Digital Support Products
Online guides and videos show how customers use self service.
Customers can view these through:
Staff can view these through:
Services Australia website
Self service
Centrelink online accounts
Advance payment options
Instructional information on how to apply for an advance online
Intranet Links
Welfare Quarantining Team
Contact Details
Income Management Payment and Contact team (IMPACT)
FAQ
See the Resources page of Advances for the following:
- FAQs - applying for an advance
- Tax status, payment options and eligibility questions
- Debts and repayments of advance payments - FAQs
- FAQs regarding repayment of advance payments
Example - Assessing suitability for weekly payment
Table 1
Item | Description |
1 | Customer advises excess income when applying for advance Franklin is on JobSeeker Payment (JSP) and contacts by phone to request an advance payment of $500. Franklin is on weekly payments due to a history of requesting urgent payments for food, medication or accommodation. Franklin's weekly net rate of payment is $248.50 as there are no deductions. Franklin advises that at the end of each fortnight there is $380.00 left. The Service Officer should ask Franklin: - how much money is spent on accommodation
- how much money is spent on food
- how much money is spent on medication
- any other expenses
As Franklin has a history of needing urgent payments, it is unlikely the amount stated would be available at the end of each fortnight. Franklin considers the declared amount would qualify for receiving an advance payment. However, by granting Franklin an advance of $500, it may cause further financial hardship. |
Example - Calculating advance payment entitlement
Table 2
Item | Description |
1 | Question: How is an advance payment for Parenting Payment single calculated? Answer: PPS customers would receive the smallest of the following amounts: - The amount requested, OR
- 6% of the person's annual payment rate, OR
- $500.00 (legislated maximum amount)
Note: the minimum amount that can be paid is $250. If the lowest amount is less than $250, customer is not eligible for an advance payment. The annual payment rate is the rate of PPS payable on the last payment delivery day before the person applies for an advance. The rate includes Rent Assistance, Energy Supplement, Pension Supplement or Pharmaceutical Allowance and is the rate after the income test has been applied. The rate does not include Remote Area Allowance. Customer has requested $700 advance payment Rate of payment is (customer is under Age Pension age and has income): - Base rate of payment - $978.60
- Energy Supplement - $12.00
- Pension Supplement - $28.90
Total fortnightly payment = $1019.50 or $26507.00 per annum Advance payable is the lesser of - Amount requested $700,
- 6% of $26507.00 = $1590.42
- Legislated maximum amount $500
Customer would be eligible for a maximum advance of $500 Rates as of 20 September 2024. |
2 | Question: How is an advance payment for JSP, PPP, YA or Austudy calculated? Answer: JSP, PPP, YA or Austudy customers would receive the lowest of the following amounts - The amount requested, or
- 7% of the persons 'last full fortnightly benefit rate' x 26, or
- $500.00 (maximum legislated amount)
Note: the minimum amount that can be paid is $250. If the lowest amount is less than $250, customer is not eligible for an advance payment. The fortnightly benefit rate is the rate of payment payable on the last full payment delivery day before the person applies for an advance. The rate includes Rent Assistance, Energy Supplement, pension supplement or Pharmaceutical Allowance and is the rate after the income test and parental means test has been applied. The rate does not include Remote Area Allowance. A JSP customer applies for an advance of $350. The last fortnightly rate of JSP (single customer over 22 with no children) was - Base rate of payment - $778.00
- Rent Assistance - $211.20
Total fortnightly payment $989.20 Advance payable is the lesser of - Amount requested $350
- 7% of $989.20 x 26 ($69.24 x 26) = $1800.24
- $500 (maximum legislated amount)
Customer would be eligible for an advance of the requested amount $350. Rates as of 20 September 2024. |
Advance payment rejection reasons
Table 3: this table lists the main rejection codes for non-pension advance payments
Rej Code | Literal | Reason |
ADV | Repaying an earlier advance | Customer is repaying an earlier advance. Customer cannot have more than one advance payment at one time. |
APY | Advance paid in last 12 months | Customer can only receive one Income Support payment advance in 12 months. Customer has already received advance. |
AQP | Not receiving qualifying payment | Customer is not on a qualifying payment for an advance payment. |
BOA | Student is a boarder | Not eligible for an advance as customer is boarding at a school or hostel. |
HAR | Cannot afford repayments | The funds the customer has remaining will not meet the repayments. |
LMA | Less than minimum amount | The available advance amount is less than the minimum amount that can be issued. |
LTM | Allowable or requested advance amount less than $250 | Minimum advance amount cannot be less than $250. |
NRA | Not in Australia on date of claim | Customer must be in Australia to claim an advance payment. |
NQP | Not receiving a qualifying payment | Customer is not receiving a qualifying Income Support payment for an advance payment. |
OTH | Other | |
POD | Person has overpayment/debt | Customer cannot be paid an advance if they owe money to the Commonwealth. |
ROA | Repaying an advance granted more than 12 months ago | A new advance cannot be granted if the customer is still repaying an advance that was granted more than 12 months ago. |
SSE | Less than 3 months continuity | Customer must be on qualifying payment for at least 3 months. |
WDR | Claim withdrawn | Customer has withdrawn application. |
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