Centrelink
Services Australia, through Centrelink, is responsible for administering income support and emergency payments on behalf of the Australian government.
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...