Major Centrelink payment changes for millions of Aussies hit from today: 'Help you get paid'
Centrelink recipients have been advised that Service Centres will be closed from today due to Easter, and their payments could be affected. The centres will be closed on Good Friday, as well as Easter Monday and Anzac Day next week.
Those who depend on social security payments might not get paid on their usual day, and this is expected to affect those on Austudy, Farm Household Allowance, JobSeeker Payment, Special Benefit, Status Resolution Support Services Payment, and Youth Allowance. Services Australia said you might have to do things a little differently over the coming days.
"We want to help you plan so you still get paid," it said. "You may need to report your income early so we can pay you during this closure. We may pay you early."
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Services Australia said all of its in-person centres and most of its call centres will be shut down for those three public holidays:
Good Friday - April 18
Easter Monday - April 21
Anzac Day (Friday) - April 25
"We won't delay payments because of a public holiday, but we may pay you earlier than normal," Services Australia said.
"When we make an early payment, we pay as close to and before your normal payment day. You'll need to budget so this payment lasts until your next payment day."
You'll have to log into your Centrelink account, which will inform you what you have to do over these public holidays.
If your account shows you need to report your income early, you'll have to show what you expect to be paid for that new reporting period.
You'll also have to do this for any other changes that might affect your payment. If you do this, you'll receive your payment before those public holiday closures.
If there are any mistakes, you will have 14 days to correct them.
Or, you can wait until your next reporting period to update the details.
If you report your income on Good Friday, Easter Monday, or Anzac Day, then you'll get paid after that date.
You can also choose to report after your allocated period if:
you're unsure of your employment income
there are changes to your circumstances during your reporting period
If you don't have to report your income to receive your payment, you could receive it before one of those public holidays.
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