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What documents you need
As you complete your Special Benefit claim we’ll ask you to provide us with certain documents or information. These will help us to assess your claim.
You’ll need to provide these documents before you can submit your claim. Having them ready will help you finish your claim and not delay the process.
For your Special Benefit claim you must provide bank statements for the last 3 months for all accounts you have. This includes any overseas accounts. If you have a partner, we’ll also require bank statements for all accounts held by them.
You’ll also need to confirm your identity and provide a tax file number. You can find out more about tax file numbers from the Australian Taxation Office.
If you’re submitting a claim on behalf of a child who’s an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you must provide:
- bank statements for the last 3 months for all accounts held by the custodial parent or guardian - this includes overseas accounts
- birth certificate or Proof of Australian Citizenship for the child
- details of payment and correspondence nominee arrangements - custodial parent or guardian must be the child’s nominee
- tax file number for the child claimant
- details of your Child Support.
If the child claimant’s parents are separated, the custodial parent will need to apply for Child Support. If asking for child support puts you or your family at risk, you can call us on 132 850 or go to a service centre and ask to speak to a social worker.
Other documents you may need
You may need to give us other documents as part of your claim. When you submit your claim, we’ll tell you if we need anything else to support your claim.
We’ve listed the documents and information we usually ask for. You may not need all of them. Your parents, your guardian or your partner may also need to provide some of these documents to support your claim.
If you have a partner or have become separated from your partner since you last claimed a payment or service, you need to let us know. You’ll also need to let us know if your relationship status changes.
| If you, and your partner | Forms you may need to complete and information you might need to give us |
|---|---|
| earn an income or have assets | You may need to give us:
|
| are self employed | You may need to give us:
|
| pay rent where you live | You need to let us know this information and give us proof of your accommodation and rental arrangements. |
| own your own home, property, or any other real estate | You may need to give us Real estate details, such as rental property or real estate assets inside and outside Australia. |
| receive foreign pension or income | You may need to give us:
|
| receive compensation or damages | You may need to give us information about compensation and damages. |
| study, intend to study, or have stopped studying | You may need to give us study details. |
| have extra income and assets | You may need to complete income and assets. |
| participate in a private company | You may need to complete notes for Private Company. |
| participate in a private trust | You may need to complete notes for Private Trust. |
| under 18 and unable to live at home | You may need to complete unreasonable to live at home. |
| have stopped work in the last 12 months | You may need to complete an Employment Separation Certificate. |
How to submit your documents
You can upload documents in your Centrelink online account or the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app. Read how to submit your Centrelink documents online.
You can also give them to us by mail, fax, or at a service centre.