What you need to tell us

If you are getting a Centrelink payment or service, you need to tell us immediately if your or your partners circumstances change in case if affects your payment - for example:

• stop studying
• change the number of hours you are studying
• start work or receive other income (including compensation payments)
• income details change
• do not enrol to study
• change your course details
• change educational institutions
• change address or rent details
• changes to your parents income or assets
• stop your Australian Apprenticeship

If you are being paid as a dependent, you should also tell us if:

• you are paid an away from home rate and you return home (even temporarily)
• your parents income details change.

Note: We match information with the Australian Tax Office, Australia's immigration authorities, government departments and other organisations, and verify income with employers. We also act on public information received as tip-offs. If you are overpaid benefits, you will probably have to repay the money. If you have deliberately given us incorrect information you may face a range of consequences from recovery fees to criminal prosecution.

The best way to help avoid getting a debt is to:

• be aware of changes we need to know about and tell us of any changes straight away.

For more information about what changes in your life might affect your payment, go to Factors that affect payments and eligibility.