Watch out for words and phrases like:
- cash relief
- cash boost
- new bonus
- new document or identity requirements for Centrelink
- new eligibility
- one off payment
- payment rates are increasing
- proof of identity
- revalidation.
This is called clickbait. Clickbait is usually misleading and made to get your attention. Clickbait websites make money from visits and advertising.
They might also threaten you with penalties if you don’t meet the new requirements. They’ll tell you they’ll cancel your payments or that you’ll get a fine or debt. This isn’t true.
When talking about one off and bonus payments, they might say they’ll help:
- with the cost of living
- people getting Age Pension, Carer Payment or Carer Allowance
- people who have a concession card.
They offer varying amounts of money, including $750, $950, $1,800 and $4,100. These payments don’t exist. You could see advertisements that look like this:
People are sharing these websites on social media, thinking the information is real. If the website URL doesn’t end in .gov.au then it isn’t an official government website. It could be a scam.
The only genuine Services Australia and myGov websites are servicesaustralia.gov.au and my.gov.au.
We’ll always let you know when there are changes to any of our payments or services. We’ll let you know on our official website and official social media channels.
If you’re not sure if Centrelink information you’ve seen online is real, search our genuine website. Type servicesaustralia.gov.au into your trusted web browser. You can also check by calling us or asking us on social media.
Payments that are no longer available
Clickbait websites may use details of past Centrelink payments that are no longer available.
Payments that are no longer available, include:
- Dad and Partner Pay ended 30 June 2024
- Crisis Payment for National Health Emergency ended 1 October 2022
- Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment ended 30 September 2022
- Cost of Living Payment ended 30 June 2023
- High-Risk Settings Pandemic Payment ended 31 March 2023
- JobKeeper Payment ended 6 October 2022
- COVID-19 Disaster Payment ended 6 January 2022
- Partner Allowance ended 1 January 2022
- Widow Allowance ended 1 January 2022
- Economic Support Payment ended March 2021
- Bereavement Allowance ended 20 March 2020
- Newstart Allowance ended 20 March 2020
- Sickness Allowance ended 20 March 2020
- Widow B Pension ended 20 March 2020
- Wife Pension ended 20 March 2020
- Child Disability Allowance ended July 1999
- Child Care Benefit ended 2 July 2018
- Child Care Rebate ended 2 July 2018
- Single Income Family Supplement ended 1 July 2017
- Mature Age Allowance ended 1 July 1995
- Baby Bonus ended 1 March 2014.
To see what payments are currently available, use our Payment and Service Finder.
Find out more about Centrelink scams.