Parents, over 67s and students: All the Aussies eligible for Centrelink cash

More Centrelink scams are cropping up online with unofficial websites and social media accounts promising Australians hundreds of dollars in “bonus payments”.

These payments don’t exist but that doesn’t stop scammers from using them to target vulnerable Australians, especially amid a cost of living crisis.

Here’s everything you need to know about the legitimate payments available through Centrelink, who is eligible and how to claim.

This subsidy provides financial assistance to help cover the cost of childcare for children 13 or under that meet specific eligibility requirements. The amount varies based on the circumstances.

Additional Child Care Subsidies

These subsidies are available to individuals who are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy and also qualify for additional help with the cost of approved child care, such as grandparents. The amount varies depending on eligibility.

This payment is available to eligible individuals who are caring for a child whose parents have died or cannot care for them, such as if they’re in prison or their whereabouts are unknown. The payment is $77 a fortnight.

This two-part payment is intended to help eligible families with the cost of raising children aged 16 to 19. The amount varies based on the situation.

Newborn Supplement and Newborn Upfront Payment

These are two separate payments.

The Newborn Upfront Payment is a lump sum payment of $667 per child to help with the costs of caring for a newborn or newly adopted child.

The Newborn Supplement is an increase to the Family Tax Benefit Part A payment and is an ongoing payment lasting up to 13 weeks. The amount depends on the number of children in the family and the family’s income. The maximum for your first child is $2,003.82 over 13 weeks, the maximum for any subsequent children is $668.85.

This payment supports families while taking time off work with a newborn or newly adopted child. The amount is based on the national minimum wage.

This is the main income support payment available to the primary carer of children aged under 14 if you’re single, or under six if you have a partner. The amount depends on your circumstances.

Single Income Family Supplement

This annual payment is meant to support single income families caring for an eligible child while one main income earner is making a taxable income between $68,000 and $150,000. The payment goes up to $300.

This one-off payment supports eligible parents who have recently had a stillborn baby and are not receiving Parental Leave Pay for the same baby. It is a lump sum of $4,225.10.

This is the main income support payment for Australians who have reached Age Pension age (67 years or older). The amount is based on income and assets tests.

Home Equity Access Scheme

This scheme is designed to supplement the retirement income of eligible older Australians (over 67) by allowing them to use equity in Australian real estate as security for a loan. The loan can be pair as a fortnightly amount, an advance payment as a lump sum, or a combination of both.

It must be repaid, plus interest and legal costs.

Disability Support Pension

This offers financial support to eligible individuals with a physical, intellectual or psychiatric condition that prevents them from working and is likely to persist for more than two years. The amount depends on your age and living conditions.

Essential Medical Equipment Payment

This annual payment is intended to help with the costs of running essential medical equipment or heating or cooling energy costs associated with specific medical needs. The payment is $191 per year for each piece of eligible equipment, plus heating or cooling.

This payment helps eligible individuals with a disability, illness or injury that prevents them from using public transport cover the travel costs for work, study or looking for work. The standard rate of pay is $115.90 a fortnight, there is also a higher rate of $162.00 a fortnight available.

Youth Disability Supplement

This is a supplemental payment for eligible young people (under 21) living with disability who are already receiving an income support payment. The highest payment is $153.50 a fortnight.

This supplementary payment is for individuals who care for someone with a disability, medical condition, or who is frail aged and needs daily support for at least 12 months. The amount is $153.50 fortnightly.

This payment offers financial support to people who give constant care to someone with a disability, medical condition, or who is frail aged for at least six months, or if they’re at the end of their life. The amount depends on your personal circumstances.

This supplement is for carers who already receive certain payments including Carer Allowance, Carer Payment, or Department of Veterans’ Affairs payments. It is an annual payment of up to $600.

Child Disability Assistance Payment

This is an automatic annual payment for people who get the Carer Allowance while caring for a child with a disability or medical condition. The payment is up to $1,000 per year.

This payment helps Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students or apprentices pay for school fees, living, travel and other costs associated with study.

Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme

These payments are intended for parents and carers of children who can’t go to a local state school due to geographical isolation, disability or special needs. The amount depends on the child’s living arrangements.

This payment offers financial support for people over the age of 25 who are studying or an Australian Apprentice. The amount depends on how much you earn.

Pensioner Education Supplement

This regular supplement can help people already receiving certain payments cover study costs. The payment is either $62.40 or $31.20 a fortnight and which amount you receive depends on your circumstances.

This one-off payment is designed to help students cover the cost of moving from regional or remote areas for tertiary study. The amount is $3,000 or $5,000 depending on where your family home is located.

Youth Allowance for students and apprentices

This provides financial support for students or Australian Apprentices aged 24 or younger. The amount depends on your income and assets and can be up to $1007.50 per fortnight.

This fortnightly payment provides support to Australians aged between 22 and 67 who are looking for work or are sick or injured and can’t work/study for a short time. The amount depends on your personal situation.

Youth Allowance for job seekers

This payment is for people aged 21 or younger who are looking for work or are temporarily unable to work or study. The maximum fortnightly payment is $1007.50, your payment will depend on your situation.

This is the main support payment for farming families facing financial hardship. The amount depends on your circumstances.

This is a one-off payment for people in severe financial hardship due to extreme circumstances, such as family and domestic violence incidents, time spent in prison or psychiatric confinement, etc.

Each type of Crisis Payment has its own eligibility criteria. The amount paid depends on the payment type and circumstances.

This payment is for individuals facing financial hardship who are not eligible for any other income support payment. The amount depends on your circumstances.

This payment is available to people who already receive certain Centrelink payments and are eligible for additional help with energy costs. The amount depends on your circumstances and the payment you get.

This is a regular supplement to help with utility, phone, internet and medicine costs for people who receive income support from Centrelink. The amount depends if you are single or in a couple.

This extra payment helps individuals already receiving certain payments from Centrelink with medicine cost. The fortnightly payment is $6.80 for singles or $3.40 each for couples.

This extra payment helps people living in remote areas who already receive an income support payment from Centrelink. The fortnightly payment is $18.20 for singles or $15.60 each for couples.

This is a regular extra payment to help individuals who already certain payments from Centrelink pay for rent. The amount depends on how much rent you pay.

This quarterly payment helps people pay phone and internet costs if they already receive certain payments from Centrelink. The amount depends on your situation.

A quarterly payment helps individuals who already certain payments from Centrelink cover household bills. Singles receive $194.90 a quarter, couples receive $97.45 a quarter for each eligible person.