Residence descriptions
You usually need to be an Australian resident to get a payment from us. We explain how we define an Australian resident.
Who can get Special Benefit
You may get Special Benefit if you aren’t eligible for any other income support. You’ll need to meet some rules.
Request an Individual Healthcare Identifier form (MS003)
Use this form to register for an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI).
Newly arrived resident's waiting period
If you've recently arrived as a resident in Australia, you may have to wait to get payments or concession cards.
Income from outside Australia
Income you get from outside Australia can count in your income test.
How long an Assurance of Support lasts
The Assurance of Support period depends on the type of visa you apply for. It can last for 1, 2, 4 or 10 years.
Online estimators
Use these tools to estimate or compare payments you might get based on your circumstances.
myGov help - Create a myGov account
Use myGov to access Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support, all in one place. This guide shows you how to create a myGov account.
Upload your Centrelink documents online
You can securely upload an image of your Centrelink form or other documents online.
Income and assets test for Special Benefit
We use income and assets tests to check if you can get Special Benefit. We also use these to work out how much you can get.