NICK BRUINING: Here’s how you can make extra bucks while on your travels and not lose any pension

Thousands of seniors travelling around the State or looking to make a few extra dollars in the next few weeks can land a temporary Federal Government job — and not lose a cent of their fortnightly age pension.

The revelation comes as the Australian Bureau of Statistics puts out the call for temporary staff to assist with this year’s census, to be conducted on August 11 this year.

Typical pay rates range from $33.05 to $44.10 per hour depending on the role, with 12 per cent compulsory super payable in addition to the hourly rate.

Emily Walter, census national spokeswoman for the ABS, said thousands of staff were needed. Seniors travelling to the Kimberley, Pilbara, Wheatbelt and Great Southern could score themselves a temporary job, with the regions still having vacancies for field officers.

“We need more 16,000 field officers across the country to ensure everyone on census night is counted,” Ms Walter said.

“Field officers will answer the public’s questions about the census, deliver census letters and forms and follow up with households who have not responded. They will also support people who require additional assistance to complete their census.”

Specialist Centrelink adviser Annette Sinclair said many people receiving a full age pension don’t understand that this type of work probably won’t affect their fortnightly payments.

“There’s a special credit that pensioners receive called the working credit bonus. It’s a use-it-or-lose-it type of benefit and it’s perfectly suited to someone that’s doing a part time or one-off job like this,” she said.

The working credit bonus credit is a $300 per fortnight allowance under Centrelink’s income means test.

Up to $300 of income from employment is added to the income free area of $226 per fortnight for singles and a combined $396 per fortnight combined for couples.

Significantly and if unused, it builds up in the working bonus “bank account” to a maximum amount of $11,800.

All people granted a new age pension after January 2025 have an immediate $4000 credit added to their bonus bank account.

Any employment income is applied against the bonus bank credit first, before being applied against the income test.

For example, if your bonus bank currently sits at $11,800 and your ABS census work earns you $10,000 in August, you will use up $10,000 of the bonus bank, leaving you with $1800.

Your age pension will continue at the same rate in addition to the income from the ABS.

Next fortnight and assuming you now have no other employment income, $300 will again be added to your bonus account each fortnight until it reaches $11,800

The compulsory superannuation is an added bonus because it does not count towards the $300 working credit per fortnight.

Once the work is completed, there’s nothing to stop you cashing out the superannuation tax-free because by definition, you are over 65 years of age and can access the benefit without restriction.

“You definitely need to let Centrelink know about the job and what you earn, but providing you don’t exceed your working bonus bank credit, you won’t lose any pension,” Ms Sinclair said.

As a further bonus, any tax taken out by the ABS might also be refundable at the end of the financial year, depending on your other income.

Nick Bruining is an independent financial adviser and a member of the Certified Independent Financial Advisers Association