How to Apply for a Centrelink Advance Payment and Repay It

What is a Centrelink advance payment?

A Centrelink advance lets an eligible current recipient receive part of an income support payment or Family Tax Benefit Part A early. It is money from future payments, not an extra benefit. Services Australia normally recovers it by taking an amount from each of your next 13 fortnightly payments, starting with the next payment after you receive the advance.

Who can apply?

You must already receive a payment for which Services Australia offers an advance. For JobSeeker Payment, Age Pension, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, Farm Household Allowance, Parenting Payment and Youth Allowance for job seekers, you can generally apply after receiving the payment for at least 3 months. ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Austudy, Youth Allowance for students, Family Tax Benefit Part A and Mobility Allowance have no equivalent 3-month wait for an advance.

This procedure is for a person already receiving an eligible payment. If you first need Family Tax Benefit, see how to claim Family Tax Benefit.

When might you be ineligible?

Services Australia may refuse an advance if you owe an Australian Government debt, cannot afford to repay within 6 months, are outside Australia, are repaying an advance received more than 12 months ago or have less than the minimum advance amount available. For several payments, including JobSeeker Payment, Austudy, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Parenting Payment and Youth Allowance, an advance in the previous 12 months also prevents another one. An exception may apply to Parenting Payment if you became single in the previous 28 days. Pension and Family Tax Benefit advance frequency rules differ, so check the result shown for your own payment.

How much can you request?

The available amount depends on your payment and circumstances. For ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Austudy, JobSeeker Payment, Parenting Payment, Youth Allowance and Farm Household Allowance, Services Australia lists a $250 minimum and $500 maximum. Pension advances use different limits that can change with pension rates; a part-rate recipient's amount is calculated from their payment. Family Tax Benefit Part A has separate regular and one-off advance rules. The online application shows the range available to you and the proposed deduction before you submit.

Depending on the advance type, you may be able to choose one payment or two instalments. A Family Tax Benefit advance is paid in one instalment.

How do you apply online?

1. Sign in to myGov and open your linked Centrelink account. Select MENU, then Payments and claims, Manage payments and Manage advance payments.
2. Read your advance summary or the reason you are not currently eligible. If eligible, select Start and follow the prompts.
3. Enter the amount left each fortnight after regular expenses, such as food, rent, travel, utilities and existing repayments. Choose a requested amount within the offered range.
4. If the option is offered, choose one or two instalments and provide the requested details. Review the displayed repayment, declaration and application before selecting Submit.
5. Save the receipt ID and check the outcome and advance details in your account.

You can also apply in the Express Plus Centrelink app. If you cannot use online services or the app, Services Australia lists Centrelink phone self service, a call to your regular payment line or a service centre as alternatives. Farm Household Allowance recipients seeking an advance need to call the Farmer Assistance Hotline. A Special Employment Advance has separate conditions and requires its own claim form.

How do you repay the advance?

For the usual advance, Services Australia deducts repayments automatically from the payments you would otherwise receive. The standard fortnightly repayment is the advance amount divided by 13. For example, a $260 advance produces a $20 deduction from each of 13 payments. Check the actual amount shown in your application, especially if you already have other advances.

In your Centrelink online account, Manage advance payments shows what you owe, your repayment amount and when you may next apply. You can make an early repayment or, where permitted, increase ongoing repayments. Paying an advance off early does not necessarily make you immediately eligible for another. Mobility Allowance has different arrangements: its payment stops for the advance period, and its repayment amount cannot be adjusted.

If your Centrelink payment stops, you still have to repay the outstanding balance. If the deductions cause hardship, contact Services Australia on your regular payment line to discuss available help.

What happens after you submit?

The online service gives you a receipt stating whether the application was successful and a summary of the advance. Services Australia does not set out one guaranteed payment date for all advances. There is no separate published application deadline: eligibility depends on your current payment and circumstances when you apply. If you believe Services Australia made a mistake, you can ask it to review its decision.