Prove Your Point

It is essential that you verify that the data you submit to Centrelink in support of your claim is both comprehensive and accurate. Your responses to the questions that we asked you to complete as part of your Online Claim are displayed back to you so that you can check that they are correct.

Before moving forward with your claim, you should go back and look at all of the responses you provided to Centrelink's questions. You can use the navigation links that are located on each of the claim pages in order to return to a question and change your response if you find that you need to.

In order to carry out its responsibilities regarding the administration of the Social Security Law, the Student Assistance Act of 1973, the Employment Services Act of 1994, the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act of 1999, and the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act of 1999, Centrelink collects the information that you provide in your responses. This information is then used to perform its functions.

Your eligibility for a payment, your suitability for other services, and, where applicable, the eligibility of third parties (such as other members of your family) will be determined based on the information that you provide on this claim. The information that you provide will be used. It may be possible to use certain information to detect or prevent fraud.

Your declaration

Once both your declaration and your claim have been processed, Centrelink will initiate the process of determining whether or not you are eligible to receive the payment or concession card that you have claimed.

Supplier of Employment-Related Services

Service Providers in the Employment Market:

• provide job seekers with individualized services and programs designed to ease their transition into the workforce. Job seekers have the opportunity to improve their employment prospects by participating in these programs and services, which can result in them gaining qualifications and/or skills and making improvements to their job search.
• Provide job seekers with a variety of services that can be adapted to fit their needs, according to the specifics of their situations. A customer who registers for services will be directed to a single provider who, for the duration of the customer's entire period of registration as a jobseeker, will deliver or broker all services that are relevant to the customer's situation;
• are able to direct individuals looking for employment to a variety of programs that are funded by the Commonwealth, State, and Territory governments These programs may be referred to as "complementary employment and training programs" by their providers.

Certificate of Termination from Employment

An Employment Separation Certificate is something that your former place of employment is required to deliver to Centrelink. This certificate serves as proof of essential employment information, including the reason for leaving, as well as leave and redundancy payments. You are required to advise your employer to provide this information to Centrelink if they have not already done so. If they have not done so, you will need to advise them to do so. Your previous employer can either fill out a form or call Centrelink to provide this information to Centrelink over the phone. On the website located at servicesaustralia.gov.au, you will find instructions on how to contact Centrelink as well as a link to download this form.

Alterations to your present situation

Please get in touch with us if, after submitting your claim, you realize that certain aspects of it need to be modified. You are not required to submit any additional claims.

After you have submitted an application for a payment or concession card, you are required to notify Centrelink within 14 days of any event or change in your personal circumstances that may have an impact on the payments or entitlements you receive from Centrelink. Additionally, you are required to report a death within the next 28 days.

Additionally, you are required to inform Centrelink within 14 days of any events or changes in your partner's circumstances, including a de facto partner's, that may affect your entitlements or payments from Centrelink. These events or changes could have an impact on your partner's circumstances.

If you are applying for Youth Allowance and are considered to be dependent, you are required to inform Centrelink of any changes of any events or changes in the circumstances of your parent(s) or Guardian(s) (and their partner) because these changes may also affect your entitlements or payments from Centrelink. If you are claiming Youth Allowance and are considered to be independent, you are not required to inform Centrelink of any changes.

Important note:

If you do not notify Centrelink about these changes, you may end up with a financial obligation. If you owe money, you might be required to repay the full amount or just a portion of it.

Please get in touch with us so that we can keep Centrelink updated on any changes.

Adaptations to your method of study or work

You must tell Centrelink if:

• You are no longer considered a student attending school full-time or receiving a reduced course load.
• when this happens, your status as a full-time Australian Apprentice (apprentice or traineeship) is no longer maintained.
• you begin working for a wage or engaging in any profession, trade, business, or form of self-employment.
• you quit a training program before it is finished, or you miss any significant portion of it.
• You decide to participate in unpaid volunteer work.
• because of illness or injury, you are unable to look for work, continue your education, or complete your Australian apprenticeship (either as an apprentice or a trainee).
• You submit an enrollment application or make changes to it at a school, college, university, or other type of technical institution.

Alterations to the specifics of your personal situation

You are required to contact Centrelink if:

• You either get married, make up with the person you were previously separated from, or start living with someone else as their partner.
• either you decide to stop cohabitating with your partner or your partner passes away.
• you change your address, telephone etc details
• You have a child who was dependent on you who passed away.
• a member of your immediate family has recently passed away.
• You either start receiving care at a long-term facility like a nursing home or hostel, or you stop receiving it.
• you have given birth
• you are now responsible for the care and control of a child younger than 16 years old.
• You are responsible for a child who is younger than 16 years old and that child:
  • leaves home
  • is provided with a retirement payment, benefit, or allowance, or
  • departs from Australia
• You or one of your dependent children have been accused of committing an offense, and as a result, you are any of the following:
  • while being held on remand,
  • in a hospital specializing in mental health care or
  • in prison

Only for austudy:

• if you have a dependent child who is between the ages of 16 and 21 but is not enrolled in school full-time and is under the age of 25 and attending school full-time, then the following applies to you:
  • who ultimately achieves independence, or
  • You will no longer get the Family Tax Benefit for them if you do this, or
  • is provided with a retirement payment, benefit, or allowance, or
  • stops attending school on a full-time basis, or
  • begins working, experiences an increase in income, or both
  • any person who leaves Australia, or
  • submits an application to a Commonwealth department in order to receive an education allowance, and does so.

Allowance only for Young People:

• if you have a brother or sister who is 16 years old but not yet 25 years old, the following applies to you:
  • who ultimately achieves independence, or
  • who receives a retirement benefit, such as a pension, benefit, or allowance, or
  • your parents are no longer eligible to receive the Family Tax Benefit for them, or
  • who no longer attends school on a full-time basis, or
  • who begins working or who experiences an increase in income, or
  • any person who leaves Australia, or
  • submits an application to one of the departments of the Commonwealth and is awarded an education allowance, or
• you moved back in with your parents or guardian(s), or you returned home to live with them.
• Your evaluation is based on the estimated income of the parents, and either the actual income details will be found out, or
• Your assessment is determined by the amount of your parental income, and the amount of your parental income for the fiscal year that follows the base tax year is higher by more than 25 percent than the amount of your parental income for the base tax year.

Only payments made for family assistance:

• When does your kid start or stop going to school?
• If the annual income of your child is changing or is likely to be $11,233 or more
• The government will provide a pension, benefit, or allowance for your child.
• Alterations have been made to the shared-care arrangements for your child.
• You are exempt from filing a federal income tax return at this time.

Baby Bonus

• your responsibility for the child ends.

Only the Old Age Pension:

You are required to inform Centrelink of any changes to your or your partner's circumstances that may have the potential to affect your payment rate, such as the following examples:

• alterations to one's income and assets, originating from any source
• alterations to work schedules, starting or ending work, or both
• a change in your residence or the terms of your lease, or the beginning or end of your cohabitation with someone else
• alterations made to either the family or the partner
• alterations to the custody and visitation schedules
• if you make a compensation claim or are awarded compensation
• leaving Australia, either temporarily or permanently, with one or more of your dependent children

Essential Medical Equipment Payment only:1

Following the submission of this claim, you (and/or the person with medical needs) have an obligation to keep us apprised, within 14 days, of any changes to your circumstances that may have an impact on this claim.

You (and/or the person with medical needs), for instance (but this is not an exhaustive list), may need to:

• relocating to a new location
• no longer need the medical equipment or the heating and cooling that was required for medical reasons
• cease making contributions toward the payment of the household energy account.
• enter into an aged care residence, residential rehabilitation centre, hospital, medical facility, detention centre or prison
• no longer call Australia their home
• no longer share a home with the individual who has medical requirements

It is imperative that you inform Centrelink of any changes as soon as possible because failing to do so could result in you having to repay some or all of the money you received.

Only valid for holders of a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card:

You are required to inform Centrelink of any changes to your circumstances or those of your partner that may have an impact on your eligibility for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, such as the following examples:

• Your income is higher than the threshold that determines eligibility for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.
• There have been updates made to the information regarding your Seniors Supplement bank account.
• you are granted an income support payment from the Department of Veterans' Affairs
• you depart Australia for an indefinite period of time, including for vacations, or temporarily.

Going on vacation or relocating to another country

You are required to inform Centrelink if you move overseas or travel overseas for vacation. This is so that you are aware of whether or not you are eligible to receive payments while you are traveling abroad. You are required to get in touch with us at the earliest opportunity and no later than six weeks before your departure. You should also get in touch with us once you've arrived back in Australia.

Assistance with Rent

You are required to contact Centrelink if:

• you are eligible for Rent Assistance and you no longer pay rent, the amount of rent you pay shifts, you begin or stop sharing accommodation, or any combination of these factors
• you are required to make your first rental payment to a housing authority from a state, territory, or the Commonwealth.
• you are eligible for Rent Assistance and you relocate to live with one or more of your parents or guardians (Youth Allowance only).
• you moved back in with your parents or guardian(s) (Youth Allowance only), returned home, or started living with them.

Alterations to your current financial status

You must tell Centrelink if you:

• start receiving income, stop receiving income, or experience changes in income
• purchase a new investment, modify one or more of your existing investments, or watch one or more of your investments reach their maturity date (investments include insurance bonds, friendly society investments, public unit trusts, shares, credit unions, and other financial institutions).
• invest in a deferred annuity, an approved deposit fund, or a superannuation fund, and then take a withdrawal from that investment.
• have assets that have increased to a level that is higher than the permissible levels (if you have not been informed of the permissible levels, please get in touch with us).
• receive or discontinue receiving a pension, benefit or allowance (other than Family Tax Benefit) from Centrelink, or any payment from the Department of Veterans' Affairs, or the Department of Education, Science and Training, or a payment of a comparable nature from an overseas source.
• receive a payment under the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme, or stop receiving a payment under that scheme
• receive a payment or compensation as compensation.

Details regarding the claim that you have put in.

When you call Centrelink about your claim, your claim number can serve as a point of reference for the conversation.

There is a possibility that Centrelink will request additional information from you in order to complete the evaluation of your claim.

It's possible that we'll ask you to:

• You will need to download, fill out, and submit forms that collect detailed information about your answers to the questions asked in your claim.
• Collect the necessary documentation to verify the information you have provided in your claim, and provide it. You will only be asked by Centrelink to provide information that is pertinent to your situation if and when it is necessary.

Official copies of something

If a copy of the original verification document is presented to Centrelink along with a certification from a Justice of the Peace (JP) stating that the copy is a true representation of the original, Centrelink will accept the copy.

Please be advised that Centrelink will under no circumstances accept copies of any form of identification documentation.

Show proof of your birth or residency.

The following types of documentation can be presented to Centrelink as proof of residency or birth in Australia:

Evidence that you were born in Australia

• Certificate of Birth Issued in Australia
• A passport from Australia

Evidence of your arrival in Australia (if you were born somewhere else):

• Document Proving One's Citizenship
• Australian Visa
• A document attesting to one's identity that was issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Evidence of One's Status as a Resident and a Certificate
• Issued by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DHS) Certificate of Identity

Please refer to the factsheet titled "Proving Your Identity to Centrelink" for any additional information regarding these documents.

Your assertion responds to

After you have completed your online claim and sent it in to Centrelink, you will be able to view your responses to the questions that we asked you during that process.

Your responses will be used to determine whether or not:

• what other information Centrelink requires you to provide to us in order for them to evaluate your claim and possibly pay it
• your eligibility for the payment or concession card that was claimed.

Forms will be mailed to you.

If you are unable to download and print the necessary forms on your own or if you do not wish to do so, you can ask Centrelink to mail those forms to you instead.

In the event that you request this service, Centrelink will send you a covering letter along with all of the necessary forms for your claim.

Please be aware that Centrelink is not responsible for any delays that may occur if you choose to mail in your forms. Even if you ask Centrelink to mail your forms to you, you are still responsible for completing them and sending them back before the deadline.

Particulars and information

You will be asked to provide specific information regarding your situation in greater detail. It is possible that you will be asked to make reference to recent documents that you have obtained, or that you will be required to get in touch with your financial advisor or accountant, such as recent bank statements or payslips.

Verification documents

You might be asked to provide additional verification documents to support your claim, such as statements to confirm the types of investments you have or the balances on any accounts you hold. Please keep in mind that we require the original versions of any documents, not photocopies. If you are unable to obtain all of the required documentation at once, please get in touch with us.

Evidence of One's Birth

In Australia, hospitals and midwives will provide you with a declaration titled "Doctor/Midwife - Proof of Birth" for any newborn children in your care.

In addition to these, the originals of the following documents can serve as proof of birth:

• Proof of Birth declaration from a Physician or Midwife
• Certificate of birth status
• A copy of the birth certificate that has been certified.
• Passport
• Naturalisation papers
• Immigration papers
• Documents pertaining to an adoption

You do not need to provide these particulars for this child once more if you or anyone else has already done so in the past. You are welcome to get in touch with us to verify that the information has been provided.

If you are applying for Paid Parental Leave and you provide proof of the birth or adoption (and if the child was born, you must declare that you have taken action to register the birth) within 28 days of this child's birth or entry into your care, then you are eligible for the benefit. You get to pick the first day that your Parental Leave Pay will begin. Your first payment will be retroactively calculated and applied to the beginning of your Paid Parental Leave period. The date that your first payment is processed will not serve as the start date.

If you are claiming Dad and Partner Pay and neither you nor your partner are claiming Parental Leave Pay or family assistance, then you can provide a completed form containing the Doctor/Midwife - Proof of Birth declaration or you can provide a birth certificate. If you are claiming Parental Leave Pay or family assistance, then you must provide either a birth certificate or a completed form containing the declaration.

Please be aware that if the child was born outside of Australia, the documents that are submitted must either be the originals or copies that have been viewed and certified by an Australian Embassy, Consulate, or High Commission. They are not required to be rendered in the English language.

For children who were born in another country, the following types of documentation may serve as proof of birth:

• A document attesting to the child's birth that was issued by the appropriate authorities in the nation where the child was born
• Certificate of Australian Citizenship Obtained Through Descent
• Passport for the child, either Australian or from another country.

Evidence of vaccination or justification for an exemption

One of the following can serve as proof that your child has been immunized or that they are exempt from vaccinations:

• The Medicare card number for your child, which is then cross-referenced with the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register to determine your child's current vaccination status.
• A Statement of Immunisation History from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register
• An Immunization History form that has been filled out by your physician or another recognized provider of immunizations.
• A letter from your child's doctor or another recognized immunization provider stating that your child's vaccinations are up to date or that your child is participating in a catch-up program and providing the date that the next vaccination is scheduled to take place is required.
• A note from the pediatrician stating that your child possesses a natural immunity to a disease or that a vaccine is currently unavailable for administration to your child
• A medical contraindication issued by a healthcare professional or vaccination provider
• A form for conscientious objection that was filled out by a medical professional or immunization provider
• A letter from an authorized representative of the Church of Christ Scientist stating that you and/or your partner are active participants in the religious activities of this organization.

Note that the Personal Health Record of your child is NOT an acceptable form of proof of immunization for the purposes of the Child Care Benefit.

Visit the website located at www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/immunisation for further details.

Please be aware that if you are currently located outside of Australia, you are required to contact Centrelink to discuss the acceptable forms of proof of immunization or exemption, as well as the most appropriate way to provide that evidence to Centrelink.

Documentation of Income That Is Taxable

Your income estimate can be supported by evidence such as the following examples, but this list is not exhaustive:

• Regarding Pay and Benefits -
  • Payslips
  • A letter from your employer that details the amount that you currently earn as well as the amount that you can anticipate earning in the future
  • A letter from the employee's employer stating the customer's leave entitlements and the amounts that are owed to them within the six-month assessment period
  • Bank statements
  • Notice of Assessment Regarding Taxes
  • A letter from your bookkeeper supporting the estimate that was provided
  • Receipt of payments/Certificate of membership
• For the Purpose of Business or Independent Employment -
  • Statements of Revenue and Expenses
  • Your last available Tax Return
• For the Purpose of Investments
  • Scripts may be shared.
  • Bank statements
  • Notice of Assessment Regarding Taxes
  • A letter from your financial advisor or accountant.
• For Real Estate -
  • Statements of income for real estate agents and brokers
  • Rent Receipt records
  • Lease agreements
  • Bank Statements
  • Your last available Tax Return
  • A letter from your financial advisor or accountant.
• When it comes to One-Time Payments -
  • The documentation that supports the lump sum amount, as well as the date that the lump sum was received
  • A letter of resignation from your previous employer
  • Property sale documents
  • A letter from your accountant detailing your profits from the sale of assets for the applicable time period
  • Bank statement
• Regarding any other potential sources of taxable income -
  • Bank statements
  • Documentation in the form of paid-in-income receipts and/or statements
  • Your compensation provider should send you a letter outlining any compensation payments, along with their frequency and, if applicable, their termination date.

Evidence of the Use of Fringe Benefits

Your income estimate can be supported by evidence such as the following examples, but this list is not exhaustive:

• Your receipt of payment and group certification.
• A letter from your employer that details the total value of the supplementary benefits to which you are entitled.
• Your Notice of Assessment Regarding Taxes
• A letter from the claimant's accountant stating the anticipated loss for the applicable time period of six months.

Documentation of Income from Abroad

Your income estimate can be supported by evidence such as the following examples, but this list is not exhaustive:

• Bank statements
• Documents from your source of foreign income stating the amount you currently receive or will receive in the future
• Your Tax Return, as well as any Notices of Assessment Regarding Taxes
• A letter from your financial advisor or accountant.

Documentation of Tax Exemption for Income Earned Abroad

Your income estimate can be supported by evidence such as the following examples, but this list is not exhaustive:

• Bank statements
• Documents from your source of foreign income stating the amount you currently receive or will receive in the future
• Your Tax Return, as well as any Notices of Assessment Regarding Taxes
• A letter from your financial advisor.

Documentation to Attest to the Reportable Amount of Superannuation Contributions Paid

Your income estimate can be supported by evidence such as the following examples, but this list is not exhaustive:

• Your Notice of Assessment Regarding Taxes
• A letter from your accountant that details the anticipated loss for the period of time in question (which is typically six months).

A demonstration of the total net losses on investments

Your Baby Bonus income estimate can be supported by a variety of evidence, including but not limited to the following examples:

• Your Notice of Assessment Regarding Taxes
• A letter from your accountant that details the anticipated loss for the period of time in question (which is typically six months).
• A statement or record of profits and losses

Evidence of the Net Losses Sustained by the Rental Property

Your Baby Bonus income estimate can be supported by a variety of evidence, including but not limited to the following examples:

• Your Notice of Assessment Regarding Taxes
• A letter from your accountant that details the anticipated loss for the period of time in question (which is typically six months).
• A statement or record of profits and losses

Documentation proving that your income comes from tax-free pensions and benefits

Your Baby Bonus income estimate can be supported by a variety of evidence, including but not limited to the following examples:

• A statement from Veterans Affairs or Centrelink detailing the amount of pension or benefits you are currently receiving, indicating how much.
• Your notice of the annual or semiannual increase in the CPI, which specifies your current and ongoing entitlement
• Bank statements

In the event that you can provide proof that you have spent money on maintenance, we will deduct the full amount from your estimate.

Your Baby Bonus income estimate can be supported by a variety of evidence, including but not limited to the following examples:

• Your notice from the Child Support Agency regarding the assessment
• An order from the court that specifies the amount of child support that you are required to pay.
• A private agreement that details the amount of child support that you are obligated to pay.
• Parenting Plan or Agreement that details the amount of child support you will pay

Test to Show Evidence of Work

The following are some examples of work that can serve as evidence, but the list is not exhaustive:

• Claimants Who Have Earned a Wage or Salary:
  • Slips of paper with a year-to-date total of the hours worked; or
  • A letter from your accountant, if you have one; or
  • A recommendation from your employer, accompanied by an adequate amount of documentary evidence supplied
• Claimants who are self-employed or independent contractors:
  • Statutory Declaration of Your Status as a Self-Employed Individual or
  • Statement from an auditor or accountant

Documentation proving one's citizenship in Australia

• A passport from Australia
• Australian citizenship document

In the event that you are unable to provide this proof, Centrelink might be able to help you.

The most recent visa for Australia

You might have a letter from Australia's immigration department in addition to the stamp in your passport indicating that you have a valid visa for Australia, or your visa might be recorded on the passport itself. In the event that you are unable to provide this proof, Centrelink might be able to help you.

Documentation of Financial Support for the Seniors Health Card Program in the Commonwealth

The following are some examples of evidence that can be used to support your income, but the list is not exhaustive:

• Your tax return or your Tax Notice of Assessment, whichever comes first.
• Bank statements or income statements from a foreign country
• A letter from your employer is required in order to receive benefits that are provided by your employer.
• Your receipt of payments and group certification.

A record of all income, including that which is taxable and that which is not

If the amount of taxable income you and/or your partner earned during the assessment year is greater than the amount that is exempt from taxation, you are required to file a tax return for that particular fiscal year.

If the taxable portion of your income is greater than the tax-free threshold and you have already submitted your tax return, then the Australian Taxation Office will be able to obtain this information through a link with your return. You will be required to provide us with evidence that the income you receive is not subject to taxation.

You are required to provide other forms of evidence of both your taxable and non taxable income even if your income is below the tax free threshold and you are not required to file a tax return because your income is less than the threshold amount. The following are some examples of other types of evidence that may be presented, but this list is not exhaustive:

• a letter or statement from your retirement savings plan administrator.
• copies of the most recent bank statements.
• payslips, or
• a letter from the company that details the dividends that were paid out.

Supplemental Payment

After the close of the fiscal year, a process of verification is carried out. There will be a comparison made between the total amount of Family Tax Benefit and/or Child Care Benefit that you received throughout the year and the total amount that, according to your actual annual family income, you should have received. You may be eligible for a top-up payment if the amount you initially received was insufficient. Paying back past due tax obligations or family assistance obligations can be done with top-ups.

Updated Most Recently in March 2013