Help and support
BasicsCard issues
Visit the Services Australia website if you have any questions or concerns about managing or using your BasicsCard(Opens external website).
SmartCard issues
Visit the Services Australia website if you have any questions or concerns about managing or using your SmartCard(Opens external website).
Disability Gateway
The Disability Gateway is a free Australia-wide service to help people with disability, their families and carers find trusted information and services.
Visit the Disability Gateway(Opens external website) website
Call 1800 643 787
8 am to 8 pm AEDT/AEST, Monday to Friday
Help with food and bills
Salvation Army(Opens external website)
Call 137 258
St Vincent de Paul Society(Opens external website)
Call 131 812
You can also contact your local community centre, church or community organisation.
Emotional support
You can get emotional support too with the following services.
Crisis support
Lifeline(Opens external website)
Call 131 114 at any time.
You can use the Lifeline crisis support online chat(Opens external website) at any time.
1300YARN(Opens external website)
Call 13YARN (13 92 76) at any time
For free confidential support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Depression or anxiety
Beyond Blue(Opens external website)
Call 1300 224 636 at any time
Use the Beyond Blue web chat(Opens external website) from 3 pm to 12 am.
Domestic or family violence counselling
1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence, you can:
- Call: 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732
- Text: 0458 737 732
- Online chat: visit the 1800RESPECT(Opens external website) website
- Video call: visit the 1800RESPECT(Opens external website) website.
In an emergency, call 000.
Alcohol or other drug use
Family Drug Support Australia(Opens external website)
Call 1300 368 186 at any time.
Gambling
National Gambling Helpline(Opens external website)
Call 1800 858 858 at any time.
Budgeting, dealing with debt and managing your money
Learn more about managing your money and financial counselling.
Visit the Services Australia website to find out more about managing your money(Opens external website).
Calls to 1800 phone numbers from a fixed phone line or Telstra payphone are free. But there may be charges for calls from mobile phones depending on the provider and call length.
Information and support about Income Management
To find out more:
- Visit the Services Australia website to learn more about Smartcard(Opens external website).
- Call the SmartCard eIM hotline on 1800 252 604. Let us know if you need an interpreter and we will arrange one for free.
- Call the Traditional Credit Union on 1800 828 232 (NT only) if you have a TCU SmartCard.
Reviews and appeals
If participants do not understand or agree with a decision relating to enhanced Income Management, they can:
- ask Services Australia to explain the decision
- apply for a formal review.
If Services Australia is reviewing a decision under social security law, their enhanced Income Management program will continue until the review is finalised.
Visit the Services Australia website for more information about reviews and appeals(Opens external website).