Applying for government support

Available supports and services

When your entitlement to weekly payments ends, you may need extra support.

Centrelink and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) have a range of services, payments and supports you may be able to access.

You need a myGov account and the associated customer reference number (CRN).

About myGov

It’s an inbox for messages and letters from a range of government services. These include Centrelink, Medicare, NDIS, child support, the Australian Taxation Office and others.

You need a myGov account to start accessing the available services and supports.

You can create an account by visiting my.gov.au.

If you need help accessing myGov, you can drop into your local Centrelink Service Centre for assistance.

Website: my.gov.au

Phone: 132 307 for your nearest Centrelink Service Centre.

Centrelink services and payments

Accessing Centrelink payments is different for everyone. Centrelink makes the final decision on what people can access.

Payment and Service Finder

You can find out what you’re eligible for using Centrelink’s ‘Payment and Service Finder’ on the Centrelink homepage.

The tool helps you find, estimate and compare payments and services.

You’ll need to answer questions about your circumstances. It will then show you eligible payments and services.

Applying for a payment

You can make a claim by logging in to your myGov account and selecting the Centrelink icon.

You can start this up to 13 weeks before your entitlements end.

You need to have the following documents available.

• WorkSafe letter showing cessation of entitlements.
• Separation certificates from every employer you’ve worked for in the last 12 months.

Centrelink will let you know if they need any other documents.

You need to submit these within 14 days of submitting your claim.

After you’ve submitted your claim and all documents, you may need to book an appointment with Centrelink. You will be prompted when you submit your claim if one is required.

You must submit your claim and book your appointment on the same day. If you don’t, Centrelink will reject your claim.

If you can’t complete your claim online, contact the Centrelink Service Centre on 13 28 50. Follow the prompts to arrange an appointment at one of the centres.

Other requested documents

Centrelink will usually ask for the following documents.

• Proof of identity. At least 3 documents to confirm your identity. For example, an Australian birth certificate, driver licence and electricity bill.
• Bank details and/or bank balances for your and your partner’s accounts.
• Income evidence. Proof of any income you and your partner have, for example last payslips, if applicable.

Checking your claim’s progress

You can check the progress by logging in to your Centrelink online account or Express Plus Centrelink mobile app and using the claim tracker. You don’t need to call or visit a service centre.

You will receive an outcome from Centrelink using one of the following ways:

• Centrelink claim tracker
• email to your myGov inbox
• electronic messaging.

This might include if your claim was successful, when your payment starts or how much you will get.

Centrelink will usually decide within 21 days from claim lodgement. If they need more information, they will send a message to your myGov inbox. If you think they have made a mistake, you can ask them to review the decision.

NDIS

To access the NDIS, you must live in an area where the NDIS is available. In some of these areas, you also need to be a certain age.

To become an NDIS participant you must meet the following criteria.

• Have a permanent impairment that significantly affects your ability to take part in everyday activities, or have a developmental delay.
• Be under 65 years old when you first apply to enter the NDIS.
• Live in Australia in an NDIS area on a specified date.
• Be an Australian citizen or hold a permanent visa or a Protected Special Category visa.

You may need to provide evidence of your disability to determine if you meet the disability or early intervention access requirements. This includes information on what your disability is, how long it will last and how it impacts your life.

A health professional can provide evidence of disability and functional impact in one of the following formats.

• A NDIS Supporting Evidence Form.
• An Access Request Form.
• Existing assessments or reports.

Website: ndis.gov.au

Phone: 1800 800 110 (Mon – Fri, 8 am to 11 pm)

If you would like support from an interpreter, you can contact us using the Translating and Interpreting Service. Visit the Translating and Interpreting Service website:

If you are deaf or find it hard hearing or speaking with people who use a phone, you can contact us using the National Relay Service.

Visit the National Relay Service website: