Advance payments are a form of financial assistance provided by Services Australia to help eligible individuals manage their expenses.

These payments allow recipients to access a portion of their future benefits upfront, which is then repaid over time through deductions from their regular payments.

Eligibility for Advance Payments

To qualify for an advance payment, you must meet several conditions:

  • Be receiving an eligible payment type (e.g., Age Pension, JobSeeker Payment, Disability Support Pension, Family Tax Benefit Part A).
  • Have been receiving the eligible payment for at least three months.
  • Demonstrate the ability to repay the advance without facing financial hardship.
  • Not owe any debts to the Australian Government that are being recovered from your payments.

Specific eligibility rules may vary depending on the type of benefit you are receiving, so it’s essential to check with Services Australia for detailed requirements.

Can You Apply for Advance Payments Twice?

The ability to apply for advance payments twice depends on several factors, including the type of payment you receive and whether you have already repaid your previous advance.

General Rules

  1. Frequency Limits: For most Centrelink benefits, you cannot apply for another advance payment if you have already received one within the past 12 months. This rule applies to payments like JobSeeker Payment, Parenting Payment, and Youth Allowance.
  2. Repayment Status: If you are still repaying a previous advance payment, you may not be eligible to apply for another one until the first is fully repaid.
  3. Exceptions: Some benefits, such as Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A advances, allow multiple advances within a financial year as long as the total amount does not exceed your maximum allowable advance limit. However, only one “regular” advance can be active at a time.
  4. Special Circumstances: Certain pension recipients (e.g., Parenting Payment Single recipients who recently became unpartnered) may qualify for an additional advance under specific conditions.

Advance payments are typically repaid over 13 fortnights (approximately six months). The repayment amount is deducted automatically from your regular benefit payments. If you have multiple advances (where allowed), repayments will be adjusted to cover all outstanding amounts.

Key Considerations Before Applying

  • Ensure that taking an advance will not cause financial strain due to reduced future payments.
  • Check your remaining eligibility for advances within the current financial year or 12-month period.
  • Confirm that you meet all criteria for a second advance if applying again.