Has something happened that forced you out of your home?
Crisis Payment is a one-off payment for extreme circumstances and severe financial hardship. It is separate from any payment you already get.
One week
of your income support payment at the maximum basic rate, paid once, on top of what you already receive
What this is
Crisis Payment exists for the weeks when everything happens at once: leaving home because of family violence, staying in the home after a violent family member has left or been removed, arriving in Australia as a humanitarian entrant, or being released from prison or psychiatric confinement. It is one-off and non-taxable, equal to a week of your income support payment at the maximum basic rate, and it sits on top of whatever you already receive rather than replacing any of it.
Does it apply to you?
- Anyone who has left home because of family or domestic violence, or stayed after the other person left
- Humanitarian entrants arriving in Australia for the first time
- People released from prison or psychiatric confinement
- You generally need to be getting, or be eligible for, an income support payment
How to do it
- Check which type applies. There are separate Crisis Payments for family and domestic violence, other extreme circumstances, humanitarian entrants, and release from prison or psychiatric confinement.
- Claim within the time limit. It is short, so claim as soon as you safely can rather than waiting until things settle.
- You generally need to be getting or be eligible for an income support payment, and to be in severe financial hardship.
- Claim through your Centrelink online account via myGov, or by phone if that is safer.
Where people lose the money
Waiting until life settles down to claim.
The claim window is short. Claim as soon as it is safe, even if nothing else is sorted out.
Assuming it will cut your normal payment.
It is paid in addition. It does not reduce what you already get.
Not mentioning family violence because it feels private.
There is a specific Crisis Payment for it, with its own rules, and social workers at Services Australia can help you claim.
Questions
How much is it?
A one-off amount equal to a week's pay at the maximum basic rate of your income support payment or ABSTUDY Living Allowance. It is non-taxable.
Can I get it more than once?
There are limits on how often it can be paid, and they vary by the type of Crisis Payment. Services Australia's page for your situation sets them out.
Do I have to prove what happened?
You will be asked about the circumstance. For family and domestic violence, Services Australia has social workers who can assist with the claim and with what is needed.
Where can I get help right now?
1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 is free, confidential and open 24 hours for family and domestic violence. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.
Where these numbers come from
- Claim Crisis Payment · read 2026-09-23
Last gone over 2026-09-23. Figures change; the link above is always the current one.
Published by Income Lab, Melbourne. Responsible for this page: Jarred Krowitz.