Centrelink
Services Australia, through Centrelink, is responsible for administering income support and emergency payments on behalf of the Australian government.
This is an overview of Centrelink payments to help single mothers start navigating the system. Services Australia through Centrelink, is responsible for administering income support and emergency payments on behalf of the Australian government.
Income support payments
These are the most common payments single mother families may be entitled to:
⦁ Family Tax Benefit helps Australian families, up to a certain income level, with the costs of raising children. These benefits are regularly reviewed.
Family Tax Benefit (FTB) is a payment that helps eligible families with the cost of raising children. FTB Part A is paid per child and the amount paid is based on the family’s circumstances. FTB Part B is paid per family and gives extra help to single parents and some couple families with one main income.
⦁ Parenting Payment Single (PPS) is an income support payment available to single parents and other principal carers who have sole or primary responsibility for the care of a child under 14 years. Eligibility includes meeting income, assets and visa requirements along with mutual obligations to be fulfilled.
⦁ JobSeeker Principal Carer is a payment for single parents whose youngest child is between 14 and under 16 years of age. Parents on this payment are required to spend 15 hours per week on an approved mutual obligation activity.
Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for other payments or benefits such as the Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment or others. In some cases, there may be exemptions you can receive in order to make a claim. There are quite a number of different payments and exemptions so it is worth trying to find all the payments for which you may qualify.
Contact Centrelink and make an appointment with one of their Social Workers or contact CSMC if you need assistance.
Contact Services Australia
There are many different ways to contact Services Australia, and you can find them all here.
Having problems?
Budgeting and planning can be difficult and it can feel impossible when Centrelink reduces or stops your payments, sometimes with little explanation.
Centrelink complaints line: 1800 132 468
For assistance independent of DHS call our CSMC Support Line on 03 9654 0622 or 1300 552 511
Social Security Rights Vic: Melbourne 03 9481 0355; Geelong 03 5221 4744; Rural 1800 094 164
New financial year rules, payments & increases impacting single mothers
As the new financial year kicks off, a wave of fresh policies and regulations is set to roll out, bringing changes to everything from road rules to wages and superannuation. Here’s a breakdown of what single mums can expect from July 1 2025. Road Rule Reforms A...
Low Income Health Care Card
Every single mother who finds themselves no longer eligible for a Commonwealth Government Health Care Card knows the sudden increase in the cost of visiting the doctor or buying medication can be a huge blow to the family finances - but did you know another Health...
How raising the rate of social security could make a lifetime of difference
CSMC and our members and supporters have long campaigned for an increase in the payment rate of social security. Single mothers across Victoria have told their stories, signed petitions, and emailed their Members of Parliament while behind the scenes, CSMC has...
Social Security under investigation
Imagine that every three months, one in three workers in Australia had their pay suspended. Outrageous, right? All the media and the unions would be on it, the parliament would be abuzz, the Fair Work Commission would grind to a halt because there would be so many...
What to do if you receive a Centrelink debt letter
What to do if you receive a Centrelink debt letter When Centrelink balances its ledgers, some single mothers may receive an unexpected and nasty surprise: a letter saying we have incurred a Centrelink debt. Centrelink debts are usually the result of an oversight,...
New financial year: what’s changing?
With every new financial year comes changes that impact our family budgets, including tax, superannuation, and new rebates. So what's changing now? Well, there's some good(ish) news. Tax cuts The much talked about stage three tax cuts, which passed through...
Single mums need to safeguard important documents – here’s how
When Fatima and her children fled a domestic violence situation in the middle of the night they had only the clothes they were wearing. In the days following, she discovered she was unable to apply for Centrelink payments or even set up a bank account because she...
Robodebt report: “Stop the stigma”
In the 54 years since CSMC was founded, much has changed. Single mothers are now entitled to social security regardless of how they became single mothers; fewer single mothers are forced to relinquish their babies; and laws exist to prevent employment opportunities...
Centrelink and government payments
This is an overview of Centrelink payments to help single mothers start navigating the system. Services Australia through Centrelink, is responsible for administering income support and emergency payments on behalf of the Australian government. Income support...
How much can I earn before my Centrelink payments are cut?
For single mothers receiving Centrelink payments, returning to paid employment can mean the amount they receive is cut or eliminated altogether. Many single mothers make the decision on how many hours to work in paid employment based on how much of their Centrelink...