Centrelink Crisis Payment 2026 — Who Can Get It and How Much

How Much Is the Crisis Payment?

Services Australia: “It's equal to a week's pay at the maximum basic rate of your income support payment or ABSTUDY Living Allowance. It doesn't include other allowances or supplements.” A week is half the fortnightly rate, so the payment is half the fortnightly maximum basic rate — whatever your actual payment is after the income test.

Services Australia does not publish a dollar table; these amounts apply its rule to the published maximum basic rates (supplements excluded). Parenting Payment Single is shown without its Pension Supplement. The amount changes whenever the basic rate is indexed. Check your own rate in your Centrelink online account.

Who Can Get a Crisis Payment

For every type you must be getting, or be eligible for, an income support payment or ABSTUDY Living Allowance, be in severe financial hardship, and be in Australia when you claim. Then one of these extreme circumstances must apply:

You can't get the “other extreme circumstances” payment if you were evicted for not paying rent or a mortgage, chose to move without an extreme circumstance, or got (or are eligible for) a disaster relief payment — such as the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment or Disaster Recovery Allowance — for the same event. Evidence such as a police or fire report is needed; photos of damage and news articles aren't accepted.

How to Claim a Crisis Payment — and the Timing

1. Make contact within 7 days. Starting a claim in your Centrelink online account, calling your regular payment line or visiting a service centre all count.
2. Lodge the claim within 14 days of that contact. Online: myGov → Centrelink → Payments and Claims → Claims → Make a claim → Crisis Payments.
3. Provide evidence of the circumstance, and permission for Services Australia to contact someone who can confirm it.
4. Family and domestic violence claims are assessed by a social worker who needs to speak with you — the claim can't progress if they can't reach you.
5. Track the claim in myGov or the Express Plus Centrelink app. You can ask for a review if you disagree with the decision.

If You Can't Get a Crisis Payment

An advance payment of part of your regular payment may help — it is repaid over 13 fortnights. Services Australia also lists other crisis and special help, including social workers. If you have a Centrelink debt, repayments can be paused after a crisis or disaster — see Centrelink debt.

Related Calculators and Guides

• Centrelink income test guide — free areas, tapers and cut-offs for every payment
• Carer Payment calculator — the pension-rate payment with the 100-hour work rule
• Carer Allowance — the fortnightly supplement and its $250,000 income limit
• Centrelink advance payment calculator — how much you can borrow and what comes off each fortnight
• Centrelink debt — overpayments, refunds and the income apportionment scheme
• Cost of living payment 2026 — what actually exists this year
• Paid Parental Leave calculator — 26 weeks from 1 July 2026, days, split and super
• JobSeeker payment calculator — what you keep when you work part-time
• Age Pension calculator — rates from 20 September 2026 and the income test, with the Work Bonus
• Age Pension assets test calculator — limits, the $3-per-$1,000 taper and which test applies
• Deeming rates and calculator — 1.75% and 3.75% from 20 September 2026
• Disability Support Pension calculator — rates, the income test and the 29-hour work rule
• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card — the income limit, deeming and a quick eligibility check
• Child Care Subsidy calculator — your CCS % on family income and the gap fee
• Parenting Payment calculator — single and partnered
• Fortnightly pay calculator — the gross fortnightly figure Centrelink asks for

Frequently Asked Questions