Alert Pensioners: We've published CPI calculations for January 2025 & the pension will increase by 1.2% (1.6% for DFRDB/DFRB over 55). Learn more
Man and woman calculating their super contributions

CPI rates and your pension

Learn how the Consumer Price Index increase affects your Pension

Calculations on this page are updated for January 2025. If you receive a , we will update you about the by email or by post from 16 December 2024.

Your January 2025  package once published will be available to view via our digital portal CSC Navigator. For first time users, you will need to create a new account.

1. Log into CSC Navigator or register for a new account;
2. go to Documents; then
3. download your package.

Centrelink schedules, DVA schedules, and entitlement letters

No need to pick up the phone to receive your important documents. In CSC Navigator, you can download your Centrelink schedule, DVA schedule, and your entitlement letter.

Variation to Douglas tax withholding

Military pensioners eligible for Douglas tax withholding were provided with a link to the ATO’s website regarding a new variation notice for withholding. Please note, CSC have been advised by the ATO that the updated variation notice will not be uploaded until the New Year. Please contact the ATO with any questions regarding these changes.

On the first payday in January and July each year, we adjust your following the release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rates by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

We increase your if there has been an upward movement in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

  • The January increase relates to the September quarter all groups percentage change for the weighted average of eight capital cities’ number.
  • The July increase relates to the March quarter all groups percentage change for the weighted average of eight capital cities’ number.

If you haven’t been receiving your for the full six months before the increase, we’ll apply a pro rata adjustment—you’ll only receive a proportion of the increase in your .

For more information visit the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

January 2025 Calculations

How the adjustment is calculated:

(September 2024 CPI figure) – (March 2024 CPI figure) × 100  = Pension increase1
(March 2024 CPI figure) 

1Rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent

 

Calculation for January 2025

(139.1 – 137.4) × 100  = 1.23726  = 1.2%2
137.4  

21.2% when rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent

Follow this link to the ABS website to see the consumer price index rates used in this calculation.

Your is calculated on whichever is the greatest of the or LCI increase.

CPI increase calculation

How the adjustment is calculated:

(September 2024 CPI figure) – (March 2024 CPI figure) × 100  = Pension increase1
(March 2024 CPI figure) 

1Rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent

 

Calculation for January 2025

(139.1 – 137.4) × 100  = 1.23726  = 1.2%2
137.4  

21.2% when rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent

Follow this link to the ABS website to see the consumer price index rates used in this calculation.

 

PBLCI increase calculation

How the PBLCI adjustment is calculated:

(September 2024 LCI figure) – (March 2024 LCI figure) × 100  = LCI increase3
(March 2024 LCI figure) 

3Rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent

 

Calculation for January 2025

(139.6 – 137.4) × 100  = 1.60116  = 1.6%4
137.4  

41.6% when rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent

Follow this link to the ABS website to see the PBLCI rates used in this calculation.

As LCI results in a higher value, the rate of 1.6% is used in the next step.

Calculating the indicative amount:

Increase the indicative amount of $26,633.665 by 1.6%.

($26,633.66 x 1.6%) = $27,059.80 ($426.14 + $26,633.66)

5$26,633.66 is the indicative amount substituted in July 2024.

Calculating the Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE):

The MTAWE is contained in Publication 6302.0 – Average Weekly Earnings. To get the annual rate we multiply the November 2023 MATAWE figure of $1,672.70 by the following formula.

($1,723.80 x 52) x 27.7%6 = $24,829.62

627.7% is set in the DFRDB legislation in section 98GA

Now compare the indicative result of $27,059.80 of the calculation with the MTAWE result of $24,829.62. of $27,059.80 is greater.

As LCI results in a higher increase, DFRDB/DFRB pensioners over the age of 55 will receive an increase of 1.6% for January 2025.

Historical CPI rates

 CSS, PSS, MilitarySuper & DFRDB under 55DFRDB over 55
July 20241.6%  2.20%
January 2024 2.0% 
July 20233.30% 4.0%
January 20233.60%
July 2022 3.50% 
January 2022 1.50% 
July 20211.10% 
January 20210% 
July 2020 1%1.50%
January 2020 1.10% 
July 2019 0.50%1%
January 2019 0.80% 
July 2018 1.10%1.50%
January 2018 0.80% 
July 2017 1%1.30%

How to download documents from the Navigator

In the CSC Navigator, you are now able to generate & Letters, Pension Entitlement Letters and Centrelink or Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) Schedules from a simple drop-down menu.

Watch time: 1:14

How to download your documents

  1. Log into the CSC Navigator
  2. Select ‘Documents’ from the menu on the left of the home screen
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the documents page to the ‘generate documents’ section

     

  4. Select the relevant document you wish to access from the drop-down menu, then click ‘generate’
  5. Once you have clicked ‘generate’, your document will appear at the top of you documents list. Please note that load times may vary, and you may need to refresh your screen. 
  6. Download your document by selecting the downward arrow and clicking ‘download’
  7. Your document will now appear in your downloads folder. 
  1. Log into the CSC Navigator
  2. Select ‘Documents’ from the menu on the left of the home screen
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the documents page to the ‘generate documents’ section

     

  4. Select the relevant document you wish to access from the drop-down menu, then click ‘generate’
  5. Once you have clicked ‘generate’, your document will appear at the top of you documents list. Please note that load times may vary, and you may need to refresh your screen. 
  6. Download your document by selecting the downward arrow and clicking ‘download’
  7. Your document will now appear in your downloads folder. 

How to find the rates for Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Living Cost Index (LCI)

Watch our videos to find the and LCI rates.

How to find CPI rates
How to find LCI rates

Frequently Asked Questions

Inflation is the increase in the level of prices of the goods and services that households buy.

The indicator of inflation is the , which measures the percentage of change in the price of a basket of goods and services consumed by households.

The is considered to be a suitable measure of inflation because it captures price changes for the goods and services that households buy, is independently produced by the ABS, is publicly available, and historical data for this series does not get revised.

However, the is used to measure price changes, not price level.

Cost of living inflation is the change in spending by households required to maintain a given standard of living.

No, your will not change if the falls or stays the same.

No, there are no changes to the amount or date we pay you each fortnight. Your will be paid as normal.

No, this is not related to any recent tax changes. We review pensions twice per year in line with the CPI.

Yes, the tax withholding amount detailed in your letter will account for your DSB .

Your letter will list two sets of tax components.

The first set are your indexed fortnightly components. These are the indexed unadjusted components, and are not used for tax purposes.

The second set are your fortnightly lump sum tax components. These are the adjusted tax components for lump sum purposes, and include variations for Disability Superannuation Benefit (DSB), or pre-1983 tax-free component if required. Your fortnightly tax withholding is calculated using this set of components.

It’s important to note that your fortnightly components and fortnightly lump sum tax components will be the same, unless you are classed DSB or were a member of the Australian Defence Force prior to 1 July 1983.

Following a change to the law, from 1 July 2017, if you are 60 years old or over (or a death benefit dependant and the deceased died at 60 years old or over) and receiving a capped defined benefit income stream, your 10% tax offset will no longer be reported on your payment summary.

When completing your tax return you will need to calculate and enter your tax offset amount manually. To assist with the calculation of your tax offset, the ATO have created a tool that can be found here Defined benefit income cap tool | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au).

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