You can do this through your Centrelink online account through myGov.
When you can start your claim
If you’re eligible, you can start your claim either:
- up to 13 weeks before your circumstances will change
- as soon as your circumstances change.
Your circumstances may change because of one of the following reasons:
- you’re stopping your fulltime studies
- you’ll be working less hours and you meet the Personal income test
- you know you’re going to lose your job.
When you start your claim, we’ll ask if any of the following circumstances apply to you now:
- you’re no longer studying fulltime
- you’re unemployed or on reduced hours
- you’ll soon be unemployed or on reduced hours
- you can’t work or study due to an illness or injury
- your partner recently died.
We’ll ask you the date you expect your circumstances to change. If you’re claiming early, select you’ll soon be unemployed or on reduced hours.
If you start an early claim
If you start an early claim, you can save and view it in your Centrelink online account through myGov.
You can save your early claim but can’t submit it until 14 days before your circumstances change.
You can complete the following sections of your claim:
- personal details
- circumstances
- financial details.
We’ll send you a message when it’s time to review and submit your claim. We won’t assess your claim until you’ve done this.
You can withdraw your claim at any time if your situation changes. We’ll assess it as quickly as we can.
In the 14 days before your circumstances change, sign into your Centrelink online account through myGov and Review and Confirm your details.
Then follow the Next steps section or What happens after you save your early claim.
If you’ve linked your Centrelink online account to myGov, sign in now to start your claim. You can edit your details if you need to.
If you’ve already started a claim, sign into your Centrelink online account to complete it. You can update your details if you need to.
If you need help to submit your claim, read our online guide claim a payment online.
We won’t assess your claim until you’ve reviewed and submitted it. If your situation changes, you can withdraw your claim at any time. We’ll assess your claim as quickly as we can.
After you submit your claim
If you’ve linked your Centrelink online account to myGov, you can track the progress of your claim online.
You may need to supply supporting documents. We’ll tell you if you need to do this.
You need to provide them within 14 days of our request, or your claim may be rejected. We’ll put your claim on hold as we wait for these documents.
When you submit documents online, you’ll get a receipt confirming we’ve received them. You don’t need to contact us.
We’ll assess if you’re eligible for a payment and let you know the outcome when your claim is finalised. You can only get a payment after you’ve submitted your claim, we’ve assessed it and your claim has been granted.
If you want help while waiting for your claim outcome, read while you wait for your Centrelink claim outcome.
Rebecca knows her employment will end on 14 August. She can start her claim from 15 May, which is 13 weeks before her employment ends.
Rebecca starts and saves her claim. On 1 August, we send her a message letting her know she can complete the rest of her claim and submit it. This day is 14 days before her circumstances change.
If Rebecca submits her claim by 14 August and we assess and grant her claim, she may be eligible for payment from 15 August.
If she submits it after 14 August and we grant her claim, she may be eligible for payment from the date she submits it.
The date she’ll get her first payment will depend on her personal circumstances and whether she has a waiting period.
Learn more about when you’ll get your first payment.