Frequency of payments 103-05000000
Expand allThis document outlines information about options regarding how often a customer's payments are received.
Government intent
Centrelink delivers payments on behalf of Services Australia that are usually paid on a fortnightly basis. While fortnightly payments are suitable for the majority of customers, some may have difficulty budgeting for the 14 day period between payments. These customers will often suffer considerable hardship towards the end of each fortnight. To assist these customers with their budgeting problems, some customers may be eligible to be paid their entitlement weekly.
Offsetting payments
Customers in receipt of Family Tax Benefit (FTB) have the choice to offset FTB against their income support payment, which results in the customer receiving a payment each week. Note: this choice is only available for a limited number of payments or supplements. These are FTB, Double Orphan Pension (DOP) and Carer Allowance (CA). Service Officers can offer to offset payments for customers.
Financial hardship
Customers who are in severe financial hardship due to exceptional and unforeseen circumstances may be eligible for an immediate payment such as an urgent payment. This is not an additional payment but an early delivery of part of the payment the customer would be entitled to receive on their upcoming payday.
In addition to the customer's regular payments, customers may also be eligible for an advance of part of their future payments as a lump sum.
Note: if a customer is on Weekly payments, they are not eligible to receive an urgent payment but may be able to receive an advance payment if they meet the eligibility criteria.
Overseas customers
Customers who are overseas long term or permanently are generally paid every 4 weeks.
Contents
Changing Entitlement Period End Dates (EPED)
Payment of arrears after reassessment and stopping a payment
Related links
Offsetting Family Tax Benefit, Double Orphan Pension and Carer Allowance