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.

Centrelink has announced its holiday schedule. Image source: Shutterstock.

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.

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.

 

[Brody]

Albanese might not be responsible for cyclone Jasper but he, and his government, are sure screwing up Australia. Especially Chris Bowen, that moron couldn't find his way out of a toilet. Maybe they should stop globe trotting on taxpayers' money, spend some time in Australia and sort out the issues we have here instead of spending money like drunken sailors sending us more into debt.

Well,we put them in the driving seat so we have to go for the Ride...

 

[Lord Garton]

ＹＥＳ

 

[rhsimm]

Ha!! Submitted my cleanskin age pension papers on September 5th. I've had a couple of txts saying they are on it. The website says being processed. Hardly 61 days. As a taxpayer of 55 years to say I am disappointed is an understatement.

 

[pymmie]

2 days closed in a whole year is nothing. . No one will miss out on payments,

 

[Brody]

Well,we put them in the driving seat so we have to go for the Ride...

 

[Clancieblue]

So typical of a government department

They are allowed a Holiday, like everyone else.

 

[jackliz27]

I rang the Older Australians line on Monday and was advised that the wait was 90 minutes!!
Also, I recently visited Centrelink to enquire as to why I had not received my last pension payment and was given an appointment for the following day at 4.00pm. I arrived on time, waited for 15 minutes to be seen and was then told I may have to come back another time if they couldn't solve my issue, as they closed at 4.30pm! Fortunately, it was solved within the 15 minutes but had it not been I would have had to make a third trip and possibly miss another pension payment. All because of an error on their part!

so --- what's new!!!!! I have had the same problem about 10 times in the last 5 years

 

[RodgerDodger]

I know anyone out there linked reluctantly to servicesAustralia dept. NEVER WANT to contact them by phone but generally need to because their bullshit online is normally to thick to get thru, regardless on how big your shovel IS!! Good luck and hope you allow plenty and I mean plenty of time, remember your time is NOT as important as theirs...RW