men's Shed
• Volunteer your time
• Training and skills for volunteers
• Find a TAFE NSW course

Support services

• Mental wellbeing resources
  A list of mental health services and advice providers.
• Griefline
  Free compassionate and confidential support after someone has died.
• G’day line
  A friendly and supportive voice to older Australians.