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When you can get Farm Household Allowance (FHA) is based on your circumstances. There may be some waiting periods that affect how soon you can get your first payment.
When you’ll get paid
In most cases, you’ll get your first FHA payment around 2 weeks after we approve your claim. Once your payment starts, we’ll pay you fortnightly.
We calculate the waiting period that applies to you when we assess your claim. The time it takes us to assess your claim doesn’t affect your waiting period. You can expect to hear from us with an outcome within 35 days of submitting your claim.
If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, you can check your completed claim online. Sign in now to find out:
- when we’ve accepted your claim
- when your payment will start
- when you need to report your income
- when your first income report is due.
You may need to report your income before we can make your first payment.
Hardship Advance Payment
If you’re eligible for FHA and you’re in severe financial hardship, you can get up to one week of FHA as an advance. Some waiting periods may still apply, based on your circumstances.
Why you may have to wait
In some circumstances, you may have to wait for your first payment.
You got a lump sum payment when you finished work
You may have a waiting period if your employer paid you a lump sum as either:
- annual leave
- a redundancy when you left.
The time you have to wait is relative to the lump sum payment. Read about income maintenance periods.
You recently finished seasonal work
A seasonal work preclusion period may apply if you or your partner finished seasonal, contract or intermittent work in the 6 months before claiming. The time you need to wait depends on how much you earned and how long you were working. Read about the seasonal work preclusion period.
You’ve had a compensation payment
You may have a waiting period if you’ve had a lump sum compensation payment. The time you have to wait depends on how much your lump sum payment is. Use our compensation estimator or phone us on your regular payment line for information about your compensation preclusion period.
We have tips and tools for budgeting and managing your money during this time.