Everything You Should Know About A Centrelink Advance Payment

Centrelink is the Australian government’s public finance and services program. It was designed to provide financial aid through social security payments to retirees, senior citizens, the unemployed, families, single parents, healthcare employees, disabled citizens, indigenous citizens, and those with financial difficulties, among others.

Most recipients of Centrelink assistance are eligible to apply for its advance payments program. These are technically loans using the regular payments they receive and later paid back using these same future payments. No interest or fees are taken by the government, but borrowers have to follow its terms and conditions.

Just like any other loan, there are guidelines to remember and conditions to take into consideration. They will help avoid bad debt traps or extra expenses when done right. Let’s take a good look at how to use them properly in case you might need them in the future.

How Centrelink Advance Payments work

Australians under the Centrelink program receive regular payments fortnightly as a form of cash assistance. These recipients are unemployed or don’t earn enough to make ends meet. The payments they receive are crucial to their daily lives.

Eligible Australians in the program receive regular or periodic financial aid paid through their Centrelink accounts. These are helpful means to cover necessities and general living expenses. Centrelink payments are disbursed on schedule. In times of financial need, Centrelink offers advanced payments to cover immediate expenses. They can be later paid through the upcoming Centrelink payments the recipient will receive. They pay back their loans through these future payments until they are completed.

There are different types of financial aid corresponding to the type of Centrelink profile that each member has. There are corresponding loan amounts and limits imposed on each advance payment application depending on your profile and needed loan amount. The maximum amount you can advance is no more than three weeks’ worth of your regular Centrelink payments. You start paying the loan on your next Centrelink payment, stretched out for the next thirteen fortnightly payments.

Centrelink has no fees, interest rates, or penalties that apply. However, there are strict terms to follow. All of their repayment installments are taken directly from future payments. This avoids any issues with repayments and the availability of funds, ensuring that most applications are generally hassle-free.

The Application Process

Many Centrelink members may find it confusing to apply for their advance payment loans. The applications are completed and filed online using the MyGov website. You must have an established account and are receiving regular Centrelink payments under one of their eligibilities, which we will discuss after the application process. Alternatively, you can also apply over the phone through their direct hotline at 136 240.

Once you log-in to your MyGov account, go to the Centrelink page and access the menu and then choose Payments and Claims. Under Manage Payments, proceed to Manage Advance Payments.

Click on the Apply for Advance section and then click on Get Started. This will bring you to a section to choose the loan amount. The maximum amount is limited to your limit based on your Centrelink profile type and the corresponding amount you receive. This amount determines your total payments per fortnight. Enter your choice of one or two installment payments of the loan, the date, and the amount. You will receive a confirmation receipt that indicates the application is now pending.

You are allowed to apply for the loan three times within the 26-week grace period. Whichever maximum amount you are eligible for can only be requested three times in that period only.

Centrelink does not pry into your financial data, but they will thoroughly review your application. Any undeclared issues or contrary data found among your records and documents can affect the final approval. Centrelink will also go after any unpaid amounts with repayment letters, debt recovery, and legal action if needed.

Who is eligible for this loan?

Eligible applicants are those only among this list of approved recipients. They should have received at least three months’ worth of Centrelink payments ongoing at the point of application. You can apply for an advance after at least three months of receiving one of these payments:

• Age Pension
• Carer Payment
• Disability Support Pension
• Farm Household Allowance
• Newstart Allowance
• Parenting Payment
• Widow Allowance
• Widow B Pension
• Wife Pension
• Youth Allowance for employment

You are not eligible if you’ve already received an advance payment within 12 months, in addition to also receiving other Centrelink payments, such as ABSTUDY, Austudy, Farm Household Allowance, Mobility Allowance, Newstart Allowance, Parenting Payment (only applies to single parents within the past 28 days), Widow Allowance, and Youth Allowance.

Your application is also void if you still have unpaid debts to the government, including a past advance payment that’s still being repaid, are unable to pay it in six months time, or are not in Australia.

Centrelink Crisis Payments

Another program called Centrelink Crisis Payments were designed by the government to provide special assistance for those under extreme poverty or dire situations. For this advanced, one-off payment assistance, the government can only process a maximum of two crisis payments annually. The total amount is equal to the claimant’s fortnightly Centrelink payment.

Not everyone eligible can easily apply for this claim. Applicants still have to go through eligibility checks and must be able to prove their extreme circumstances. Australians eligible for this program must be in these difficult situations:

• Eligible for income support
• Victim of domestic and family violence
• Under the Humanitarian Entrant Health Service (HEHS) which is part of Australia’s
• Refugee and Humanitarian Program for refugees in need from around the world
• Experienced major difficulties from natural disasters which are not covered by Disaster
• Recovery Payments and must still be in the country at the time of their claim
• Will be released from prison or mental health confinement resulting from an offence, after fourteen days

Centrelink payments are just one of the few alternative options to borrow money. If you are not under this program, there are still some choices for you. If applicable, you can claim state-dependent financial aid from the government, such as housing assistance and oither benefits.

You can also apply for short term personal loans, which need planning and careful decisionss as there are now penalties, fees, interest rates, and maybe even stricter terms. In case you don’t have any other loan options available, proceed with caution after careful planning.