The question was about a death certificate where the occupation was listed as Federal Pensioner aged 70. I suspect what is recorded on the death certificate is a federal old age pension as apposed to a state Old age pension. The constution gave to the Commonwealth the power to leglisate on invalid and old age pensions but it was 8 years before anything was done at the federal level the Fed Gov being reluctant to impose direct taxation. NSW introduced an old age pension in 1901 based on residentual qualifications. By 1905 Qld and Vic had introduced schemes with residentual qualifications. The migratory worker of hte oldback had no chance of applying for a pension. Payable from july 1909 the Deakin government introduced an old age pension of £26p.a.subject to means test on income and property. An Average workman earned £110 p.a.. Costs were met from customs duty. Invalid pensions were not introduced for a while longer. Reference: Frank Crowley, Documentry History of Aust Vol 4 1901-1939 Elizabeth A. Roberts N.S.W. Genealogical and Historical Research Wahroonga NSW