r/CentrelinkOz

Hi,

For a bit of context, I am recently 18 and doing my HSC/Year 12, my family I stay with is currently on a single workers comp income. I work psrt time and had saved up ~24k in savings, which my parents used bc they needed it for rent and bills (I didnt have access to my bills and had no idea i didn't have the savings i thought i had). Either way, I currently have 300$ in savings and planning to rebuild that a bit for uni next year.

I was thinking of applying for Youth Allowance, though I'm not sure if the HSC counts as an approved course (I am over 18 as well). And if so, what happens between when I graduate and when I start Uni? I heard you can get your payments 13 weeks in advance but it will be like 5-6 months between.

Thanks

I received a message in my mygov inbox, said it was an income and assets update, that I need to review and update my bank account details.

I have never received a message like this, I don't really use the online services & call them whenever I need to update, I went into the centrelink app & banking summary and it had incorrect details in my account, there were two dates when it was last updated , one account , my main account, was 2 years ago and the other savings account was 4 years ago. I've never seen that amount before on their app so I must never have opened the banking summary before.

Both amounts were not right, my main account showed 6,000 *more* than there actually was in the account on that date 2 years ago, and my other account showed 400 *less* than there actually was on that date 4 years ago.

I'm completely confused and very anxious.

In my main account where it was showing in the app there was 6000 more than there actually was, there was a transfer a few days prior to that date of a few thousand from a family member that I had reported to centrelink as I always do, I took a reference number at that time but I can't find it now. I called them on the date that it said there was 6000 more than there was in my account, I called them to declare that my family member had given me money.

What should I do?

Should I just update the app with the amount in both accounts as they are today or ring them up to explain?

The few thousand my family gave me is now in my savings account, back on that date it was in my main account, and my main account now has pretty much nothing in it as I'm just about to be paid dsp. I transfer my own money between the two accounts all the time to save and pay bills etc.

If I just update the app could they send me a robodebt ?

Do you have to let them know when your balance decreases? I thought it was only when you received, gift or earned money or if your account increases by 2000.

The *combined* amount of both my accounts is 6000 less than there was on that date 2 years ago, the combined amount hasn't increased, but the amount stated on their app for my accounts two & four years ago was never correct to begin with

When i originally applied for youth allowance, i'm still studying year 11 so i put the end date of year
11. After i received the outcome letter, it said "Your Youth Allowance is based on you studying full time at (my school), Year 11 Secondary Studies/Adult Matric" so i think my course is secondary which includes both year 11 and 12 so i changed my study end date to the end date of year 12. But i'm not sure i did the right things as it said year 11 secondary studies/adult matric but i already updated the end date to year 12 a month ago. And the update still appears that it hasn’t approved yet.

I understand this is more of a silly question but i'm waiting on call rn (for DSP) and ngl I need to know what song is playing!

Hi everyone, I’m currently receiving JobSeeker through Centrelink.

I was previously on Youth Allowance because I was studying full-time at university. I went on a study break in March 2026 (this current year), and that’s when I started receiving JobSeeker.

My uni course starts again in September 2026, but I’ll only be studying part-time from September 2026 until March 2027 (next year). After March 2027, I’ll return to full-time study. This is how my course is structured.

My question is:

Can I stay on JobSeeker while I’m studying part-time from September 2026 to March 2027.

Then, once I return to full-time study in March 2027 (next year), would I need to switch back to Youth Allowance?

I’d prefer to stay on JobSeeker during the part-time study period because it pays more than Youth Allowance, but I obviously want to make sure I’m following Centrelink’s rules.

Has anyone been in a similar situation or knows how Centrelink handles this?

I’m in the middle of dealing with a claim that was knocked back, even though I feel like my circumstances were explained pretty clearly. I’m trying to work out whether it’s worth requesting a review or if the original decision is usually pretty final. Would be good to hear from anyone who’s actually been through the process, especially if the outcome changed after they asked for a review.

Hey everyone 😊

This is my first time on jobseeker payment. I’m a bit confused. I have a reporting due in 3 days. What do I do? As in like am I allowed to apply for jobs before the 3 days or does it have to be the day reporting. Need some help. Thank you

I have an elderly family member (+90) who lives outside Australia and receives a regular Australian pension based on her previous employment. Until 2024, she regularly received the Proof of Life Certificate (AUS061) by post every two years, usually around the end of July, however this year the form has still not arrived.

What I find particularly strange is that the PDF version of the form also seems to have disappeared from the Services Australia website. In previous years it was available here but now the page now says: "The form you're looking for is no longer available from this page.". The form also does not appear to be listed in the following sections: Centrelink forms for individuals; Forms by code for individuals; International forms for individuals, however Services Australia still refers to the Proof of Life Certificate on its website, for example Proof of Life if you’re older than 80 and live overseas though the page says: "Page last updated: 3 January 2025.".

Does anyone know if there have been any changes, news, etc. since 2024 regarding the Proof of Life Certificate?

I moved to Brisbane from a small country town after high school to study engineering. I started a four-year degree in 2020, but due to failing some subjects, prerequisites, and subjects only being offered in certain semesters, it has taken almost seven years. I am now completing my final subject and should be done by the end of this year.

I received Youth Allowance from 2020–2023. Towards the end of my degree, my remaining subjects were spread out due to prerequisites and availability, so my study load fell below Centrelink’s full-time requirement. I was therefore moved onto JobSeeker, which I have received from 2023–2026.

While on JobSeeker, I completed my required job applications but mainly applied for paid and unpaid engineering internships, graduate programs, and entry-level roles. My degree also requires compulsory work experience before I can graduate, so I focused on engineering work that could meet this requirement, build relevant experience, and potentially lead to long-term employment rather than mainly applying for unrelated casual jobs while studying.

I obtained an engineering internship for approximately 60 working days, which contributed towards my compulsory work experience, but it did not become an ongoing position. Recently, a Centrelink worker accused me of “gaming the system” and said I should have been applying for general/casual jobs because JobSeeker is not a “career-building” payment. My employment services provider, however, has been much more understanding of my approach as it leads to long term employment.

I am now concerned that Centrelink could retrospectively decide that, despite completing my required job searches and obligations, focusing mainly on engineering roles (not even graduate yet) was unacceptable and raise a debt for JobSeeker payments I have received since 2023. Ultimately I moved to Brisbane to get my engineering degree than work as an engineer...not to flip burgers or retail.

I started applying in 2020 then gave up because I became so defeated by all the stories of how you need hundreds of pages of documents and how even people without limbs get rejected. 😞

I’ve since moved states and have had a very tough time financially so haven’t been able to afford to see the specialists I need to that could give me documentation. I am very unwell and barely can manage to work 15 hours each week. I am so poor and I need help badly, but I honestly don’t understand how anyone who is disabled manages to get onto the DSP or to afford treatment as it seems impossible.

Any advice and experiences you’re okay with sharing would be deeply appreciated 🫶

I have been on Jobseeker for 15+ months, but had a medical exemption the whole time, so I didn't have any Mutual Obligations and had never been paired with a Job Provider service.

I'm now no longer seeking the medical certificate and was told by Centrelink that my exemption was ending on July 16.

I haven't been contacted at all by Centrelink or a Job Agency in the last month.

My Outstanding Tasks on the Centrelink website says nothing, and no booked appointments.

I'm looking to actively engage with the Job Provider soon, but what I'm asking is there any reason for this happening?

Why wouldn't they have contacted me a month after my medical exemption ran out?

Thanks!

I really don't know what to say other then the fact that yesterday I experienced the latest knockback (and I've had multiple knock backs, I've pretty much have gone to all the job providers locally) trying to get onto inclusive employment Australia, because where I am atm isn't making enough money to give me more hours (which is 12 hours). Even the employment agent agreed that it is so stupid of centrelink to have everyone (on dsp) automatically set at 8 hours instead of individualized and being snobby about trying to stop dsp recevers who already work more then 8 hours from joining inclusive employment Australia. When I've asked people outside of employment agencies ok where to get work, they have no understanding that places like woolies and maccas are not suitable for me and I don't want to work at those places. I also do not want go back to an ade, they can get stuffed with their productivity wages! For anyone wondering, I want to get a job to do with my cert 3 in photography and visual arts. here is the link to my portfolio, but centrelink and their ableism and snobbery won't even let me get my foot in the door before I can even get help! this has been going on for over a year ever since my old job agency lost the contract for inclusive employment. which is so fucked up because under the old des system they were allowed to help me look for more work and now they can't! really want to light a 🔥 under their ass

Hi all, I’ve been on dsp for just over a year due to cancer treatment and am now getting kicked out of my house. How do I find a rental property that I can afford pretty quickly? I’ve been told to contact many services but all they can provide is emergency accommodation but I have pets. I know Centrelink can help with bond etc but I really doubt I would get a rental when my partner and I are both on Centrelink for illness. He’s on job seeker. I have some $ saved but in the shit tbh! Does anyone know if Centrelink offer anything else? I live in rural Victoria. Tia

hey all, i recently received this, sent from APM the employement service provider:

"our Job Search effort/s were assessed as unsatisfactory.

* Did not tailor efforts to industry/type of job."

May I understand what this is about? And, what can I do to prevent this from happening?

I have moved interstate 2 months ago and have updated all of my necessary information at the time of the move, yet my job network provider from where I moved from has put my pay on hold even though I have called and let them know directly, they are still insisting i speak with the head of that office, yet when I called they put me on hold for 40 minutes and then told me he'd gone for lunch... this isn't the first time they've affected my pay and I also have evidence of them fraudulently uploading a job agreement that I have never seen before nor did I agree to it any point. I've been struggling with long-term housing since last October and in this time my esat has elapsed and I don't even know which employment stream I'm even in anymore... I don't know what to do, I've now got long-term safe housing and employment so am tempted to just walk away from the whole centrelink scene cause it truly has a way heavier impact on my mental and physical health having to be constantly fighting for nothing really in the end

the accepted poverty line for a single adult living alone is $584 per week x 52 weeks = $30,368

.

job seeker payment for a single no children is $808.70 x 26 weeks = $21,026.20

And for those playing at home, the tax free threshold in this cuntry is also below the poverty line!

• Taxing Below the Poverty Line: Individuals earning more than $18,200 start paying income tax, meaning thousands of Australians living in poverty on working wages or taxable Centrelink payments (like JobSeeker) are legally subject to personal income tax before reaching the poverty line. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO): LITO provides an extra buffer, lifting the effective tax-free threshold to roughly $22,866, but this still falls well short of the single-adult poverty line.

And for 1 trillion bonus points or a $300 rebate on your yearly energy bill,

In Australia, about 3.7 million people (14.2% of the population, or 1 in 7) live below the poverty line.

Yikes!!! What a great cuntry. The politicians should be proud :/ /s

NOTE TO THE MUPPETS - to those who think they know my or anyone's situation and think saying 'get a job' is original or useful, go waste your time elsewhere, you will be ignored. Thanks. Have a great day.