• 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
    • subscribe to Online Letters
    • all services
    • claiming a payment
    • FAQs
    • how to log on
    • 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
    • Victorian Storms - March 2010
    • South West Queensland Floods - March 2010
  •  Forms
    • a to z forms
    • claim forms
    • how to order
  •  Publications
    • a to z publications
    • business
    • community
    • corporate
    • customer
    • how to order
    • Indigenous
    • multilingual
  •  Careers@Centrelink
  •  Media
    • Centrelink media releases
    • dates for your diary
    • fact bank
    • media contacts
    • media resources
    • photo library
    • press kits
    • profiles
    • subscription service
  •  What's new
Individuals
  • share
    this page:
  • Delicious
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • You are here:
  • Home  > 
  • Individuals  > 
  • Household Stimulus Package
listen to this page

Household Stimulus Package

Important Information

In most cases, to receive a bonus you must have been eligible for a qualifying Centrelink payment on 3 February 2009. If you are eligible for a bonus, it will be automatically paid into your bank account.

You do not need to contact Centrelink.

More information about payment of the bonuses is available in the Payment of the Household Stimulus Package section of this page.

On this page

  • Eligibility at a glance
  • Payment in detail
  • Payment of the Household Stimulus Package
  • Factsheets
  • Hoax email warning

On 3 February 2009, the Australian Government announced the Household Stimulus Package to provide widespread assistance to low and middle-income households. The Household Stimulus Package included one-off bonus payments for some Centrelink customers, including families, students and farmers. Bonus payments are non-taxable and are not considered income for social security purposes.

Eligibility at a glance

Note: Eligibility for all bonus payments is based on your entitlement on 3 February 2009.

Payment Who will get it? How much? When will it be paid?
Back to School Bonus Recipients of Family Tax Benefit Part A with a child aged 4-18 years old (inclusive) $950 per eligible child If you get your FTB payment fortnightly:
  • 11 to 20 March 2009
If you get your FTB payment annually:
  • after you lodge your FTB claim and 2008-09 tax return
Recipients of Carer Payment or Disability Support Pension who on 3 February 2009 were aged less than 19 years old $950 11 to 20 March 2009

Payment in detail

Further details about each of the Household Stimulus Package payments are provided on the following pages:

  • Back to School Bonus

Payment of the Household Stimulus Package

If you are eligible for a bonus payment, it will be automatically paid into your bank account on the same day you normally receive your Centrelink payment. You do not need to contact Centrelink.

The Back to School Bonus will be paid from 11 to 20 March 2009. There is no need to contact Centrelink prior to 23 March 2009.

To find out about eligibility for these bonus payments view the Eligibility at a glance section on this page.

Note: The Tax Bonus for Working Australians is being delivered by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Please refer to ATO website or contact the ATO on 1300 686 636 for further details.

[ return to top ]

Factsheets

  • Household Stimulus Package - Bonus Payments
  • Household Stimulus Package - Bonus Payments (translated versions)

Hoax email warning

Centrelink has received reports of hoax emails in relation to the Household Stimulus Package. Centrelink and the Australian Federal Police are investigating.

If you receive an email claiming to be from Centrelink that suggests you need to provide bank details to receive a bonus payment, do not respond.

Centrelink already has the information it needs to process bonus payments to eligible customers and will never ask people to provide personal information via email.

If you receive an email about the bonus payments that you believe to be a hoax you can call Centrelink on 1800 050 004.

More information

  • Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia - Media Releases
  • Tax Bonus for Working Australians - will be paid by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) from April 2009.

[ return to top ]

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

  • Victorian Storms
  • South West Queensland Floods

Forms

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

Publications

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

Careers@Centrelink

Media

  • Centrelink media releases
  • dates for your diary
  • fact bank
  • media contacts
  • media resources
  • photo library
  • press kits
  • profiles
  • subscription service

What's new

  • accessibility
  • copyright
  • disclaimer
  • feedback
  • help
  • privacy & security
  • your rights
  • Centrelink ABN: 29 468 422 437
  • Page last updated: 8 July 2010