Rent Assistance (RA) for travellers 108-18092606

Customers who travel and stay in caravan parks, motels, camping grounds or similar, need to advise of their new accommodation details:

• each time they change address, and/or
• pay a different amount for their accommodation

Failure to advise a change of address does not mean the Rent Assistance (RA) should be cancelled. The failure to advise may impact on the rate paid, due the date of effect rules which apply to:

• the income support payment, or
• Family Tax Benefit (FTB) (Part A)

Homeowners who have temporarily vacated their principal home to travel are generally not eligible for RA while their principal home remains an exempt asset.

Homeowners who have permanently vacated their principal home to travel may be eligible for RA while travelling.

Non-homeowners may be eligible for RA while travelling, RA can only be paid for one address:

• If they continue to rent their principal home while they are temporarily travelling, RA can continue to be assessed on that property
• If they have permanently vacated their principal home, RA may be payable for amounts paid for accommodation fees and/or the hire of the mobile accommodation (if relevant)

RA is not payable when customers own their mobile accommodation and they:

• Free camp, or
• Park their mobile accommodation in the yard of family or friends and no rent is paid