Yahoo Finance Centrelink changes: Millions could get payments early this weekend
Millions of Aussies who collect Centrelink or welfare payments may see the payment hit their bank account sooner than expected, but only if they report early.
Services Australia will be closed on Good Friday (April 15) and Easter Monday (April 18), meaning some payments will be made early.
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You can use your Centrelink online account through myGov to do any of the following:
Report your income
View your reporting dates for the next 12 weeks
Change some of your appointments
Apply for an advance payment
You can also use the Express Plus mobile apps and phone self service.
“You can still report your income to us, even when we’re closed,” Services Australia said.
“However, if you do this on a public holiday, we’ll pay you after the public holiday.”
Those who report early during their assessment period will need to include what they expect to be paid for their full period.
“If you report after your assessment period, we’ll pay you after you report to us,” Services Australia said.
“You may want to do this so you can be sure of your employment income or changes to your circumstances.”
If you didn’t need to report employment income, Services Australia said you would be paid early.
“We won’t delay payments because of a public holiday, but we may pay you earlier than normal. An early payment is your normal payment, just paid early,” it said.
“Where we pay 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.”
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