Australia’s 2025 Rent Assistance – Are You Eligible for $27 to $221 Weekly?

Renting a home in Australia isn’t cheap, and with rising living costs, many Aussies are feeling the squeeze. That’s where Centrelink Rent Assistance steps in. If you’re receiving certain government payments and paying rent, you could get between $27.02 and $221 every fortnight to help ease the burden.

In this guide, we’ll break down who qualifies, how much you can get, how it’s calculated, and how to make sure you’re getting what you’re entitled to in 2025.

Overview

Centrelink Rent Assistance is a financial top-up provided to low- and middle-income Australians who rent and already receive eligible government payments.

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It’s not a standalone benefit—you only get it if you’re receiving another qualifying Centrelink payment. The aim? To offset rising rental costs and make housing more affordable.

Eligibility

So, who can actually get this payment? You must:

• Be receiving a qualifying Centrelink payment like Age Pension, JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy, Parenting Payment, or Family Tax Benefit Part A (above the base rate).
• Be paying rent or similar housing costs (like in community housing or private rentals).
• Pay rent above a set minimum threshold for your living situation.

If you tick all those boxes, Centrelink will assess your eligibility and calculate how much you can get.

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Rates

The payment you receive depends on your family and housing situation. Here’s a breakdown of the updated 2025 Rent Assistance rates:

These amounts are reviewed regularly and were increased by 10% in September 2024 to keep up with inflation and rental market pressure.

Calculation

Wondering how your payment is worked out? It’s pretty straightforward. For every dollar you pay in rent above your minimum threshold, Centrelink pays you 75 cents—up to the maximum amount for your situation.

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Example:
You’re a single person paying $450 in rent every fortnight.

• Your rent threshold is $149
• $450 – $149 = $301
• $301 × 0.75 = $225.75
• Max payout for singles is $211.20, so you’ll get $211.20

If you’re below the rent threshold, you won’t get anything. The more rent you pay (within limits), the more help you get.

Payments

Centrelink Rent Assistance is paid together with your main payment—like the Age Pension or JobSeeker—every fortnight. The exact date depends on your primary Centrelink payment schedule.

Most payments fall on Tuesdays or Thursdays but can shift slightly due to public holidays or weekends.

Always check your myGov or Centrelink app to confirm your payment dates.

Apply

Already receiving a qualifying payment? Good news—you don’t need to lodge a separate application. Centrelink will assess your eligibility automatically once you update your rent details.

To make sure you’re all set:

1. Update Rental Info: Log in to your myGov account and enter your current rent amount and housing situation.
2. Submit Documents: If asked, provide a rent certificate or lease agreement.
3. Keep Info Updated: Any change in your rent, income, or living arrangements could change your eligibility or payment amount.

By staying on top of your rental details, you won’t miss out on help you’re entitled to.

Rent prices aren’t dropping anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean you have to face it alone. Centrelink Rent Assistance is one of the simplest ways to ease the financial load if you’re already receiving government support.

With payments reaching up to $221 per fortnight in 2025, it’s worth checking if you qualify and making sure your rental info is up to date. A few clicks on myGov could mean hundreds of dollars in support each month.

FAQs