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United States Centrelink closures and changes to payments for millions of Aussies ...
Aussies who receive Centrelink payments and pensions are being urged to check changes to their reporting and payment dates ahead of the Australia Day public holiday this month. Centrelink branches and most call centres will be closed on Monday, January 27.
Services Australia said the closure meant customers may need to report their income early to be paid during the closure. Some people may also be paid earlier than usual.
The Australia Day closure will impact a range of payments and allowances, including the Age Pension, JobSeeker, Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment, Youth Allowance and Austudy.
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“We want to help you plan so you still get paid,” Services Australia said.
“Your Centrelink online account will show your new reporting date for the Australia Day reporting period.”
Here’s how to make sure you get paid on time and how to report.
Do you have a Centrelink story to share? Contact tamika.seeto@yahooinc.com
Centrelink service centres and most call centres will close for the Australia Day public holiday, which falls on Monday, January 27 this year.
While physical offices will be shut, you can still use your Centrelink online account to report your income.
However, if you report on the public holiday, you won’t be paid until after the public holiday.
If the dates you need to report to Centrelink have changed due to the public holiday, you’ll need to report on the new date so you can be paid.
This could be the case if your normal reporting date would fall on Thursday, January 23, Friday, January 24 or Monday, January 27.
If you report early, you’ll need to include what you expect to be paid for that whole reporting period. If you make a mistake, you can correct this within 14 days, or when you next report.
Changes to reporting dates can be found here or through your Centrelink online account.
If you don’t have to report to get your payment, you may be paid earlier than usual. This is your normal payment, just paid early.
For example, if your normal payment date would be on Friday, January 24, you may be paid on Thursday, January 23. If it would normally be Monday, January 27, you may be paid on Friday, January 24.
“When we make an early payment, we pay as close to and before your normal payment day,” Services Australia said.
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“You’ll need to budget so this payment lasts until your next payment day.”
The revised payment dates can be found here.
Some Centrelink recipients will have received a boost to their payments and income support on January 1.
This is part of the government’s regular indexation, which is designed to ensure payments keep up with rising costs.
Youth Allowance, Austudy, Youth Disability Support Pension and Carer Allowance were among the payments that increased at the start of the year.
Other payments, including the Age Pension, Jobseeker and Disability Support Pension, increase twice a year in March and September.
Services Australia has warned Aussies not to fall for clickbait websites promoting fake cost-of-living support, including a "one-time $600 cash bonus" and pension payment increases.
“The websites are designed to get a lot of traffic using clickbait headlines, to take advantage of people who are interested in financial support,” Services Australia general manager Hank Jongen told Yahoo Finance.
"People should not give out their personal information, including myGov sign in details, to access fake payments or payment increases.”
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