Centrelink Recipients should be aware that their payments may be affected by the approaching public holidays: Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Anzac Day.
These holidays will impact reporting and payment schedules for several government assistance programs, including Austudy, Farm Household Allowance, JobSeeker Payment, Special Benefit, Status Resolution Support Services Payment, and Youth Allowance.
Services Australia has issued an advisory encouraging beneficiaries to understand their responsibilities to avoid any disruptions.
“Our goal is to help you prepare properly so your payments continue without issue,” Services Australia stated. “Early income reporting may be necessary to ensure timely payments during the closure period, and we may process your payment ahead of schedule.”
How Will Your Centrelink Benefits Be Affected?
To determine what actions you need to take during the holiday period, access your Centrelink online account, which will provide specific instructions.
If your account indicates early reporting is required, you’ll need to estimate your anticipated income for the upcoming reporting period. The same applies to any other circumstances that might affect your payment amount. By completing this early reporting, you’ll receive your payment before the holiday closures.
Should you discover any inaccuracies in your reported information, you have a 14-day window to make corrections. Alternatively, you can wait until your subsequent reporting period to update any information.
If you choose to report on Good Friday, Easter Monday, or Anzac Day, your payment will be processed after the holiday.
You may opt to report after your designated period if:
- You’re uncertain about your employment earnings
- Your circumstances change during the reporting timeframe
For those whose payments don’t require income reporting, payments might be processed before the public holiday.
Centrelink Closure Dates
Services Australia confirmed that all physical service centers and most telephone support lines will not operate on:
- Good Friday (April 18)
- Easter Monday (April 21)
- Anzac Day (Friday, April 25)
“Public holidays won’t cause payment delays, but we may issue payments earlier than usual,” Services Australia explained. “When payments are advanced, we schedule them as close to your normal payment date as possible, but before the holiday. Please budget accordingly to ensure this payment lasts until your next scheduled payment.”