• Skip to content
  • Skip to site navigation
  • Department of Human Services
  • www.australia.gov.au

Centrelink

www.centrelink.gov.au

  • Home page
  • About us
  • Site A to Z   Explore   Help
  • Contact us   Find us
  •  Online services
    • all services
    • claiming a payment
    • FAQs
    • how to logon
    • online demonstrations
    • register
    • report employment income
  •  Individuals
    • caring
    • crisis and special help
    • help after someone has died
    • illness or disability
    • looking for work
    • moved to Australia
    • parent or guardian
    • retirement
    • self employed or farmer
    • studying or training
    • payments
    • services
  •  Businesses
    • centrepay
    • childcare providers
    • Centrelink confirmation eServices
    • employer FAQs
    • employer information
  •  Community groups
  •  Indigenous Australians
    • ABSTUDY
    • programs
    • publications
  •  We speak your language
  •  International
    • claim forms
    • international services
    • leaving Australia permanently
    • leaving Australia temporarily
    • social security agreements
  •  Community recovery
    • South West Queensland Floods - March 2010
    • Western Australia Bushfires - December 2009
    • NSW Mid-North Coast Floods - November 2009
    • Sumatra Earthquakes
    • Samoan Tsunami
  •  Forms
    • Forms A to Z
    • claim forms
    • how to order
  •  Publications
    • Publications A to Z
    • business
    • community
    • corporate
    • customer
    • how to order
    • indigenous
    • multilingual
  •  Careers@Centrelink
  •  Media
    • Centrelink media releases
    • fact bank
    • media contacts
    • media resources
    • other media releases
    • photo library
    • press kits
    • subscription service
  •  What's new
Factors
  • share
    this page:
  • Share this on Delicious
  • Share this on Facebook
  • Share this on LinkedIn
  • Share this on StumbleUpon
  • Share this on Twitter
  • You are here:
  • Home  > 
  • Individuals  >  Factors  > 
  • What you need to tell us
listen to this page

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.

Service Delivery Reform

Service delivery that is easy, high quality and works for all Australians

New Disability Employment Services

Changes to Disability Employment Services from 1 March 2010

Centrelink Jobs Expos

Join us in NSW during March and be a part of Keep Australia Working

Explore www.centrelink.gov.au

Online services

  • all services
  • claiming a payment
  • FAQs
  • how to logon
  • online demonstrations
  • register
  • report employment income

Individuals

  • caring
  • crisis and special help
  • help after someone has died
  • illness or disability
  • looking for work
  • moved to Australia
  • parent or guardian
  • payments
  • retirement
  • self employed or farmer
  • services
  • studying or training

Businesses

  • centrepay
  • childcare providers
  • Centrelink confirmation eServices
  • employer FAQs
  • employer info

Community groups

Indigenous Australians

  • ABSTUDY
  • programs
  • publications

We speak your language

International

  • claim forms
  • international services
  • leaving Australia permanently
  • leaving Australia temporarily
  • social security agreements

Community recovery

  • South West Queensland Floods
  • Western Australia Bushfires
  • NSW Mid-North Coast Floods
  • Sumatra Earthquakes
  • Samoan Tsunami

Forms

  • forms a to z
  • claim forms
  • how to order

Publications

  • publications a to z
  • business
  • community
  • corporate
  • customer
  • how to order
  • indigenous
  • multilingual

Careers@Centrelink

Media

  • Centrelink media releases
  • fact bank
  • media contacts
  • media resources
  • other media releases
  • photo library
  • press kits
  • subscription service

What's new

  • accessibility
  • copyright
  • disclaimer
  • website feedback
  • help
  • privacy & security
  • your rights
  • Centrelink ABN: 29 468 422 437
  • Page last updated: 23 October 2009