You may be eligible for a number of Centrelink payments. This section will direct you to information and up to date forms from the Centrelink website. Centrelink often require multiple forms to be completed when applying for different benefits and it is hard to keep track of which forms are needed.

Click on the heading below to redirect you to the relevant Centrelink webpage.

• » Disability Support Pension
• » Carer Payment & Carer Allowance
• » Pharmaceutical Allowance
• » Mobility Allowance
• » Rent Assistance

If you are eligible for one payment you do not automatically qualify for other benefits. Centrelink will assess your eligibility for each of the above payments separately.

For example if you are eligible for the disability support pension (DSP) you will still need to apply for rent assistance, Pharmaceutical Allowance and Mobility Allowance as these are assessed on an individual basis.

Living separately and apart

If you are receiving a Centrelink benefit, it is likely that your payment was income and asset tested. If you are married or in a de facto relationship you would have also been assessed as a member of a couple.

However in some circumstances partners or de facto partners are not treated as members of a couple for qualification or income and assets test purposes. This can occur when a relationship ceased as a result of ill health

If you think this may be relevant to you contact either your local Centrelink Social Worker, National Welfare Rights Network (NWRN), or Huntington’s Victoria.

Centrelink and privacy

Centrelink have very strict privacy laws and will only speak directly to the individual. These means that even if you have been appointed guardianship, enduring power of attorney or are a health professional you cannot enquire or act on behalf of someone else.

Should you wish to do so you will need to complete the following form.
» Authorising someone to speak to Centrelink on your behalf

Centrelink generated letters

It is not unusual to receive letters from Centrelink every so often. These letters may request a review of your circumstance. Some people find these letters upsetting and frustrating particularly if the information Centrelink is requesting is no longer relevant to your current circumstances. Please do not disregard these letters as they may affect your pension or carers allowance.

If you require help in responding to these letters please contact your local Centrelink Social Worker. Alternatively contact Huntington’s Victoria for further guidance or support.