Crisis Payment claim forms and information
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Eligibility
Crisis Payment is a special one-off payment that may be paid in addition to your regular payment from Centrelink.
Crisis Payment may be paid where:
- you have been forced to leave your home and establish, or intend to establish, a new home because of an extreme circumstance such as domestic violence or a natural disaster, or
- you remain in your home after experiencing domestic violence and the family member responsible has left or been removed from your home, or
- you have been released from a prison or a correctional centre after being charged with an offence and imprisoned for a period of at least 14 days, or
- you have arrived in Australia for the first time on a qualifying humanitarian visa on or after 1 January 2008.
In all situations, to be eligible for a payment you must be in severe financial hardship and must make a claim within 7 days of the event which has led to your need for Crisis Payment.
You must also be receiving, or be eligible to receive:
- a social security benefit or pension - this includes payments such as Parenting Payment, Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance, Disability Support Pension and Age Pension, or
- ABSTUDY Living Allowance.
Note: You are not eligible for a Crisis Payment if your only entitlement from Centrelink is Family Tax Benefit or Child Care Benefit.
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Claim forms
For a Crisis Payment claim form based on your personal circumstances, you can either:
- print out the Claim for Crisis Payment - extreme circumstances and domestic violence form
- print out the Claim for Crisis Payment - humanitarian entrants form
- print out the Claim for Crisis Payment - prison release form
- phone us on your usual payment number or on 13 2850 for the relevant claim form to be sent to you
- visit your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
Information required to make a claim
You will need to provide proof of identity. You will also be asked for information about the event that has led to your need for a Crisis Payment.
Publications
- Crisis Payment for humanitarian entrants factsheet
- Crisis Payment for people in extreme circumstances factsheet
- Crisis Payment for released prisoners brochure
- We speak your language section - Crisis Payment factsheet (translated version)
More information
For more information or to ask for help:
- refer to the Crisis Payment section
- phone us on 13 2850
- find your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre
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