Centrelink

Income support for young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness is a key issue for both young people and for workers who are supporting and assisting them with access to income support, assessment issues, processing issues and eligibility criteria for income support types, as well as having access to income support to assess accommodation options.

Centrelink now recognises the three Australian definitions of homelessness (primary, secondary and tertiary) and in Victoria has a homelessness taskforce that works on Centrelink issues related to homelessness. Council to Homeless Persons has representation on this taskforce.

Here you will find links to information and resources about Centrelink payments, including recent and upcoming changes

Job Seekers

• Newstart Allowance
• Youth Allowance

Changes to Youth Allowance

To get information from Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations on changes to Youth Allowance from 1st July 2009, click here

Indigenous Australians

This is a list of links that have information specific to indigenous Australian Centrelink customers.

• Indigenous payments
• Indigenous programmes
• Indigenous publications
• Indigenous specialist services

Concession Cards and Concession Payments

• Concession Cards
• Health Care Card
• Pensioner Concession Card
• Pharmaceutical Allowance
• Rent Assistance
• Telephone Allowance
• Utilities Allowance

Renting

Rent Assistance

Crisis Payment

Crisis Payment helps you if you are in severe financial hardship because you have experienced an extreme circumstance such as domestic violence or a natural disaster, you have been released from gaol or psychiatric confinement, or you have arrived in Australia for the first time on a qualifying humanitarian visa.

http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/crisis.htm

Centrelink Budget Overview 2009-2010

The Budget measures announced for the current financial year include a range of initiatives that may impact a number of Centrelink customers. For overview information on the changes, including job seekers and school enrolment and attendance, click here

http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/individuals/budget091...

Useful links

Centrelink
www.centrelink.gov.au

Job Services Australia
http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/JSA/Pages/default.aspx

National Welfare Rights Network

The National Welfare Rights Network (NWRN) provides free and independent information, advice and representation about Social Security law and its administration. NWRN member organisations operate in all states and territories of Australia and consist of specialist community legal centres and services and individual advocates. These are independent of Centrelink and all government departments.  [Read more] At the website you will find information such as Fact Sheets on Centrelink payments and the Social Security Appeals process
www.welfarerights.org.au

Victorian Member Organisation:
Welfare Rights Unit
155 Easey St

Collingwood VIC 3066

(03) 9416 1111


Get directions