Special arrangements for customers with budgeting difficulties 003-24092607

A payment nominee may be appointed for the customer. A payment nominee will receive all the customer's Centrelink payments on their behalf. When a person is appointed a payment nominee they must act in the best interests of the customer, ensuring that these payments are used exclusively for the customer's benefit.

Payment nominees can be appointed voluntarily by the customer or be involuntarily appointed by a court, for example, Guardianship board. Where the arrangement is court appointed only the nominee can cancel the arrangement. A voluntary arrangement can be cancelled by either the customer or the nominee.

Centrepay is a free and voluntary service that allows customers to have payments deducted directly from the nominated income support payment each fortnight and transferred directly to a Centrepay Third Party Organisation (TPO) to pay bills, such as private rent, electricity, gas, water and telephone. Deductions are made before the customer's income support payments are deposited into their bank account.

The Rent Deduction Scheme is of a similar nature. The government housing payment, for example, government rent, repayment of housing loans, arrears or other debts, is automatically deducted from the nominated income support payment and transferred directly to the Housing Authority. Deductions are made before the customer's income support payments are deposited into their bank account. These services help to ensure essential payments are made before the remaining income support payment is accessed, and assists the customer to better manage their budget by paying their bills in manageable amounts.

Weekly payments are available to customers who meet the eligibility criteria. This allows the customer to receive half of the net value of their payment in the first week of the payment fortnight.

Customers who experience difficulties in budgeting may be referred to a social worker or the Indigenous Service Officer (ISO), as appropriate, for further help and to see if other options are available to assist them.