Social Work Services: Income Support
Social Workers can assist you in applying for income support payments through Centrelink (formerly the Department of Social Security) or through your superannuation scheme.
The Centrelink Website (external site) contains the most up-to-date information about all of the payments and services available to people who have no other means of support.
Some superannuation schemes have income protection insurance as an automatic entitlement, but for most this is an optional extra which requires that a higher premium be paid. Contact your superannuation scheme to check whether you can claim income protection insurance, or ask your social worker for assistance.
What Centrelink payment should I apply for?
Contact Centrelink on one of the numbers listed below to find out which payment best suits your circumstances, or ask your social worker.
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The Disability Support Pension is for people unable to work 15 hours or more per week for the next two years due to illness, injury or disability. Refer to the
Centrelink Website (external site) for more information.
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Sickness Allowance is for people temporarily unable to work due to illness, injury or disability, who have a job to return to. Refer to the
Centrelink Website (external site) for more information.
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Newstart Allowance is for people aged over 21 who are unemployed or have been working but do not have a job to return to. If you are temporarily unable to work due to illness, injury or disability, you will be exempted from looking for work for the period of your illness. Refer to the
Centrelink Website (external site) for more information.
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Youth Allowance is for people aged under 21 who are unemployed or full-time students aged 16 to 24. There is a parental income test if you do not qualify to be considered independent for Youth Allowance purposes. Refer to the
Centrelink Website (external site) for more information.
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Carer Allowance is a supplementary payment for people who care for a child or an adult with a disability, severe medical condition or who is frail aged at home. Carer Allowance is not income or assets tested. Refer to the
Centrelink Website (external site) for more information.
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Carer Payment is an income support payment for people who cannot support themselves through participation in the workforce while caring for a child with a profound disability and extremely high support needs, or an adult with a disability, severe medical condition or who is frail aged. Refer to the
Centrelink Website (external site) for more information.
Click here (external site) for the Centrelink factsheet on the payments available for people who are ill, injured, or have a disability and their carers.
Contact Centrelink
These are some of the main contact numbers for Centrelink:
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Disability, Sickness and Carers - 13 2717
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Employment Services - 13 2850
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Retirement Services - 13 2300
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Youth and Student Services - 13 2490
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Family Assistance Office - 13 6150
Other contact details are listed on the Centrelink Website (external site).
Problems?
Contact your social worker if you are having any problems with applying for a Centrelink payment. Your social worker will also be able to help you with having your payments reinstated if they are stopped for any reason.
Welfare Rights Centres are community legal centres throughout Australia which specialise in social security law. If you are having a major problem with Centrelink, your social worker may be able to refer you to your local Welfare Rights Centre, or you may contact them yourself. Go to the National Welfare Rights Network (external site) website for more information and contact details of your local Welfare Rights Centre.
Contact Us
Social workers can be accessed through members of your treating team or by contacting The Prince Charles Hospital Social Work Department on (07) 3139 4443.
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