About income support payments
Income support payments and supplementary payments support people who can't fully support themselves by providing targeted payments and assistance as part of the social security safety net.
The payments listed on this page are provided by the Australian Government to support people, including people who are unable to work or are looking for work. This list of payments directly relates to the work of our department. There may be other payments available.
Services Australia deliver payments, services and information for recipients. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs also makes payments in some instances.
Data on income support payments is published regularly. Visit the Australian Government data website for information about income support recipient data(Opens external website).
To find out more about these payments, you can:
- follow the links below
- use the Services Australia Find us page(Opens external website) to find a service centre near you
- call Services Australia on 13 27 17.
Older Australians support
Age Pension
The Age Pension is designed to support the basic living standards of older Australians. People must be age 67 or over and meet residency requirements. A means test also applies to determine the amount that is paid.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Age Pension(Opens external website).
Work Bonus
The Work Bonus increases the amount an eligible pensioner can earn from work before it affects their pension rate.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about the Work Bonus(Opens external website).
Learn more about how we support older Australians.
Home Equity Access Scheme
The Home Equity Access Scheme lets eligible older Australians access the equity in their home or other Australian real estate through an Australian Government loan. It was previously known as the Pension Loans Scheme.
Learn more about the Home Equity Access Scheme.
Pension Advance Payments
Pension Advance Payments assist pensioners to budget and to meet large or unforeseen costs. Pension Advance Payments allow pensioners to receive a portion of their future pension entitlement as a lump sum.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about Pension Advance Payments(Opens external website).
Work and study support
JobSeeker Payment
Financial help if you’re aged between 22 and 67 (Age Pension age) and looking for work. It’s also for when you’re sick or injured and can’t do your usual work or study for a short time.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the JobSeeker Payment(Opens external website).
For ongoing data on JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients, please refer to the JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients – monthly profile(Opens external website).
Youth Allowance for students and Australian apprentices
Financial help if you’re 24 or younger and a student or Australian Apprentice.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Youth Allowance(Opens external website).
Students and Australian apprentices can access assistance while studying or undertaking an apprenticeship.
Learn more about support for students and apprentices.
Youth Allowance for job seekers
Financial help if you’re 21 or younger and looking for work, or temporarily unable to work.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Youth Allowance for job seekers(Opens external website).
For ongoing data on JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients, please refer to the JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients – monthly profile(Opens external website).
ABSTUDY
Financial help for Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students or apprentices.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for ABSTUDY(Opens external website).
Austudy
Financial help if you're 25 or older and studying or an Australian apprentice.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for Austudy(Opens external website).
Education Entry Payment
A once-a-year payment made when you start study if you get certain income support from us.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for Education Entry Payment(Opens external website).
Working Credit
Lets you keep more of your income support payment and benefits if you're working.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about the payments that can be impacted by the Working Credit(Opens external website).
Language, Literacy and Numeracy Supplement
An extra payment each fortnight while you’re improving your skills in the Skills for Education and Employment program.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Language, Literacy and Numeracy Supplement(Opens external website).
Pensioner Education Supplement
A regular extra payment to help with your study costs if you get certain payments, such as Parenting Payment (Single) or Disability Support Pension.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about the Pensioner Education Supplement(Opens external website).
Learn more about other support for students and apprentices.
Income Bank
Helps you keep more of your Youth Allowance, Austudy or ABSTUDY payment if you’re a student or an Australian Apprentice receiving an income.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about the Income Bank(Opens external website).
Family and parenting support
Paid Parental Leave
A payment to help families taking time off work to care for a newborn or newly adopted child.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for Parental Leave Pay(Opens external website).
The Paid Parental Leave Scheme is being expanded to 26 weeks from 1 July 2026. Superannuation payments will be added from 1 July 2025.
Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave Scheme.
Family Tax Benefit
Family Tax Benefit (FTB) is a payment that helps eligible families with the cost of raising children.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Family Tax Benefit(Opens external website).
Parenting Payment
The main income support payment available if you have sole or primary responsibility for the care of a young child.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Parenting Payment(Opens external website).
Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement
A lump sum and an increase to your Family Tax Benefit Part A payment when you start caring for a baby or child that has recently come into your care.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement(Opens external website).
Multiple Birth Allowance
You can get Multiple Birth Allowance when 3 or more children are from the same birth.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Multiple Birth Allowance(Opens external website).
Stillborn baby payment
The Stillborn baby payment provides you with assistance with the extra costs associated with a stillborn child.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Stillborn Baby Payment(Opens external website).
Double Orphan Pension
A regular payment for you if you are caring for a child whose parents cannot care for them or have died.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Double Orphan Pension(Opens external website).
Transition to Independent Living Allowance
The Transition to Independent Living Allowance supports young people making the transition moving from formal out-of-home care (formal care) arrangements to independent living.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Transition to Independent Living Allowance(Opens external website).
Learn more about the transition towards adulthood.
Financial crisis support
Crisis Payment
A one-off payment if you’ve experienced an extreme circumstance and are in severe financial hardship.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Crisis Payment(Opens external website).
Special Benefit
A payment to help you if you’re in financial hardship and you’re not eligible for any other income support payment.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Special Benefit(Opens external website).
Learn more about how we provide emergency support.
Disability support
Disability Support Pension
Financial help if you have a physical, intellectual or psychiatric condition that is likely to persist for more than 2 years and stops you from working.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Disability Support Pension(Opens external website).
The Disability Support Pension Impairment Tables were updated in 2023.
Learn more about the Disability Support Pension and Impairment Tables.
Mobility Allowance
A payment to help with travel costs for work, study, looking for work or volunteering if you have a disability, illness or injury that means you can’t use public transport.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Mobility Allowance(Opens external website).
Essential Medical Equipment Payment
A yearly payment to help with energy costs to run essential medical equipment or heating or cooling used for medical needs for eligible people to manage their disability or medical condition.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Essential Medical Equipment Payment(Opens external website).
Special Disability Trusts
A Special Disability Trust helps families and carers to provide funds for a family member with severe disability. This can be for their current or future care and accommodation needs.
Learn more about planning for the future.
Carer support
Carer Payment
A payment if you give constant care to someone with disability or a medical condition, or an adult who is frail aged.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for a Carer Payment(Opens external website).
Carer Allowance
A supplementary payment if you care for someone who needs daily support.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Carer Allowance(Opens external website).
Carer Adjustment Payment
A one-off payment to support families in financial hardship after a catastrophic event affecting a child younger than 7.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Carer Adjustment Payment(Opens external website).
Our department assesses claims received for the Carer Adjustment Payment. Learn more about how we assess Carer Adjustment Payment claims.
Carer Supplement
An annual payment if you have caring responsibilities and get certain carer or Department of Veterans’ Affairs payments.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Carer Supplement(Opens external website).
Child Disability Assistance Payment
An annual payment if you get Carer Allowance when looking after a child with disability or medical condition.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Child Disability Assistance Payment(Opens external website).
Additional allowances and payments
Rent Assistance
A regular extra payment if you pay rent and get certain payments.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Rent Assistance(Opens external website).
Energy Supplement
An extra payment to help with energy costs if you get certain payments.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Energy Supplement(Opens external website).
Pharmaceutical Allowance
A regular extra payment to help with medicine costs if you get certain payments.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Pharmaceutical Allowance(Opens external website).
Remote Area Allowance
A regular extra payment if you live in a remote area and get an income support payment.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Remote Area Allowance(Opens external website).
Telephone Allowance
A quarterly payment to help with phone and internet costs if you get certain payments.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Telephone Allowance(Opens external website).
Utilities Allowance
A quarterly payment to help with household bills if you get certain payments.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about eligibility and applying for the Utilities Allowance(Opens external website).
Concession and health care cards
Concession and health care cards can get you cheaper health services and medicines.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about concession and health care cards(Opens external website).
Death of a loved one
Payments, information and help for grieving family members.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about what help is available when a loved one dies(Opens external website).
Financial assistance and budgeting help
Financial Information Service Officers
Services Australia provide Financial Information Service Officers who can help you with your future financial needs.
Contact Services Australia on 13 23 00 or visit the Services Australia website to find out more about Financial Information Services Officers(Opens external website).
Centrepay
A voluntary bill paying service which is free for Centrelink customers. You can use Centrepay to arrange regular deductions from your Centrelink payment.
Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about Centrepay(Opens external website).
Social security indexation
Find the latest social security (income support and supplementary payments) rates and means testing parameters.
Learn more about the indexation rates.