Seniors warn govt on pensions

Seniors have warned they could punish the coalition at the next election if it makes drastic changes to the age pension.

The commission of audit wants the pension age lifted to 70 and made harder to access in its advice to the federal government, which is searching for budget savings.

The commission wants the superannuation preservation age lifted to five years below the pension age and the payment further reduced for those earning an extra income.

Pension payment growth would also be slowed, and the family home would be included in a new means test for pension eligibility and aged care assessment.

The commission says changes are needed because the age pension - which it says is the government's biggest spending problem - is unsustainable and poorly targeted.

While seniors are unhappy the family home could be included in the eligibility test, they are more concerned about the push to make people pay $15 to see a doctor.

The Council for the Ageing's Ian Yates said the co-payment and flagged pension changes were a "double whammy" on seniors.

National Seniors Australia chief Michael O'Neill said it was good there would now be a debate before the next election.

"Then we can all have a say at the ballot box," Mr O'Neill told AAP.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Tony Abbott ruled out any pension changes before 2017 but flagged an overhaul to eligibility and tighter indexation afterwards.