What happens to the age pension when you go from being a couple to a single? #pension

When it comes to the age pension couples can cruise along very comfortably with $46,000 per year as the maximum age pension and top up with some of their own Investments and Superannuation income to live very comfortably. But we need to do some planning to make sure that when someone passes away as the maximum $46,000 is a couple reduces to $31,000 as a single as of the maximum age pension. This is a $15,000 haircut but the cost of running the car and the house and the insurances will not reduce by the same percentage. We need to make sure that whoever is left in the relationship still has a significant amount of financial assets and could also utilise the home equity access scheme where they can top up their age pension by drawing out some of the equity in their home. General advice only. #financialadvice #superannuation #retirement #pension #investing