The Australian government supports individuals and families facing various circumstances through Centrelink Payments. The Centrelink payout is a boon for millions of Australians as it offers many benefits, such as disability support, JobSeeker payment, Youth Allowance, etc.
Recently, there’s been a rumor that the Australian government will issue a one-time or bonus Centrelink payment for the vulnerable groups receiving the support. The rumors have been circulating through social media posts and on unofficial websites.
This rumor has led many Australians receiving the Centrelink payment to wonder if it is real or not. So, to clear your mind on this rumor, you should know that the government has not announced any such bonus Centrelink payment, and also warn about the fake information.
| Centrelink Bonus Payment | Fake News |
| Payout | Up to $1800 and $4100 |
| Rumor Source | Social Media and Unofficial websites |
| Precaution | Never click the link or share your information |
| Report Scam | Email: reportscam@servicesaustralia.gov Website: https://www.centrelink.gov.au/wps/portal/clk_common/TORS#stay |
| Official Website | https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/ |
| Fake bonus payment notice | https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/fake-information-about-bonus-centrelink-payments?context=60271 |
What’s the rumor imply?
According to reports, many posts or blogs are circulating saying the Australian government will launch a bonus payment or a one-time payment, or a cash relief payment to help the recipients with the increasing cost of living or to support the pensioners, carers, and other Centrelink recipients.
The rumors suggest the Centrelink recipients can receive the bonus payment up to $750 (age pension), or $1800. The rumors suggest the government will process these bonus payments in April 2025, and the recipients may have to apply for them or update their information.
The Aussies who receive the Centrelink payments and are wondering about the truth of such payments should know that it is fake news that is used to get the recipients’ financial information or later misuse the information or steal their hard-earned money.
Service Australia Warning
The Service Australia, which administers the governmental benefits, released a warning related to such a rumor in January 2025. The warning clearly says unofficial parties are using the Centrelink Bonus payment/ One-time payment/ cash relief payment as Clickbait to attract citizens.
These unofficial websites can be a potential scammer who wishes to lure citizens to a form or website that will lead to personal identity theft or fraud. The scammers generally use these tricks to attract the citizens who receive such benefits and get their information as they need support.
The government suggests that citizens never believe the Centrelink payments or any other governmental benefit news until it comes from the genuine Services Australia or myGov websites.
What are the precautions?
The Australian citizens should keep the following things in mind to stay protected from such potential scams:
- You must cross-check the information about the official Service Australia before engaging with any such post or rumor. You can visit the official website at servicesaustralia.gov.au or my.gov.au, or other official channels. You can also call the authority at +61 1300 169 468 or another Centrelink helpline.
- You should never click the link attached to these websites and share your personal information.
- You should know the authority will never contact you through social media or other means to update you about your payment.
- You may get a call from scammers impersonating Services Australia, but know that the Services Authority never asks for your personal information related to an application for the new payments.
- When you come across any email, social media message, or call that looks suspicious, you must immediately inform the authority about it to ensure the authority takes proper action against it.
Whom to report to?
If you come across any Centrelink scam, you can report the suspicious website, call, or person to the authority through the following ways:
- You can email the suspicious activity to Services Australia at the email address reportscam@servicesaustralia.gov and write about the scam when you haven’t clicked the suspicious link and have not shared your personal information.
- If you got the text message related to a scam, you can take a screenshot of the text and send it to the authority via email, and remember to block that contact number.
- You can report a Centrelink scam online through the online services at https://www.centrelink.gov.au/wps/portal/clk_common/TORS#stay and report the fraud about an organization or a person.
The Service Australia has always warned citizens to never believe any third-party announcement about the governmental benefits, because if they start any new payment of a bonus payment, they inform the recipients through genuine ways, and generally, such kind of payments are automatically processed.