Services Australia flags Centrelink payment, reporting changes over Easter

The Easter holidays could affect how millions of Aussies receive their support payments. Here’s what you need to know.

The Easter holiday period will likely impact how Australians receive their social support payments, Services Australia says.

Centrelink offices and call centres will close on April 18 for Good Friday, April 21 for Easter Monday and April 25 for Anzac Day, potentially changing reporting and payment dates.

“If the dates you need to report to us have changed due to public holidays, you must report on your new reporting date so we can pay you,” Services Australia states on its website.

The Easter period will impact reporting and payments dates for social support payments. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

“When you report early, you’ll need to include what you expect to be paid for that reporting period. You must also do this for any other changes that may affect your payment.

“If you don’t have to report to get your payment, we may pay you early.

“An early payment is your normal payment, just paid early.

“We won’t delay payments because of a public holiday, but we may pay you earlier than normal.”

Changes to allowances, reporting and payment dates will impact Austudy, the Farm Household Allowance, JobSeeker payments, the Special Benefit, Status Resolution Support Services payment and Youth Allowance.

Reporting and payment dates have also changed for pensions, including ABSTUDY, the Age Pension, Assistance for Isolated Children, Carer Allowance, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, Double Orphan Pension, Parenting Payment and Pensioner Education Supplement.