Special benefit

You may get Special Benefit if you are:

• in severe financial hardship, and
• unable to earn a sufficient livelihood for yourself and your dependants because of age, disability or domestic circumstances, or for any other reason over which you have no control, and
• unable to receive any other income support payment from Centrelink, and
• an Australian resident or the holder of a certain temporary visa.

Some examples of when you might be able to get Special Benefit are:

• you cannot get another payment from Centrelink because you are too young or too old or because you have not lived in Australia long enough, or
• you are caring for a sick or disabled person and do not qualify for Carer Payment, or
• you have suffered a substantial change in circumstances beyond your control during the newly arrived resident’s waiting period.

The Services Australia website has more Special Benefit information.