Intent to Claim

An Intent to Claim means you, or someone you know, tells Centrelink you are applying for a payment or concession card soon.

If your application for a payment or concession card is approved, your payment or concession card could start from the day you registered the Intent to Claim (if you qualified for the payment or concession card on that date).

If you do register an Intent to Claim, you must return your completed claim form within 14 days.

You can register an Intent to Claim for some but not all payments or concession cards from Centrelink. You can contact Centrelink to ask about the payment or concession card you plan to apply for.

Note: The Intent to Claim provision does not apply to claims for Family Assistance. This includes claims for Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Benefit, Baby Bonus and Maternity Immunisation Allowance. For further information about claiming Family Assistance Payments refer to the Are you a parent or guardian? booklet.

If your claim for a payment or concession card claim is approved, but you did not return the completed claim form within 14 days of your Intent to Claim registration, you may only be eligible for payment from the day you returned your claim form.

You should contact Centrelink straight away if you can not return your claim form within 14 days. In some special cases, you may be given more time to return your claim form.

Registering an Intent to Claim

You can register your Intent to Claim:

• online - from the Request a Service page select either the "Request a service for yourself" or "Request a service for someone you know".
• by telephone - on one of our Services & Payments telephone numbers.
• in person - at your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre.