The JobSeeker assets test
JobSeeker has an assets test as well as an income test, and it works differently from the one most people know from the Age Pension. The Age Pension assets test tapers the pension down as assets rise. The JobSeeker assets test does not taper at all: it is a hard cut-off. Below the limit you can still be paid (subject to the income test); above it, the payment cancels.
| Household | Payment cancels when assets exceed |
|---|---|
| Single, homeowner | $333,000 |
| Single, non-homeowner | $600,000 |
| Couple combined, homeowner | $499,000 |
| Couple combined, non-homeowner | $766,000 |
The couple figures apply to combined assets, including where only one partner is eligible. The limits above are from Services Australia material last updated 1 July 2026, and they supersede older limits quoted in guides from earlier in 2026.
What counts — and the one exclusion
Your principal home is the only real estate asset that is excluded. Everything else counts: other property, possessions of value, financial assets, overseas assets, and debts owed to you. That breadth surprises people who assume only bank balances matter — a second property, a valuable vehicle collection, or money held overseas all sit on the same side of the ledger.
Rent Assistance and the limits
Receiving Rent Assistance can raise these limits. This site states that as a pointer only and does not publish an adjusted table, because the adjustment depends on the individual case. If rent is a major part of your costs, confirm the adjusted position with Services Australia rather than assuming the table above is the final word.