Centrelink and Medicare Christmas shutdown dates: When to report and how to avoid delays

Like many businesses over the holiday period, Services Australia will shut down over Christmas and New Year. Here is how it will affect Centrelink allowance and pension recipients.

Payments to Centrelink allowance and pension recipients may arrive early this year as Services Australia closes for Christmas.

Here is how you can make sure you get paid and how to report during the holiday season.

Centrelink will be closed over the Christmas and New Year public holidays. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Adam Yip

DOES CENTRELINK PAY EARLY FOR CHRISTMAS?

Your Centrelink payments could be early, which means Centrelink recipients need to report early.

Clients have been advised to check their online account for adjustments to their reporting dates over the Christmas and New Year period.

Non-reporting recipients may receive their payments early.

Services Australia advises that clients can report their payments on public holidays when the organisations are closed, however payments will arrive after the public holidays.

WHEN WILL CENTRELINK AND MEDICARE OFFICES AND CALL CENTRES CLOSE?

Christmas and New Year public holidays will mean that the physical offices and phone lines for Centrelink, Medicare, MyGov and Child Support will be non-operational.

• Wednesday December 25 2024
• Thursday December 26 2024
• Friday December 27 2024
• Wednesday January 1 2025

Services Australia has advised that smaller sites in rural and regional areas “may have extended closures”.

WILL OTHER PAYMENTS BE AFFECTED?

Services Australia states that the following payments could be affected by public holidays.

• Austudy
• Farm Household Allowance
• JobSeeker Payment
• Special Benefit
• Status Resolution Support Services Payment
• Youth Allowance
• a families payment
• ABSTUDY
• Age Pension
• Assistance for Isolated Children
• Carer Allowance
• Carer Payment
• Disability Support Pension
• Double Orphan Pension
• Parenting Payment
• Pensioner Education Supplement.

WHAT IS THE CENTRELINK BONUS PAYMENT FOR 2024?

If you have searched for Services Australia you may have seen pages sharing information about payments that are different from your regular scheduled payment.

Services Australia has warned of several scams that are operating online, especially if they mention extra payments.

Fake news stories about “bonus”, “cash relief”, “cost of living” or “one-off” payments of $250, $600, $750, $1000, $1500, $4000 and $5000 are false.

The organisation tells clients: “If the website URL doesn’t end in .gov.au then it isn’t an official government website. It could be a scam.”

Originally published as Centrelink and Medicare Christmas shutdown dates: When to report and how to avoid delays