Find the Centrelink support you're entitled to — without the jargon.
Clear guides to payments, eligibility and steps — each one checked against the official source and dated.
Maximum fortnightly rates from 20 September 2026
Before income and assets tests. Your amount may be lower.
Age Pension
$1,237.70
Up to $36.80 · DSP and Carer Payment the same
JobSeeker Payment
$833.70
No children · Up $19.20
JobSeeker with children
$892.80
Single with dependent child · Up $51.30
Parenting Payment Single
$1,087.20
Principal carer of a young child
Sources: Department of Social Services payment rates; Services Australia. Pension rates include Pension and Energy Supplements; JobSeeker includes Energy Supplement. Deeming rates are now 1.75% and 3.75%.
Start with what's happening in your life
Each guide lists the payments, concession cards and steps that fit your situation.
Looking for work
Lost your job or can't find enough work
Having a baby
Expecting, or a new baby has arrived
Retiring
Reaching Age Pension age or planning to stop work
Caring for someone
Looking after a person with disability, illness or frailty
Studying or training
Uni, TAFE, an apprenticeship or school
Disaster or emergency
Fire, flood, storm or a sudden crisis
Payments explained
All payments A–Z →| Payment | Who it's for | Key test | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| JobSeeker Payment | People 22 to Age Pension age looking for work | Income & assets | Read guide |
| Age Pension | People 67 and over who meet residence rules | Income & assets | Read guide |
| Disability Support Pension | People who can't work 15+ hours a week due to disability | Medical & income | Read guide |
| Parenting Payment | Main carers of young children | Income & assets | Read guide |
| Family Tax Benefit | Families raising dependent children | Family income | Read guide |
| Commonwealth Rent Assistance | Renters already getting an eligible payment | Rent paid | Read guide |
Tools to work it out
Estimates only — they don't save or send your details anywhere.
Payment estimator
See roughly what you could get after the income and assets tests.
Open tool →Income reporting walkthrough
What counts as income and how to report it correctly.
Open tool →Who receives income support (aged 16–64)
About 5.3 million people aged 16+ received income support in March 2025 — 24% of that population.
| Payment type | Recipients |
|---|---|
| Unemployment payments | 819 |
| Disability Support Pension | 670 |
| Parenting payments | 387 |
| Student payments | 172 |
Source: AIHW, income support recipients (data as at 28 March 2025).
When rates change each year
Indexation is automatic — you don't need to claim again.
- 1 January Carer Allowance and student payment rates
- 20 March Pension and allowance rates, income free areas
- 1 July Assets and deeming thresholds, Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Subsidy
- 20 September Pension and allowance rates, Rent Assistance
Library
Browse all guides →Plain-English explainers, growing every week.
Checked against official sources
Every guide links to the government page it's based on and shows the date we last checked it.
Services Australia ↗
Runs Centrelink, claims and rules
Department of Social Services ↗
Payment policy and rates
myGov ↗
Online accounts and claims
Australian Taxation Office ↗
Tax on payments, income
Social Security Guide ↗
The legal policy manual
AIHW ↗
Welfare statistics
Administrative Review Tribunal ↗
Independent reviews
Commonwealth Ombudsman ↗
Complaints about services
Frequently asked questions about Centrelink
How do I know if I am eligible for a Centrelink payment?
Eligibility depends on your age, income, assets, residency and circumstances. Services Australia's Payment and Service Finder is the official tool to check what you may qualify for.
Fair Go Guide provides plain-English guides to each payment's rules, but only Centrelink can make an eligibility decision. Use our Life events section to find the right starting point for your situation.
How do I claim a Centrelink payment?
Most claims are made online through myGov. You need a myGov account linked to your Centrelink record. Follow the steps in our Life events guides for your situation.
Some payments can also be claimed by calling 132 850 or visiting a Services Australia service centre.
What is the income free area for JobSeeker?
From 20 September 2026, the income free area for JobSeeker is $150 per fortnight. Above that, your payment reduces by 50 cents for each dollar earned, then 60 cents per dollar above $256 per fortnight.
Source: Services Australia — How income affects your payment. Use our payment estimator to model your situation.
When are Centrelink rates updated?
Centrelink rates are indexed automatically — you don't need to reapply:
- 20 March and 20 September: Pension and allowance rates, income free areas
- 1 July: Asset and deeming thresholds, Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Subsidy
- 1 January: Carer Allowance, student payment rates
See the full schedule on the DSS Guide to Australian Government Payments. Our indexation calendar lists the next dates.
Is Fair Go Guide affiliated with the Australian Government?
No. Fair Go Guide is an independent, plain-English guide. It is not affiliated with Services Australia, Centrelink, or the Australian Government.
All information is sourced from official government publications — primarily the Social Security Guide (DSS) and Services Australia — and every figure includes the date it was last checked. Read more on our About page.
Need money urgently, or affected by a disaster?
Read about crisis and advance payments, and how to ask for a review if you disagree with a decision.