The £650 Cost of Living Payment in the UK went to low-income households on means-tested benefits like Universal Credit, Income Support, and Jobseeker's Allowance, paid in two instalments in 2022, with separate £150 payments for disabled people and £300 for pensioners. If you're in Australia, a $650 amount could relate to Utility Relief Grants for energy/water bills, paid to your retailer, or potentially an advance on Centrelink payments like JobSeeker, Age Pension, or Disability Support Pension on Services Australia.
There are no extra payments for Centrelink customers. If you're not sure if Centrelink information you've seen online is real, search our genuine websites. See the link in the comments for more info 👇 The Guringai Festival had a story about a $750 one off payment for pensioners in December, 2025.
If you're eligible on the first qualifying date in April, you'll be paid Carer's Allowance Supplement in June. If you're eligible on the second qualifying date in October, you'll be paid Carer's Allowance Supplement in December. The payment will be made in the same way as your Carer Support Payment is paid.
Eligibility for a $750 Centrelink payment depends on receiving specific income support or holding eligible concession cards, like Age Pension, JobSeeker, Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment, or Family Tax Benefit, generally requiring residency and meeting income/asset tests for the specific payment type, with recent announcements pointing to a potential New Year Grant for early 2026, but users should verify these on the official Services Australia website as fake offers circulate.
The Carer Supplement is an annual payment of $600 which is attached to each Carer Allowance.
You can claim compensation by completing the Compensation Application form. Don't use this form if you're wanting to apply for a Centrelink payment. If you can't print it, you can ask staff at your local service centre to print the form. Or call us on 1800 995 496 and we can send it to you.
The bonus will be automatically paid to individuals who are receiving eligible Centrelink benefits as of the qualifying date.
The government has confirmed that no further Cost of Living Payments are planned for 2025. This means there will not be a new payment (such as the rumoured £450 payment) this year. Future financial support will depend on government decisions and the wider economy, including inflation and energy prices.
The Christmas Bonus is paid to long-term social welfare recipients such as pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, lone parents and long-term unemployed people. The full list of qualifying payments for the Christmas Bonus is available on our website.
Yes, pensioners often receive extra payments or supplements, primarily through automatic indexation linked to living costs (like recent increases in early 2026) and additional allowances like the Pension Supplement for bills (utilities, phone), Rent Assistance, and the Work Bonus for those who work, with specific amounts depending on individual circumstances.
Around 680,000 people receiving the Carer Allowance will see their payments increase to $162.60 per fortnight, making their annual payment almost $700 more since Labor came to government.
Carers can get free or discounted services, travel, and entertainment through schemes like the Companion Card or Carer Card, which offer free entry for carers to venues (cinemas, events, transport) when accompanying the person with a disability. They may also receive financial aid like Carer Payment or Allowance (in Australia) for support, plus discounts on utilities, phone bills, insurance, and retail via specific carer discount programs or memberships, often requiring proof of caring status like a Healthcare Card or carer ID.
However, for those who are unable to combine work and care, Carer's Allowance – the main carers' benefit - remains the lowest benefit of its kind. From 7 April 2025, it will rise by 1.7% from £81.90 to £83.30 per week, which is less than the price of a first-class postage stamp.
In early spring 2025, Canadians who worked in 2023 and earned up to $150,000 will receive a $250 payment—either through a direct deposit in their bank account or cheque in their mailbox.
There is no official $750 cost of living payment for 2025; reports of such one-off bonuses are scams, often circulating on social media as fake Centrelink payments, designed to steal personal information, with official payments only occurring through regular indexation or specific state programs like South Australia's Cost of Living Concession (COLC). Always check Services Australia or state.gov.au websites, not social media, for genuine information.
Centrelink offers specific one-off payments like the Crisis Payment for extreme hardship (domestic violence, disaster) and the Education Entry Payment, plus potential Advance Payments (loans) on existing benefits; however, many online claims for large, general one-off payments (e.g., $250, $1,300) are scams, so always verify information on the official Services Australia website (servicesaustralia.gov.au).
Christmas Bonus dates 🎄 📅 The Christmas Bonus will be paid this week starting 1 December 2025. 🎁 This is a once-off double week payment for people getting a long-term social welfare payment. ℹ️ In 2025, the Christmas Bonus is 100% of your normal weekly payment.
Who Will Receive the $1,100 Centrelink Bonus. The bonus will be automatically issued to eligible Australians receiving approved Centrelink payments. Those expected to qualify include: Age Pension recipients.
How much money can I have in the bank before it affects my pension? It depends on your total assessable assets. For example, homeowner couples can have up to $481,500 in combined assets, including bank balances, before their pension is reduced.
Social welfare payments in Ireland, 2025
Two double payments of Child Benefit before Christmas. €200 one-off payment for pensioners and people with a disability receiving the Living Alone Allowance. €400 payment to all carers receiving the Carer's Support Grant.
One payment drawing attention is the CRA $680 one-time benefit, which is widely expected to be issued through direct deposit on January 8, 2025.
Annual uprating
Working age benefits will be uprated from 3.8% in line with September 2025 CPI. State Pension and Pension Credit will increase by4. 8% in line with earnings growth. The standard allowance in Universal Credit will rise by 6.2% from April 2026.
Christmas bonuses are typically paid out in early to mid-December, before the holiday season. Though less common, some companies may split the bonus into two payments — one before Christmas and one after the new year.
Final Summary. The widely shared $1,900 Centrelink payment claim for November 2025 is not a new benefit. It simply reflects two regular Age Pension payments received in the same month. Any future bonuses or reforms will be formally announced by the Australian Government through official channels only.
Centrelink $1,600 Christmas 'bonus' payment to older Australians refuted as scammers try to cash in. No bonus payments have been announced for Centrelink recipients or seniors, despite misinformation spreading online.