Beginning a Life in Australia Welcome to Australia dss1690. 12. 15 Edition date



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Your Family and Centrelink


The Department of Human Services provides social, health and other payments and services through Centrelink and Medicare. These will vary depending on the needs of each individual and family. Contact Centrelink immediately for assistance if your circumstances change, for example, if you have a child, lose your job or become ill.

Centrelink assists people to become more self-sufficient and helps people to find a job, while supporting those in need. Centrelink also supports those who require special assistance during different life stages, such as planning for retirement or experiencing illness or a crisis.


In this section


  • Confirming your identity

  • Help in other languages

  • Help dealing with Centrelink

  • Centrelink waiting periods

  • Claiming Centrelink payments

  • Payments for families

  • New Zealand citizens (who are not Australian citizens)

  • Crisis Payment for refugees and humanitarian entrants

  • Other Centrelink services

  • Concessions for low income earners

  • Change of circumstances

  • Definition of a partner

  • Reviews and appeals

  • Privacy of your information

  • Young people

  • Assurance of Support

Confirming your identity


At Centrelink you will need to provide documents to confirm your identity (www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/proof-of-identity) - for example, passport and travel documents, bank account details or accommodation details.

Help in other languages

Information in other languages


Centrelink has a range of translated information at www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/information-in-your-language about payments and services that you can read, watch or listen to.

Centrelink has a suite of New to Australia videos available in 10 languages covering topics such as payments, looking for work, Medicare card and Health Care Card. You can access these videos at www.humanservices.gov.au/yourlanguage



Multilingual Phone Service


If you speak a language other than English you can call our multilingual phone service on 131 202 (8am – 5pm local time) and speak to someone in your language about Centrelink payments and services.

Interpreters


If you do not speak English, Centrelink can provide an interpreter for your appointment, free of charge. To arrange a translator call 131 202 or ask at your local Centrelink Service Centre.

Translation of your documents


Centrelink can arrange to translate documents that you need to help you make a claim for our payments and services for free. Call 131 202 or ask at your local Centrelink Service Centre.

Multicultural Service Officers


Multicultural Services Officers (see www.humanservices.gov.au/mso) provide information about Centrelink’s programs and services to migrant and refugee communities, and consult widely to help improve services.

Centrelink letters


You must read all letters Centrelink sends you and respond if necessary. Call 131 202 if you need a letter explained in your language.

Help dealing with Centrelink


You can nominate another person or organisation (a 'nominee'), to act on your behalf. See www.humanservices.gov.au/nominees

Centrelink

Contact details

Centrelink

www.humanservices.gov.au/centrelink

Information for migrants, refugees and visitors

www.humanservices.gov.au/multicultural

Information in other languages

www.humanservices.gov.au/yourlanguage

For information in other languages

131 202

Intent to claim

www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/intent-to-claim

Confirming your identity

www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/proof-of-identity

Visit a service centre

www.humanservices.gov.au/findus



Centrelink waiting periods


All recently arrived residents or temporary migrants (except refugees or humanitarian entrants) must wait 104 weeks (the Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period) before receiving most payments and benefits. The Waiting Period does not apply to family assistance payments (see Payments for Families). For more information see www.humanservices.gov.au/families

The duration of the waiting period and to whom it applies varies according to the type of benefit and the date of arrival in Australia. Periods spent in Australia as an Australian resident at any time in your life count towards the waiting period.

During the waiting period, you can register with jobactive to get help finding work. You can also use the employment self-help facilities available in Centrelink Service Centres.

Exemptions from the Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period


Exemptions from the Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period apply to:

  • Australian citizens.

  • family members of an Australian citizen or long-term resident.

  • a person or the family member of a person who arrived under a humanitarian program.

  • holders of certain visa subclasses.

If you are in hardship because of a substantial change of circumstances, you may be able to get a special benefit immediately. Losing or not being able to find a job is not normally considered to be a substantial change of circumstances. Lodge a claim with Centrelink to find out if you are eligible.

Qualifying residence requirement


Pensions and some allowances do not have a newly arrived resident's waiting period, but have 'qualifying residence' waiting periods:

  • Parenting Payment and Widow Allowance: 104 weeks.

  • Age Pension and Disability Support Pension: 10 years.

There are some exceptions, for example, if you are a refugee or humanitarian entrant, or you become widowed, disabled or a sole parent after becoming an Australian resident.

You may be eligible for the pension if you have lived in a country that has an international social security agreement with Australia covering the payment you are claiming. Australia has social security agreements with 29 countries, listed at www.humanservices.gov.au/issa

For more information about pensions, including claiming overseas pensions or claiming Australian pensions while overseas, go to www.humanservices.gov.au/international





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