How to get it

We check if you can get Rent Assistance each time you claim certain payments from us.

If you already get a payment from us, we’ll check if you’re eligible for Rent Assistance when you tell us:

• you’ve changed your address
• your accommodation details have changed.

Steps to get Rent Assistance

1.  

   1. Check if you can get Rent Assistance

   If you don’t already get a payment from us

   If you make a new claim for certain payments from us, you don’t need to do anything.

   We’ll check if you can get Rent Assistance as part of your claim.

   If you’ve got a formal tenancy agreement, we’ll ask you to provide a copy as part of your claim.

   If you don’t have a formal tenancy agreement, and we grant your claim for a payment, we may post you a Rent Certificate to complete.

   We use these documents to confirm how much rent you pay.

   If you already get a payment from us

   Update your address and accommodation details online. We will check if you can get Rent Assistance.

   The easiest way to confirm changes to where you live is online. To do this:

   1. Sign in to myGov and select Centrelink.
   2. Select MENU from your homepage.
   3. Select My Details, then Personal and contact details.
   4. Select either Update contact details, Update address details or Update accommodation details as required, then follow the prompts to update your details.

   Sign in to myGov

   You can also tell us by:

   • using the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app
   • calling us on your regular payment line
   • visiting a service centre.
2.  

   2. Provide proof of your rent arrangements

   We may ask you to give us proof of your rent arrangements to get Rent Assistance.

   If we ask you to complete a Rent Certificate or give us a formal tenancy agreement, you can submit them:

   • online
   • by post
   • at a service centre.

   You only need to complete a Rent Certificate if we ask you to. We’ll post it to you.

   You can also request it in your Centrelink online account 48 hours after either of the following:

   • your claim has been granted
   • you update your address and accommodation details and we apply the update to your record.

   Read more about how to request a document.

3.  

   3. Wait for the results

   If you’ve submitted a claim for a payment online, you can track the progress of the claim. To do this, sign in to myGov and select Centrelink, then select Make a claim or view claim status.

   Sign in to myGov

   You can also use the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.

   We’ll let you know the outcome of the claim. We’ll also tell you if we pay you Rent Assistance.

   We’ll send a message to your myGov Inbox.

   If you don’t get electronic letters, we’ll send you a letter in the mail.

   If we need more details we’ll ask you for them.

   If you already get a payment from us, we’ll write to you about any changes to the amount of your payment. This includes any increase or decrease to Rent Assistance.

   If you think we’ve made a mistake you can ask us to review our decision.