For Centrelink purposes you are considered to be a member of a couple if you and your partner are living together, or usually live together, and are: married; or. in a registered relationship; or. in a de facto relationship.
Being in a de facto relationship can have an effect on what payments you can get and your payment rate. There's no minimum time period for a relationship to be de facto. There are different relationship rules for ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Youth Allowance and Disability Support Pension.
Centrelink may consider you to be a member of a couple even if you consider yourself single. You may be considered a member of a couple even if you live apart from your partner. This can happen if Centrelink does not believe that you are living separately on a permanent or indefinite basis.
If you tell us you have a partner, while making an online claim, we may ask your partner to confirm the relationship status.
We look at the income of your parents or guardians you normally live with, or last lived with. This includes step parents if you normally live with them. We assess your parents' or guardians' income even if you don't live with them now.
You may not be eligible for another income support payment because any of the following apply: you haven't lived in Australia long enough. you're the holder of a temporary visa. you're an Australian resident younger than 16.
You'll need to meet all of these: you're between 22 and Age Pension age. you meet residence rules. you meet the income and assets tests.
One common type of fraud is providing false information, such as a fake name or address, to obtain Centrelink payments. Another type is undeclared income, where individuals fail to declare all of their income to Centrelink to receive additional benefits.
Your payment will generally reduce by 60 cents for each dollar of income your partner has over $1,233 per fortnight. The point at which your payment reduces may be different depending on if your partner is either: under 22 years of age.
This form lets us know you are partnered. You can complete this form on your computer, print and sign it, and upload it in your Centrelink online account. you cannot provide your partner's details over the phone, or • your partner is not available to speak with us over the phone.
Home visits
Centrelink may also visit your home unexpectedly, but this is not common. They may do this if they are already investigating and believe that you are being dishonest. If a Centrelink officer comes to your home, you: do not have to let them in (unless they are with a police officer who has a warrant)
The law requires that you and your former partner, who may be of the same or opposite sex, had a relationship as a couple living together on a genuine domestic basis. However, your relationship is not a de facto relationship if you were legally married to one another or if you are related by family.
Evidence of living together such as joint leases, mail to the same address, joint utilities or bills etc. Statements about how you share housework and your living arrangements. mail or emails addressed to you both. documents that show joint responsibility for children.
You may be able to tell us online when you break up or separate from your partner. This will depend on the type of payment you get. If you can't tell us online, use the separation details form to let us know. You don't need your ex-partner to complete their part of the separation form.
The Work Bonus income bank is useful for pensioners who wish to work, particularly those who undertake intermittent or occasional work. Note: from 1 December 2022 to 31 December 2023, a one-off, temporary credit of $4,000 applies to Work Bonus income bank balances.
Payments while overseas
If your payments can continue while you're outside Australia and you intend to be away for: less than 12 months, we'll continue to pay you every 2 weeks into your Australian bank account. more than 12 months, we'll pay you every 4 weeks into your Australian or overseas bank account.
It's until when they decide to interview that you get to know you're being investigated. This interview is documented and used against you in Court. If not invited for an interview, you get to know you've been investigated when the CDPP issues a charge of Obtaining a Financial Advantage for you.
Centrelink has very wide powers to thoroughly investigate deposits that have been made into your account. For example, it has the power to obtain your information from other government agencies as well as accessing information from banks, building societies and credit union accounts.
Centrelink fraud (sometimes also referred to as social security fraud) is taken very seriously by the courts. Claiming Centrelink benefits to which you are not entitled is an indictable offence. This means you could be prosecuted, and may receive a large fine and even imprisonment.
Centrelink: Call 136 150
Advance Lump Sum $1000 – check how much your benefit would reduce each fortnight to see if you can manage it.
If you leave Australia to live in another country, your payment will stop when you depart. If your travel is short term, your payment will stop when you depart, unless you're travelling for an approved reason. To get Special Benefit while you're overseas, you must travel for an approved reason.
Registration papers with your name, address and proof of payment. Foreign birth, marriage or education certificate. Driver licence, national identity card or a lapsed passport. A photo ID card issued by the Commonwealth, state or territory in your name.
To get the Tertiary Access Payment, you need to meet some rules. The Tertiary Access Payment is a payment of $3,000 or $5,000. How much you can get depends on where your family home is located.