Work Bonus balance

We use your Work Bonus balance to offset your eligible income so you keep more of your pension if you’re working.

You’ll accrue $300 to your Work Bonus balance each fortnight, up to a maximum of $11,800.

If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, you can check your Work Bonus balance online.

To do this:

  1. Sign in to myGov.
  2. Under Payments and claims select My payments.

Sign in to myGov

Starting balance

The starting balance for your Work Bonus depends on when you submit your claim.

Claims submitted before 1 July 2024

If you lodged a claim between 1 December 2022 and 30 June 2024 you’ll get a one-off boost of $4,000 to your Work Bonus balance if haven’t received one before.

Your total Work Bonus balance can’t be more than the maximum of $11,800.

Claims submitted after 1 July 2024

When you claim an eligible payment for the first time, you’ll start with a Work Bonus balance of $4,000.

If you’re re-claiming an eligible payment, any Work Bonus balance you already had will carry over. If your balance is less than $4000, your balance may be topped up to $4,000 if it hasn’t been topped up in the last 2 years.

You’ll also get a one-off boost to your Work Bonus balance of $4,000 if you meet all the following:

  • you were over Age Pension age and getting a Work Bonus eligible payment before 1 December 2022
  • you stopped getting a Work Bonus eligible payment before 1 December 2022
  • you haven’t got a one-off Work Bonus balance boost of $4,000 before.
Page last updated: 10 September 2024.
QC 74352