Centrelink

from 01 July 2010.

Contact your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre to confirm your eligibility and discuss your specific situation.

Payment rates for Age Pension

If you are	The maximum fortnightly payment is
Single	$644.20
Couple	$485.60 (each)

Note: These amounts exclude the Pension Supplement amount which is currently a maximum of $56.90 a fortnight for singles and $85.80 a fortnight for couples (combined).

• Customers in receipt of a pension on 19 September 2009 may be assessed under transitional arrangements and be eligible for different rates of payment.
• If you and your partner are separated because of illness, you may be paid at the single rate. Your combined income and assets will be used to work out your rates.
• You may receive the single rate of Age Pension if your partner is in prison or a psychiatric hospital.
• You may be eligible for the couple rate of Age Pension even if your partner is not receiving a pension, benefit or allowance.
• If you receive Age Pension you may qualify for other benefits.

Payment adjustments and reviews

• From time to time, your Age Pension payment is reviewed. If you are getting Age Pension, the amount you receive may be adjusted because your or your partner's circumstances change. This may include a change in your income, moving house or separating from your partner.
• Age Pension is usually adjusted twice a year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

Rent Assistance rates if you do not have dependent children

If you are	The maximum amount of Rent Assistance per fortnight is	Rent Assistance is not paid if your fortnightly rent is less than	The maximum amount of Rent Assistance is paid if your fortnightly rent is more than
single with no dependent children	$113.40	$100.80	$252
single, sharer, no dependent children	$75.60	$100.80	$201.60
a couple with no dependent children	$107	$164.40	$307.07
one of a couple who are separated due to illness, no dependent children*	$113.40	$100.80	$252
a couple who are temporarily separated, no dependent children	$107	$100.80	$243.47

* Includes respite care and partner in prison.

Rent Assistance rates if you have dependent children

If you have dependent children, you will usually get Rent Assistance with Family Tax Benefit Part A.

If you are	The maximum amount of Rent Assistance per fortnight is	Rent Assistance is not paid if your fortnightly rent is less than	The maximum amount of Rent Assistance is paid if your fortnightly rent is more than
single with 1 or 2 children	$133.28	$132.86	$310.57
single with 3 or more children	$150.64	$132.86	$333.71
a couple with 1 or 2 children	$133.28	$196.56	$374.27
a couple with 3 or more children	$150.64	$196.56	$397.41

Special rules apply if you are a single sharer, pay board and lodging or live in a retirement village.

Payments adjustments and reviews

From time to time, your Rent Assistance may be reviewed. If you are getting Rent Assistance, the amount you receive may be adjusted because:

• the amount you pay for your accommodation changes
• a family member's or your circumstances change. This may include your income increasing, moving to a new house or separating from your partner
• the maximum rate of payment changes. Rent Assistance is usually adjusted twice a year in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

 

How much Telephone Allowance do I get?

These payment rates are effective from 1 January 2010.

Telephone Allowance is paid quarterly with the first regular Centrelink payment you receive on or after 1 January, 20 March, 1 July and 20 September.

Telephone Allowance	Amount per quarter
Basic rate	$23.40
Higher rate	$35.20

Note: Any concessions or discounts your telephone or internet service provider may offer are not related to Telephone Allowance.

Telephone Allowance is a non-taxable payment

 

How much Utilities Allowance do I get?

These payment rates for Utilities Allowance are effective from 20 March 2010.

Payments are made in 4 instalments and usually paid with your first regular Centrelink payment following the qualification dates of 20 March, 20 June, 20 September and 20 December each year.

If you are	Yearly payment
single	$530
couple	$265 (each)
couple separated because of illness	$530 (each)

Utilities Allowance is not taxed.

 

How much Remote Area Allowance do I get?

These payment rates for Remote Area Allowance are effective from 20 March 2010.

If you	The fortnightly payment is
are single	$18.20
are partnered	$15.60 each
have dependent children	$7.30 for each dependant child

Remote Area Allowance is not taxed.

To receive Remote Area Allowance you do not have to meet income or assets tests.

 

How much Carer Allowance (caring for a person 16 years or over) do I get?

This payment rate of Carer Allowance (caring for a person 16 years or over) is effective from 20 March 2010.

The rate of Carer Allowance is $106.70 per fortnight.

If you are receiving a Carer Allowance payment on 1 July each year from 2010, you also receive an annual carer supplement of up to $600 for each person in your care who qualifies you for Carer Allowance.

 

DVA Pension Rates

Pension rates

Most pensions are indexed in March and September each year with reference to changes in the cost of living and male total average weekly earnings (MTAWE).

Details of current pension rates relating to Service Pension, Age Pension, Income Support Supplement and Disability Pensions can be found in the Factsheet:

IS30 Pension rates, limits and allowances (PDF 107Kb)

Details of current pension rates relating to compensation benefits that may be payable under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) can be found in the Factsheet:

MRC04 Compensation payment rates (PDF 92Kb)

Supplements

You may be eligible for a supplement payment to assist with the cost of prescriptions, rates, telephone and internet connections, energy, water and sewerage.

These supplement payments are:

• pension supplement,
• seniors supplement;
• veterans supplement; and
• MRCA supplement.

Information about the supplement payments is available online.