Report a change in circumstances

You need to tell us about a change in your circumstances as soon as possible to reduce the risk of an overpayment.

Changes can include any of the following:

• your child begins primary or secondary school for the first time
• your or your partner’s recognised participation changes
• your family income changes
• your child’s care arrangements change
• your personal circumstances change
• you change the bank account where your payments are sent
• you change your address
• you leave Australia.

If you don’t tell us, we may pay too much subsidy and you may have to pay back the money. We also may not be able to pay you any arrears or top-ups you are owed. Find out more about how to avoid an overpayment.

If the changes affect your eligibility or amount of subsidy, it can take up to 2 weeks to take effect.

You don’t need to tell us if either:

• the hours your child attends child care change
• your child stops attending child care.

If your hours of recognised participation change you should review your family income estimate. Find out more about what to include and how to update your family income estimate.

How to tell us

If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, sign in now to tell us about changes in your circumstances.

Sign in to myGov

If you don’t have a myGov account or a Centrelink online account you’ll need to create them.

You can also use the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app. Find out more about what you can do using self service.

If you can’t tell us about your change of circumstances online, you can call us on the Centrelink families line. If you need an interpreter, let us know and we’ll arrange one for you.

If you want to speak to someone in your language, call our Multilingual Phone Service.

If you’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian, you can also call and speak to our Indigenous call centre for help.