Change of circumstances

Why you need to tell us about changes within 14 days

You need to tell us about any changes to your circumstances within 14 days, in accordance with social security law. This includes changes to your partners’ circumstances.

If you don’t tell us, you may need to pay back money we’ve paid you. If you’re being dishonest to get a payment, you’re committing welfare fraud. Read more about how to avoid committing fraud.

What you need to tell us

Here are some examples of changes you must tell us about.

If your employment changes

Tell us if any of these things happen:

• your work hours change
• you start or stop work
• you change jobs
• you get compensation, leave or redundancy payments.

If your personal situation changes

You need to tell us if your personal situation changes. This could be a change to where you live, your family situation, finances, work or study.

You need to give us evidence of your rental arrangements to get Rent Assistance.

If your home situation changes

You need to tell us about changes if you:

• can’t work or study for a short time
• change your address or contact details
• are single and start sharing accommodation with a non-family member who’s 16 or older
• move into or out of long-term care, like a nursing home or hostel, due to injury or disability
• are leaving the country, for a short time, or to live somewhere else
• are in lawful custody.

Changes about Rent Assistance

If you get Rent Assistance, you also need to tell us if any of these things happen:

• you stop paying rent, or the amount of rent you pay changes
• you start paying rent to a state, territory or Commonwealth Housing Authority.

If your relationship changes

You need to tell us if:

• you marry or start living with your partner
• you separate from your partner.

You need to complete the Relationship details form for changes to living arrangements.

If your financial situation changes

You need to tell us if any of the following change:

• your bank details
• you or your partner open or close a bank account
• your or your partner’s income changes
• your or your partner’s financial assets change by more than $2,000 above the value we have recorded
• your or your partner’s non-financial assets change by $1,000 or more above the value we have recorded, for example you buy or sell a car, house or other assets.

You can manage your income and asset details through your Centrelink online account.

If your personal, work or study situation changes

You need to tell us if any of the following change:

• you change or correct your name
• your study, including any changes to your study load
• you’re sick, injured or unable to do your usual mutual obligation requirements, work or study for a short time
• you start or stop getting a pension, benefit or allowance.

You can also update your gender identity if you choose to do so.

You’ll need to give us a medical certificate if you’re sick or injured.

If your family situation changes

You need to tell us about changes to your family situation. This includes if an immediate family member dies.

Changes about a child

You need to tell us if you either:

• have a child who is 16 years or younger
• take care of a dependent child who is 16 years or younger.

You also need to tell us if your dependent child who is 16 years or younger, either:

• leaves home, or gets a pension, benefit or allowance
• is in custody on remand, in a psychiatric institution or in prison.

If you pay or receive child support, you also need to tell us about changes that could affect your payments. Read about change of circumstances that affect your child support.

Changes about your partner

Tell us if your partner does any of these things. They:

• start or stop working
• have income or assets change
• get ABSTUDY, a pension, benefit or allowance.

You must also tell us within 14 days if your partner dies. We recognise this will be a difficult time for you. We have advice and help on what to do when a loved one dies.

If you need to change or correct your name

It’s important to tell us if you change your legal name.

How to tell us

If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov you can tell us about changes to your circumstances online. To do this, sign in to myGov and select My details.

Sign in to myGov

You can also tell us using either:

• the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app
• Centrelink phone self service.

Read more about what you can do using self service.

If you don’t have access to a self service option please call the job seekers line.