Centrelink debts and overpayments

Watch our video about Centrelink debts and overpayments.

Our priority is to help you get the right payment at the right amount.

Sometimes overpayments happen. When they do, we’re here to help. We can help you understand why it occurred so it doesn’t happen again.

If you owe money, we want to help you repay it in a way that best suits your situation.

How to avoid an overpayment

What you should do to avoid being overpaid your Centrelink payment and what we do to help.

What happens when you’re overpaid

Understand what happens when you’re overpaid and what you need to do if you have a debt.

When there are changes to debt activities

We may pause Centrelink debt raising and recovery due to events such as natural disasters and health emergencies. You can ask us to change your payment arrangements too.

How to repay money you owe to Centrelink

You can repay money for a Centrelink debt in full or set up a payment arrangement. We may recover money in other ways as well.

Compliance program

Our compliance program helps protect Australia’s welfare system. It helps our customers avoid getting a debt or committing fraud.

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