Centrelink issues holiday warning for millions of Australians
By
VanessaC
- Replies 47
The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, but for millions of Australians relying on Centrelink, it can also be a period of uncertainty and stress.
This is due to the upcoming closures of service centres and call centres over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
Services Australia has announced that most of its service centres and call centres will be closed from Monday, December 25 to Wednesday, December 27, and for New Year’s Day on Monday, January 1.
Smaller service centres will close for the entire Christmas and New Year holiday season from Friday, December 22 to Tuesday, January 2.
This closure period could potentially disrupt the routine of millions of Australians who depend on Centrelink for their livelihood.
'This means your reporting and payment dates may change, and you’ll need to report early,' Services Australia warned.
'Your Centrelink online account will show your new reporting date for the Christmas and New Year reporting period.'
While the physical offices will be closed, recipients can still use their Centrelink online account through myGov to report their income, check their payment and reporting dates, and use their other services.
'However, if you do this on a public holiday, we’ll pay you after the public holiday,' Services Australia said.
Certain changes will be applied to the reporting and payment dates for a number of Centrelink payments and allowances if they normally fall on a public holiday.
These include JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy, the Age Pension, ABSTUDY and the Disability Support Pension.
If you report ahead of the public holidays, Services Australia advised that you would need to include what you expect to be paid for the full reporting period.
If you are unsure of your income or there are changes to your circumstances, you may choose to report after your reporting period.
For those who don’t have to report to receive their payment, Services Australia may release payments early if there is a public holiday.
This news comes after it was reported that Centrelink's Older Australians line reported experiencing a significant increase in wait times.
Seniors are now waiting an average of 43 minutes to get through—double the average wait time from the 2021/22 financial year.
Unfortunately, wait times are ballooning across all Centrelink departments, with the average wait time for disabilities, sickness and carers at 48.34 minutes, employment at 53.26 minutes, and families and parenting at 56.26 minutes.
Furthermore, the average time taken to approve the age pension reportedly increased from 33 days in 2021/22 to 61 days in the financial year to August 2023.
This has left some retirees in a financial bind, forcing them to dip into their savings and superannuation to make ends meet.
You can read more about this news here.
What are your thoughts on these Centrelink closures? Have you been affected by them in the past? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below.
This is due to the upcoming closures of service centres and call centres over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
Services Australia has announced that most of its service centres and call centres will be closed from Monday, December 25 to Wednesday, December 27, and for New Year’s Day on Monday, January 1.
Smaller service centres will close for the entire Christmas and New Year holiday season from Friday, December 22 to Tuesday, January 2.
This closure period could potentially disrupt the routine of millions of Australians who depend on Centrelink for their livelihood.
'This means your reporting and payment dates may change, and you’ll need to report early,' Services Australia warned.
'Your Centrelink online account will show your new reporting date for the Christmas and New Year reporting period.'
While the physical offices will be closed, recipients can still use their Centrelink online account through myGov to report their income, check their payment and reporting dates, and use their other services.
'However, if you do this on a public holiday, we’ll pay you after the public holiday,' Services Australia said.
Certain changes will be applied to the reporting and payment dates for a number of Centrelink payments and allowances if they normally fall on a public holiday.
These include JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy, the Age Pension, ABSTUDY and the Disability Support Pension.
If you report ahead of the public holidays, Services Australia advised that you would need to include what you expect to be paid for the full reporting period.
If you are unsure of your income or there are changes to your circumstances, you may choose to report after your reporting period.
For those who don’t have to report to receive their payment, Services Australia may release payments early if there is a public holiday.
This news comes after it was reported that Centrelink's Older Australians line reported experiencing a significant increase in wait times.
Seniors are now waiting an average of 43 minutes to get through—double the average wait time from the 2021/22 financial year.
Unfortunately, wait times are ballooning across all Centrelink departments, with the average wait time for disabilities, sickness and carers at 48.34 minutes, employment at 53.26 minutes, and families and parenting at 56.26 minutes.
Furthermore, the average time taken to approve the age pension reportedly increased from 33 days in 2021/22 to 61 days in the financial year to August 2023.
This has left some retirees in a financial bind, forcing them to dip into their savings and superannuation to make ends meet.
You can read more about this news here.
Key Takeaways
- Services Australia has announced upcoming closures over the Christmas and New Year holiday period, affecting Centrelink service centres and most call centres.
- The closures might lead to changes in reporting and payment dates for individuals on Centrelink.
- Despite the physical closures, recipients can still use their Centrelink online account via myGov to report their income and other details.
- Numerous Centrelink payments and allowances, including JobSeeker and the Age Pension, will have changes to their reporting and payment dates if they usually fall on a public holiday.