Centrelink Branches closing on Australia Day

As the nation gears up to celebrate Australia Day, Centrelink recipients must be aware of the upcoming reporting and payment date changes. With the public holiday causing Centrelink branches and most call centres to close on Monday, January 27, it is crucial to plan to ensure your payments are not disrupted.

Services Australia is proactively reaching out to help navigate these changes smoothly. For some, this may mean receiving payments earlier than usual, while others will need to report their income ahead of time to avoid delays.

The closure will affect a wide array of payments and allowances, including the Age Pension, JobSeeker, Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment, Youth Allowance, Austudy, and the Carer Allowance.

To help you plan and ensure you receive your payments on time, here are things to take note of:

1. Check the new reporting dates

Your Centrelink online account will display any changes to your reporting dates due to the Australia Day public holiday. It is essential to report your income on the new date provided to avoid any payment delays.

If your usual reporting date falls on or around the public holiday, you may need to report early.

When doing so, include your expected income for the entire reporting period. If you make an error, you have 14 days to correct it or you can update it when you next report.

2. Check the new payment dates

If you do not need to report to receive your payment, you might find that your payment will arrive earlier than usual. Payments for Friday, January 24, will be paid on Thursday, January 23. The next payment date will be on February 7.

If your normal payment date is on Monday, January 27, it will be paid on Friday, January 24. February 10 will be the next payment date.

‘When we make an early payment, we pay as close to and before your normal payment day. You will need to budget so this payment lasts until your next payment day,’ said Services Australia.

3. Beware of online scams

Services Australia has issued a warning about fake cost-of-living support websites and scam emails. These fraudulent sites and emails often promise increased payments or one-time bonuses and may ask for personal information or myGov login details.

Remember, legitimate updates will come directly from Services Australia, and you should never share personal information with unverified sources.

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