Centrelink Payments in Australia 2026: What You Are Entitled to and How to Claim

Centrelink is the service delivery arm of Services Australia - the government agency responsible for welfare payments. All claims and ongoing management are handled through a myGov account linked to Centrelink. If you're not already on myGov, creating an account is free and takes about 10 minutes at my.gov.au.

Key principle: Most Centrelink payments are means-tested. This means your eligibility and payment rate depend on your income and, in some cases, your assets. The income and assets tests differ by payment type - a household earning too much for JobSeeker might still qualify for Family Tax Benefit.

What it is: Income support for working-age Australians who are looking for work, temporarily unable to work due to injury or illness, or between jobs.

Rates (2025–26, recurring):

• Single, no children: ~$760/fortnight
• Single, with children: ~$816/fortnight
• Partnered (each): ~$693/fortnight

Income test: You can earn up to $150/fortnight before your payment reduces. Above $150/fortnight, JobSeeker reduces by 50 cents per dollar. Above $256/fortnight, it reduces by 60 cents per dollar. Payment cuts off at around $1,690/fortnight (single, no children) depending on circumstances.

Reporting obligations: You must report employment income recurring via the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app or myGov. Failure to report correctly can result in debts - even if you received less than you were entitled to, an overpayment creates a debt to repay.

Mutual obligations: Most JobSeeker recipients have mutual obligation requirements - activities like job searching, attending appointments, or completing approved activities. Exemptions apply for carers, those with medical certificates, and those in hardship.

Family Tax Benefit (FTB) is one of the most widely claimed Centrelink payments - and one of the most commonly underclaimed by families who assume they earn too much to qualify.

Family Tax Benefit Part A:

• A per-child payment for families with dependent children under 19 (or under 22 in some circumstances)
• Maximum rate: Up to $237.84/fortnight per child (for children 0–12) and more for older children
• Income threshold: Families earning up to ~$60,000/year receive the maximum rate; it phases out at higher incomes
• Higher-income families may still receive a base rate of FTB-A up to combined family income of ~$112,578 (varies with number of children)

Family Tax Benefit Part B:

• For single-income families or couples where the secondary earner earns less than $100,000/year
• Maximum rate: ~$197/fortnight (youngest child under 5) or ~$137/fortnight (youngest child 5–18)
• The secondary earner's income must be under $100,000 to qualify at all; payment reduces as secondary income rises above $5,694/year

The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) directly subsidises the cost of approved childcare - long day care, family day care, outside school hours care, and in-home care.

How it works:

• Subsidy percentage is based on combined family income - families earning under ~$80,000 receive up to 90% subsidy; higher incomes receive less
• Applies to an hourly rate cap (the government only subsidises up to an hourly cap - providers can charge above it, but you pay the difference)
• Activity test: To receive maximum hours subsidised, both parents (or a single parent) must be working, studying, or otherwise active - more hours of activity = more subsidised hours

What most families miss: The second child loading - families with two or more children in childcare, where the younger child(ren)'s subsidy rate is set at 95% for the time both children are in care simultaneously. Many families don't apply for this top-up.

Who qualifies: Australians aged 67 or older (born after 1952) who meet residency requirements and pass both the assets and income tests.

Rates (2025–26 approximate, recurring including supplements):

• Single: ~$1,116/fortnight
• Couple (combined): ~$1,683/fortnight

Assets test (homeowners):

• Full pension: Single up to ~$301,750; couple up to ~$451,500
• Part pension: Single up to ~$656,500; couple up to ~$986,500

Income test:

• Income up to ~$204/fortnight (single) is disregarded
• Pension reduces by 50 cents per dollar above the threshold

What most people don't know: Even if your assets and income disqualify you from a pension payment, you may still qualify for a Low Income Health Care Card (older version: Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card) - giving you cheaper medications, bulk-billed GP visits, and state concessions.

For Australians with a physical, intellectual, or psychiatric condition that prevents them from working 15+ hours per week (or is expected to last 2+ years and is fully diagnosed, treated, and stabilised).

Rates: Similar to the age pension - around $1,116/fortnight for singles, $843/fortnight for partnered individuals.

Eligibility is strict: You must undergo a Job Capacity Assessment and meet specific medical eligibility criteria. The DSP is one of the more difficult payments to obtain. If you're rejected, you may still qualify for JobSeeker with a medical certificate reducing mutual obligation requirements.

Carer Payment: For people who provide constant care to someone with a disability or serious illness and cannot work full-time as a result. Rates match the age pension. Both the carer and the care recipient must meet eligibility criteria.

Carer Allowance: A supplementary payment (~$153/fortnight) for carers who provide daily care but may also be working part-time. Income-tested separately from Carer Payment.

Youth Allowance: For students (full-time) aged 18–24 or job seekers aged 16–21. Rates and conditions depend on independence status - independent vs dependent (parents' income affects the payment for dependants).

Austudy: For full-time students aged 25 and over. Rates around $693/fortnight for singles. Must be enrolled in an approved course.

What most students miss: If your parents' income is below the threshold, you may receive a higher Youth Allowance rate as a dependant. If you've been working and earning over a threshold for 18 months, you may qualify as "independent" - getting higher payments regardless of parental income.

Rent Assistance is an add-on payment for people receiving certain Centrelink payments (like JobSeeker, FTB-A, Youth Allowance, DSP) who pay rent above a threshold.

Maximum rates (2025–26):

• Single, no children: Up to ~$211/fortnight
• Single, with children: Up to ~$250/fortnight
• Couple, no children: Up to ~$199/fortnight

How it works: Centrelink pays two-thirds of rent above the minimum threshold, up to the maximum rate. You must be paying rent to a private landlord (not in public housing or boarding a family member).

What most renters miss: If you're paying private rent and receiving any qualifying Centrelink payment, make sure Rent Assistance is added to your claim. It's often missed because it requires you to report your rent to Centrelink - it's not automatic.

One of the most common Centrelink misunderstandings involves the partner income test. For payments like JobSeeker, your eligibility and rate depend heavily on your partner's income - not just your own.

Example: A person who stops work (e.g., to care for children or after redundancy) may assume they qualify for JobSeeker. But if their partner earns $80,000+/year, the partner income taper may reduce or eliminate their entitlement.

What to do: Use Centrelink's Payment and Service Finder at servicesaustralia.gov.au before assuming you don't qualify. The means testing is complex and sometimes people with partners on moderate incomes still receive reduced payments.

1. Create a myGov account at my.gov.au (or log in if you already have one)
2. Link Centrelink to your myGov account - you'll need to verify identity using Medicare card, driver's licence, or other documents
3. Use the Payment and Service Finder to confirm which payments you're eligible for before applying
4. Submit your claim online through the Centrelink section of myGov - most claims are done entirely online
5. Upload supporting documents as requested (medical certificates, rental agreements, payslips)
6. Report recurring once on a payment - use the Express Plus Centrelink app for the easiest reporting experience

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