Centrelink, delivered by Services Australia, administers a range of payments for Australians — from unemployment and study support through to family and carer payments. This page gives a general overview; it is not an assessment of your own eligibility.
Common types of payments
Payments generally fall into a few broad groups: income support for people looking for work or unable to work, family assistance such as Family Tax Benefit, and payments for carers, students, and older Australians including the Age Pension. Each has its own eligibility rules, income and assets tests, and waiting periods.
How eligibility is generally assessed
Most payments involve some combination of an income test, an assets test, residency requirements, and sometimes mutual obligation requirements. These tests and thresholds are reviewed and adjusted periodically, so a figure that was accurate a year ago may no longer be current.
Applying and reporting
Applications are made through myGov linked to Centrelink, generally with supporting documents about income, assets, and personal circumstances. Ongoing reporting obligations often apply once a payment starts.
Where to go for your own situation
Because payment rates, thresholds and rules change regularly, always check current figures and your own eligibility directly on the official Services Australia website rather than relying on general guides like this one.