Centrelink refugee servicing
Centrelink's framework of service delivery caters to the needs of newly arrived refugees to assist in their settlement in Australia. This ensures timely payment, assessment and referral, and ongoing support for social and economic participation.
Refugees have access to Centrelink payments and services immediately upon their arrival in Australia and are not subject to the newly arrived residence waiting period.
Centrelink's areas exercise discretion in some additional elements of the framework (such as delivery of an information seminar and/or additional contacts with your client during the first few months after arrival in Australia).
Centrelink's refugee servicing has a number of steps:
Notification of refugee arrival
Phone, fax or email Centrelink on the day your client arrives in Australia to register an Intent to claim. This will ensure your client is paid from the earliest possible date. Fax or send the Notification of Refugee Arrival form to Centrelink within 7 days of your client's arrival to book their new claim interview.
New claim interview
At the new claim interview, your client’s Centrelink payment will be granted. We will issue an interim concession card and apply for a Tax File Number online with the Australian Taxation Office. If your client is of working age and their payment has participation requirements, they will be referred for a Job Capacity Assessment (JCA), and placed on a 13 week exemption from needing to look for work.
Participation contact
If your client is of working age, we will book an interview with them about a week before their 13 week exemption period expires. This is to discuss participation obligations and prepare an activity agreement. We will send your client a letter (in English) with the details of this appointment. We will book an interpreter for the interview. At the interview, we will address their participation requirements and compliance obligations, discuss the recommendations in the report from their Job Capacity Assessment (JCA), negotiate an activity agreement, and refer your client to a local employment service provider.
Information seminar
Your Centrelink area may invite your client to an information seminar they are running for new arrivals. This seminar provides information on their rights and responsibilities, Centrelink payments and services, and is another opportunity to check any changes in your client's circumstances.
Ongoing participation obligations
If your client is of working age, their ongoing participation obligations will start. What they need to do will depend on things like whether they are participating in an approved activity, such as learning English through the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), and whether that activity is full or part-time. Participation activities vary depending on the individual circumstances of the entrant.