Help and support

Find help and support if you are an Income Management participant.

BasicsCard issues

Visit the Services Australia website if you have any questions or concerns about managing or using your BasicsCard(Opens in a new tab/window).

SmartCard issues

Visit the Services Australia website if you have any questions or concerns about managing or using your SmartCard(Opens in a new tab/window).

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 in a new tab/window) website

Call 1800 643 787

8 am to 8 pm AEDT/AEST, Monday to Friday

Help with food and bills

Salvation Army(Opens in a new tab/window)

Call 137 258

St Vincent de Paul Society(Opens in a new tab/window)

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 in a new tab/window)

Call 131 114 at any time.

You can use the Lifeline crisis support online chat(Opens in a new tab/window) at any time.

1300YARN(Opens in a new tab/window)

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 in a new tab/window) 

Call 1300 224 636 at any time

Use the Beyond Blue web chat(Opens in a new tab/window) 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:

In an emergency, call 000.

Alcohol or other drug use 

Family Drug Support Australia(Opens in a new tab/window)

Call 1300 368 186 at any time. 

Gambling 

National Gambling Helpline(Opens in a new tab/window)

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 in a new tab/window).

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 in a new tab/window).
  • 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 in a new tab/window).

Funding for support service providers

The Community-led Support Fund helps service providers in former Cashless Debit Card locations to provide services in these areas.

  • Print
  • Email

Was this page helpful?

Your feedback has been successfully submitted.
Thank you for providing feedback. Help us improve by telling us what you think.
DSS2376 | Permalink: www.dss.gov.au/node/2376