in this guide
Read more about advance payment options including eligibility.
If you are getting the Home Equity Scheme, there are different rules that apply to the Home Equity Scheme advance payment.
The screenshots in this guide are from a computer. The page layout will look different if you’re using a mobile device.
Watch our video about how to apply for an advance payment.
Step 1: get started
Sign in to myGov and select Centrelink.
From your homepage, select MENU.
Select Payment and claims, then Manage payments and Manage advance payments.
Or, select Manage advance payments in Favourite services. You can only do this if you have it saved as a favourite service.
Step 2: view advance payments
The Advance Payments summary page has information about your current and previous advances.
If you have a current advance payment, the summary page will show:
- the amount advanced to you
- how much you have repaid
- the outstanding amount
- your fortnightly repayment amount
- when your final repayment is due
- when you can apply for your next possible advance.
If you need help, select the question mark icon.
Select Apply for advance.
If you aren’t eligible to apply for an advance payment, we’ll tell you:
- why you’re not eligible
- when you may be eligible to apply.
If you aren’t eligible for an advance payment, go to Step 6 to sign out.
Step 3: apply for advance
Select Get started.
Select the type of advance payment you want to apply for, then select Next.
Enter how much money you have left over every fortnight after paying all your regular expenses. Regular expenses include food, rent, travel, electricity and phone, Centrelink repayments and all ongoing expenses and payments.
Enter the amount in dollars and cents, including the decimal point, then select Next.
We’ll tell you how much money you can apply for.
Enter the advance amount you want to apply for. The amount you apply for must be within the advance amount payment range.
Depending on the type of advance, you can get your advance payment as either:
- one instalment
- 2 instalments.
If you want us to pay you in 2 instalments, you’ll need to tell us:
- the amount of your first instalment
- the date you would like the second instalment.
Enter these details, then select Next.
If you’re applying for a Family Tax Benefit advance, we can only pay this in one instalment.
Step 4: review and submit
We’ll give you a summary of the details you’ve provided.
We’ll also tell you about your repayment amount. Your repayment is taken from the amount we’d normally pay you. You don’t need to do anything to set this up.
Read the details on this page and make sure they’re correct. If you need to make changes, select Update.
If all the information is correct, read the declaration. If you understand and agree with the declaration, select I accept the declaration then Submit.
Step 5: get your receipt
We’ll give you a receipt to let you know your application has been successful. Make a note of the Receipt ID for your records.
You don’t need to contact us about your advance payment unless we ask you to.
Select any of the following options:
- the Printer icon if you want a copy of the receipt
- Outcomes to view more details about your advance payment instalments
- Information you provided to view a summary of the details you have given us.
Select Return to home to go back to your Advance Payments page.
On the Advance Payments page, we’ll give you a summary of your current and previous advance payments.
Select Home to go back to your online account homepage.
Step 6: sign out
From your homepage you can complete other transactions or select Return to myGov to go back to your myGov account.
For your privacy and security, sign out when you’ve finished using your myGov account.
View other online account and Express Plus mobile app guides and video demonstrations about using your online account.