Pensions, JobSeeker and Rent Assistance rise with indexation
Single Age Pension, DSP and Carer Payment rose $36.80 to $1,237.70 a fortnight. JobSeeker (single, no children) rose $16.20 to $833.70.
What this means for you ↓NEWS & CHANGES
What's changing at Centrelink — and what it means for you
Calm, checked updates from official sources. Every story says whether a change is already in force, starting soon, or only announced.
● In force ● Starts soon ● Announced, not yet law
Key dates ahead
1 Nov 2026
Centrepay changes start
Some deduction categories end.
1 Jan 2027
Indexation
Carer Allowance and student payment rates.
20 Mar 2027
Indexation
Pension and allowance rates, income free areas.
1 Jul 2027
Indexation
FTB, Child Care Subsidy, asset and deeming thresholds.
Centrepay goes "back to basics" from 1 November
Services Australia is narrowing what Centrepay — the voluntary service that pays bills straight from your Centrelink payment — can be used for. It says the change adds safeguards against financial harm.
What this means for you
If you use Centrepay for things like furniture, appliances, household goods leases, funeral costs or car registration, those deductions won't be allowed from 1 November. Rent, utilities, education, health, and finance and insurance can still be paid. Check your deductions in your online account and plan another way to pay.
Source: Services Australia, as reported by Yahoo Finance, 8 October 2026.
CENTREPAY FROM 1 NOVEMBER
Still allowed
- Rent and accommodation
- Utilities
- Education
- Health
- Finance and insurance
No longer allowed
- Furniture, appliances, clothing
- Household goods leases
- Funeral expenses
- Car registration
- Employment expenses
- Social and recreational costs
All updates
Showing 7 updatesDeeming rates rise to 1.75% and 3.75%
The rates Centrelink assumes your savings earn went up half a percentage point, which can reduce part-pensions for people with savings.
What this means for you ↓Employment services overhaul announced in the 2026–27 Budget
A three-tier model with revised mutual obligations was announced, funded at $312 million. Details and a start date haven't been confirmed.
What this means for you ↓Family payments and asset limits indexed for the new financial year
Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Subsidy, and assets test and deeming thresholds were indexed on 1 July.
What this means for you ↓Student Start-up Loan applications open for 2026
Eligible students on a student payment can take out the loan up to twice a year.
What this means for you ↓Income Bank can help working students keep more of their payment
Students and apprentices can build up unused income credit and use it in fortnights when they earn more.
What this means for you ↓Disaster payments for people affected by the Victorian bushfires
The Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance were made available, then expanded to more areas.
What this means for you ↓Looking for an older change?
The change log lists every update we've made to our guides, with the date and the official source.
Frequently asked questions about Centrelink news and changes
How quickly are changes published on Fair Go Guide?
We aim to publish a plain-English summary within 48 hours of a change being officially announced or taking effect. Each story names the official source and the date — we never publish a change without a named source.
For immediate official information, check Services Australia News or the DSS publications page.
What does "Announced, not yet law" mean?
It means a change has been announced — for example, in a Federal Budget — but legislation has not yet passed Parliament, or the change date has not yet arrived. We mark these clearly so you know not to rely on them for current decisions.
You can track the status of legislation through the Australian Parliament House Bills page.
How do I report a Centrelink scam?
Report scams to Scamwatch (ACCC) and to Services Australia — Scams and identity theft.
Do not click links in suspicious messages. Go directly to myGov by typing the address yourself. Real Centrelink messages never ask you to log in via a link sent by SMS or email.