Ruqayyah Snyder
If you are a renter in Australia, you may be eligible for Rent Assistance, a fortnightly payment available to lower-income earners who already receive certain Centrelink payments or pensions. There is no formal application process for rent assistance as Services Australia will automatically assess your eligibility when you claim other payments from them or update your address after moving house. However, you may be asked to provide proof of a tenancy agreement and/or rent certificate before you begin receiving payments. The amount of Rent Assistance you can get depends on how much rent you pay, and payments may be adjusted if your rent or income increases or decreases, you move to a new house, or your family circumstances change.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who is eligible for rent assistance? | Lower-income earners who already receive certain Centrelink payments or pensions, such as Age Pension, Carer Payment or Disability Support Pension, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Austudy, or Youth Allowance. |
| What is the payment amount? | For every $1 of rent you pay after the minimum rent amount, you will receive 75 cents in Rent Assistance payments until the maximum payment threshold is reached. |
| How to apply for rent assistance? | There is no formal application process. When you claim one of the other eligible payments, Services Australia will automatically assess your Rent Assistance eligibility. You may be asked to provide proof of a tenancy agreement and/or rent certificate before you begin receiving payments. |
| Additional information | Rent assistance payments may be adjusted if your rent, income, family circumstances, or address change. Rent assistance cannot be backdated and payments can only be paid from the payday following notification that you are renting. |
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What You'll Learn
Eligibility criteria for rent assistance
To be eligible for rent assistance in Australia, you must be paying rent, fees to a retirement village, lodging or boarding, or site or mooring fees. This includes people living in community or defence housing under certain circumstances. You must also be receiving another form of payment from the government, such as an allowance or pension. The amount of rent assistance you can receive depends on how much rent you pay each fortnight. There is a minimum amount of rent you need to pay to get rent assistance. For every $1 of rent you pay above this amount, you’ll get 75 cents.
If you are a Defence Housing Australia tenant, your rent assistance will be based on the rent you pay to Defence Housing Australia. If you receive the Temporary Rental Allowance, your rent assistance will be calculated based on the amount of rent you pay minus the Temporary Rental Allowance subsidy. If you are assessed as a non-homeowner, you may be eligible for rent assistance based on your ongoing fees in the retirement village. Special rules and conditions may apply for young people or those who reside in a retirement village.
You don't need to submit a claim for rent assistance. The Australian government will check if you are eligible when you make a new claim for certain payments. If you already receive payments from the government, they will check if you are eligible for rent assistance when you inform them of any changes to your accommodation details or rental arrangements. You may be asked to provide proof of your rent arrangements, such as a formal tenancy agreement or a Rent Certificate.
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How to apply for rent assistance
Rent Assistance is a fortnightly payment available to lower-income earners who already receive certain Centrelink payments or pensions to help them with their rental expenses. The amount of Rent Assistance you can get depends on how much rent you pay. There is a minimum amount of rent you need to be paying to be eligible for Rent Assistance.
If you are a single age pensioner without children who shares accommodation with others, the maximum amount of rent assistance you can receive is set at two-thirds of the maximum single rate. If you share a major area of accommodation, such as a bathroom, kitchen, or bedroom, with at least one other person, the maximum rent assistance rate is $104.80.
If you are paying rent and also receive one of the following payments, you are eligible for Rent Assistance: Age Pension, Carer Payment, or Disability Support Pension, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Austudy, or Youth Allowance. For every $1 of rent that you pay in excess of the rent threshold, you will receive $0.75 of rent assistance, up to a maximum amount. The rent thresholds depend on whether you are single or a member of a couple.
If you are submitting a claim for one of the payments listed under Rent Assistance eligibility, Services Australia will automatically assess if you are eligible to receive Rent Assistance Centrelink payments. If you are eligible for Rent Assistance, you might be asked to provide proof of a tenancy agreement and/or rent certificate before you begin receiving payments. You can give a copy of your latest rent receipt or a copy of your lease to confirm your rental amount.
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Documentation required for rent assistance
In Australia, you don't need to submit a claim for Rent Assistance. The relevant government body will check if you can get Rent Assistance when you make a new claim for certain payments. If you already receive payments, they will check if you can get Rent Assistance when you inform them of any changes to your circumstances.
You may be asked to complete a Rent Certificate or provide a lease agreement. This is to confirm how much rent you pay. You only need to do this if you are asked. You may also need to provide a copy of your latest rent receipt or a copy of your lease to confirm your rental amount.
If you are a social security age pensioner, you must notify the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) within 14 days (or 28 days if you receive a remote area allowance) of any changes to your circumstances that might affect the rate of income support pension you receive or your eligibility to receive that pension. For example, if you become aware that you are due to receive a compensation payment, you must inform them within 7 days.
If you have dependent children, you will usually receive Rent Assistance through your Family Tax Benefit Part A payment. If you (or your partner) have a dependent child under 16, you will not receive rent assistance from the DVA. Any rent assistance entitlement will be added to your Family Tax Benefit payment payable through the Family Assistance Office.
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How much rent assistance you can get
The amount of rent assistance you can receive depends on the type of support you get from the government, your living situation, and how much rent you pay. There is a minimum amount of rent you need to pay to get rent assistance. For every $1 of rent you pay above this amount, you’ll get 75 cents. The payment is a non-taxable income supplement.
Rent assistance rates are updated twice a year, on 20 March and 20 September. They are adjusted for the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The maximum fortnightly payment available for single applicants is $188.20. To qualify, your fortnightly rent must be more than $146. To get the maximum payment, your fortnightly rent must be at least $396.94. The maximum fortnightly payment available for single, sharer applicants is $125.47. To qualify, your fortnightly rent must be more than $146. To get the maximum payment, your fortnightly rent must be at least $313.29. The maximum fortnightly payment available for applicants who are one of a couple temporarily separated is $177.20. To qualify, your fortnightly rent must be more than $146. To get the maximum payment, your fortnightly rent must be at least $382.27.
The maximum rent assistance amount for an individual is $184.80 per week, however, the actual amount you get will depend on a variety of factors, including your income, your family’s circumstances, and the amount of rent you pay.
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How to update your address
If you are already receiving Rent Assistance and need to update your address, you can do so by signing into myGov and going to Centrelink. You can also change your details through the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app, by visiting a service centre, or by calling Services Australia.
If you are in between home addresses, it is important to keep Services Australia up to date on where to send your mail. You can tell them about a future home address, but they can only send your mail there from the date you've told them you'll be living there.
If you are moving because of changes to your relationship, Services Australia has information and support available.
If you are already receiving Rent Assistance, Services Australia may ask you to complete a Rent Certificate or provide a lease agreement. You only need to do this if they ask you to.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no formal application process for rent assistance in Australia. If you submit a claim for one of the other payments listed under Rent Assistance eligibility, Services Australia will automatically assess if you’re eligible to be receiving Rent Assistance Centrelink payments. You can get in touch with Services Australia to find out more about eligibility and requirements.
To be eligible for rent assistance, you must be paying above a certain minimum amount in rent. This minimum amount is called the rent threshold and depends on whether you are single or part of a couple. You must also be receiving one of the following payments: Age Pension, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Austudy, or Youth Allowance.
The amount of rent assistance you can get depends on how much rent you pay. For every $1 of rent that you pay in excess of the rent threshold, you will receive $0.75 of rent assistance, up to a maximum amount.
Rent assistance payments are made fortnightly. These payments are non-taxable and can be adjusted if your rent or income increases or decreases, you move to a new house, or your family circumstances change.
If you or your partner has a dependent child under 16, you will not receive rent assistance from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA). Any rent assistance entitlement will be added to your Family Tax Benefit payment payable through the Family Assistance Office.
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