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About the Department

Simplified Income Reporting for Income Support Recipients

Please note: the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Income Reporting and Other Measures) Act 2020 commenced on 7 December 2020.

Income support recipients now report the gross amount paid to them during their reporting period, instead of calculating the amount of income they will earn.

Further information can be found at the Services Australia website .

The Australian Government is improving and simplifying the way that employment income is reported and assessed for social security purposes. These changes make reporting easier for payment recipients, meaning people receive the right amount of income support and are less likely to incur a debt.

The Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Income Report and other Measures) Act 2020 (the Act) passed Parliament on 2 March 2020 receiving Royal Assent on 6 March 2020.

The Act commenced on 7 December 2020.

The Act was originally scheduled to commence on 1 July 2020. However, due to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the start date was delayed until 7 December 2020. The Australian Government passed the Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus Act 2020 on 23 March 2020 which contained amendments to the Simplifying Income Reporting and Other Measures Act 2020 to defer implementation for up to 12 months, to commence either by Government proclamation or on 1 July 2021.The Governor-General made the proclamation on 23 July 2020 setting a commencement of 7 December 2020.

Services Australia conducted communication activities to advise customers of the changes in the lead up to 7 December 2020.

Prior to 7 December 2020, payment recipients had to make a calculation to report their, or their partner’s, gross earnings based on the number and value of shifts they have worked. This could often end up being different to what they were actually paid.

Under this change, people can now refer to their or their partner’s payslip in order to report their gross employment income to Centrelink. This makes reporting easier so that people get the right amount of payment.

This change affects anyone who has to report their employment income for social security purposes, including partners of payment recipients. Affected payments include:

• Age Pension
• Carer Payment
• Disability Support Pension
• Farm Household Allowance
• Jobseeker Payment
• Partner Allowance
• Parenting Payment (single and partnered)
• Special Benefit
• Status Resolution Support Services
• Widow Allowance
• Youth Allowance.

These changes also facilitate the use of Single Touch Payroll data to pre-fill recipients' income reporting tool with their employer's name and employment income.

The Australian Taxation Office will provide Centrelink with Single Touch Payroll data, where an individual has been established as a mutual client. This information will be used to assist people to report their employment income.

From mid September 2020, the data has been used to pre-fill payment recipients’ employer information. As employers progressively start reporting the Single Touch Payroll expanded dataset over time, recipients will start to see their income also pre-filled through their usual reporting channel. People will still be responsible for reporting their income and making sure the information is correct. They will have the ability to review, update or add additional employment details before finalising their report to Centrelink.

Last updated: 4 August 2022 - 10:33am

Social Security Guide

Version 1.316 - Released 20 March 2024

Information provided on this website is prepared by the Department of Social Services (DSS) for general information only. You should independently check whether the information is relevant for your purposes.

While DSS makes every effort to ensure that the information on this site is up to date, DSS accepts no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information.

DSS does not accept liability for reliance on any information presented on this site.

For more information, please see the DSS Copyright & Disclaimer webpage.

The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia .

7.2.1.10 Departure & arrival notification

Under the notification provisions social security recipients must notify Centrelink about both overseas departures and arrivals in Australia if their travel may impact on their entitlements or rate of payment. Recipients living in a country other than Australia must notify Centrelink if they depart or return to that country. This will enable Centrelink to provide the recipient with advice on how their travel may impact on their social security entitlements and payment rate, any payment reviews applicable and the recipient's obligations while they are outside Australia.

Note: In any circumstances, income support payments cease to be payable after the prescribed portability period ( 7.1.2.20 ) has elapsed or if the conditions for portability are not met, unless the person's portability period has been extended. Payments may also cease to be payable if the recipient overseas ceases to qualify for payment, for example, PP stops for a PP recipient when their youngest child turns 6 for a partnered recipient or 8 for a single recipient.

Act reference: SSAct section 1217 Meaning of maximum portability period, allowable absence and portability period, section 1218C Extension of person's portability period—general

SS(Admin)Act section 67 Person who has made a claim, section 68 Person receiving social security payment or holding concession card, section 81 Cancellation or suspension for non-compliance with certain notices

Information about the recipient's departure

When a social security recipient notifies Centrelink of their departure, they may be required to provide the following information:

• date of departure, expected date of return (if any), destination
• reason for departure, if relevant
• medical information, if relevant
• payment information
• information about their AWLR ( 1.1.A.340 ), and
• the recipient's address for correspondence.

Based on the information provided by the recipient, the following will be considered:

• whether payment is portable for an unlimited or a limited period of time
• the purpose for travel, where relevant (for example, any payments with limited portability, such as JSP , SpB or for approved temporary absences)
• whether absence is temporary or permanent
• whether affected by the 'former resident' provisions, departure to New Zealand or payment under an agreement
• specific qualification requirements, such as mutual obligation requirements, from which the recipient has to be exempted to continue to qualify while outside Australia
• other qualification considerations (for example, is a carer travelling with the care receiver, or in a respite period)
• consequential changes (for example, to RA , home ownership, balance of bank accounts)
• whether the rate will be affected by proportional portability ( 1.1.P.310 ), and
• whether the payment is to be made by the local Services Australia service centre or CIS .

Act reference: SSAct section 1217 Meaning of maximum portability period, allowable absence and portability period

Medical information

In certain circumstances (for example, where a person is covered by an international social security agreement and is in receipt of DSP , or where the person has a terminal illness and is severely disabled), medical information may be necessary before the recipient leaves Australia or the agreement country in order to determine DSP portability.

Medical information is also required for DSP recipients who seek indefinite portability of their pension on the basis of a permanent and severe impairment and no future work capacity. DSP recipients applying for portability under these provisions are required to undergo a portability assessment which includes an assessment of their impairment and their future work capacity ( JCA ).

DSP recipients need to apply for portability under these provisions while in Australia and are required to undergo the portability assessment before departure.

Generally, those recipients who are overseas will need to return to Australia to undergo a portability assessment under these provisions.

An exception to the requirement to return to Australia for an assessment will apply in limited circumstances where a DSP recipient is unable to return to Australia because they have had a serious accident, or been hospitalised, before the end of their current portability period.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.6.1.50 Payability of DSP, 7.1.1.10 Overview of portability legislation, 7.1.2.10 General rules of portability, 7.2.1.30 Medical assessment for DSP, 7.1.2.20 Application of portability rules (portability table)

Payment information - CFP

Recipients who are required to claim a CFP and are going outside Australia may be asked about the possibility of obtaining a CFP from the other country, if they are going to a country which may allow a claim for the CFP from within that country but not from within Australia.

Recipients with foreign pensions from some countries, such as the UK and Germany, may be entitled to receive a foreign pension rate increase if they return to those countries.

Policy reference: SS Guide 7.3 Comparable foreign payments

Payment information - AWLR & proportional portability

In cases where residence information has not yet been established, information on AWLR is required from the recipient before departure so that the correct advice is given if the rate is to be affected by proportional portability.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.1.1.10 Residence requirement, 7.2.2.40 Australian working life residence

Payment information - sale of home before departure

If a pensioner sells their principal home and is intending to move overseas and buy another home, the capital amount from the proceeds of the sale that are set aside for the new purchase can be disregarded as an asset ( 1.1.A.290 ) for a period of up to 12 months. However, any proceeds of the sale put in a financial investment (for example, savings account) will be subject to the deeming rules under the income test which affect their rate of payment.

Act reference: SSAct section 11A(1) A reference in this Act to the principal home …

Policy reference: SS Guide 4.6.3.10 General provisions for assessing the principal home

Recipient obligations when outside Australia

While overseas, social security recipients are required to notify Centrelink of any change to their circumstances which may impact on their entitlements.

Recipients who have review forms fall due while they are overseas must return them to Centrelink by the due date to guarantee continuity of payments.

PP recipients who are scheduled to attend an interview to discuss the commencement of formal participation requirements at a time when they are expecting to be on an approved overseas trip can reschedule the interview to discuss their Job Plan to another convenient time preferably prior to their departure, or on their return to Australia.

Last reviewed: 14 August 2023

The Australian Government acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, water, culture and community. We pay our respects to the Elders both past and present.

Centrelink’s income reporting system is changing. Here’s how.

UPDATED: Changes to Centrelink benefits income reporting kick in on Monday. While Services Australia says the new rules make it “much simpler” for recipients, some low-income earners remain confused about how the system will work. Jessica Bassano has some answers.

Photo: AAP/Dan Peled

What will change?

From 7 December, low-income earners’ will report to Centrelink what they’re paid from their workplace within their allocated reporting period.

Economic Justice Australia chief executive Leanne Ho told InDaily that currently, Centrelink recipients calculate how many hours they’ve worked and how much they’ve earned within an allocated reporting period.

Low-income earners then declare the gross amount and hours worked to Centrelink in order to receive their welfare payment each fortnight.

Under the new system, low-income earners will report the gross earnings, as shown on their payslip, that aligns with their reporting period to Centrelink.

Ho said this should reduce confusion for those who worked inconsistent hours.

“Previously people might have got a payslip (from their workplace) that covered a different period to their Centrelink reporting period,” Ho said.

“They’d have to work out which bit of their payslip fell into that Centrelink reporting period based on what is on their payslip.”

She said the change should particularly benefit casual workers, whose hours were often sporadic.

“They won’t have to think: ‘I’m going to work another two shifts in the upcoming reporting period and add that to the amount I’m reporting,’” Ho said.

The way in which people report was not expected to change.

Ho’s comments come as some low-income earners received conflicting information from Centrelink which advised them that they would continue to report as they currently did into the new year.

One letter seen by InDaily and dated November 23 advised the person, who wished to remain anonymous, to continue to “report even if you have not received some or all of the pay yet” in January.

Asked why people were receiving conflicting information, Services Australia general manager Hank Jongen said, while letters issued before December 7 “do mention the current reporting requirements and what customers need to do as of the date of the letter, we’re confident our alert messages, web content and other updates will minimise any confusion after the change kicks in”.

Information about the reporting changes on the Services Australia website is expected to be updated to clarify conflicting information received in letters.

Who is impacted?

Services Australia said the change would affect all low-income earners who received a Centrelink payment or whose partner received the following payments:

• Age Pension
• Carer Payment
• Disability Support Pension
• Farm Household Allowance
• JobSeeker Payment
• Partner Allowance
• Parenting Payment single and partnered
• Special Benefit
• Status Resolution Support Services
• Widow Allowance
• Youth Allowance

Why is it changing?

The federal government has said the change is intended to prevent people from being paid the wrong amount and potentially incurring a debt.

The new system was due to start from July 1 but was deferred until December 7 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In February, the government estimated it would save a total of $2.1 billion over four years and impact about 550,000 Australians who were reliant on welfare payments.

But, as a result of the coronavirus, the number of low-income earners reliant on government payments has drastically increased, with the number of people on the JobSeeker allowance reaching an estimated 1.5 million.

It follows an announcement last month that the Commonwealth would pay $112 million in compensation to about 400,000 individuals who received robodebts – a system ruled unlawful by the Federal Court.

Robodebt involved matching Australian Taxation Office and Centrelink data to take back payments from welfare recipients, and reversed the onus of proof to make the recipient prove they hadn’t been overpaid.

How often will I need to report?

Jongen said people would be required to report fortnightly.

He said those who weren’t paid during the fortnightly reporting period would not report paid income but would still declare their hours worked within the reporting period.

Low-income earners who receive other payments – such as Christmas bonuses, back pay or monthly income – would have the payment “apportioned” for correlating period, according to Economic Justice Australia (EJA).

“Centrelink will apportion the income forward, by dividing the amount of the lump sum by the corresponding employment period,” EJA said.

“For example, back pay for the previous 12 month period will be assessed when it is paid to an employee and divided by 52 weeks going forward.

“Where there is no corresponding timeframe with a lump sum payment, Centrelink can decide how to apportion the income forward, between two and 52 weeks.”

Didn’t I always have to declare my gross income to Centrelink?

Jongen said people have always declared their gross income to Centrelink.

“This isn’t changing,” Jongen said.

“The change is that they will now report the gross amount they were actually paid during their reporting period, as shown on their payslip.”

He said the new system would make it “much simpler for people to report their income to Centrelink”.

Will I be taxed more?

Ho said Centrelink recipients’ taxable income would not be affected.

“You’re taxed on the income you earn and that won’t actually change. It’ll actually mean that people are less likely to end up with debts,” she said.

“Rather than being taxed differently it will just mean that the debts are less likely to happen.”

Welfare advocate Kym Mercer said the current system had led to errors, with people forced to repay debts as a result.

She said the new system appeared to made it less likely for people to incorrectly declare their income to Centrelink.

What happens during the reporting period change over?

While the change to income reporting is due to begin on December 7, low-income earners who report prior to this date but are paid between December 7 and 18 may need to make a one-off calculation as a result of the change over.

Services Australia said this would prevent declaring income twice.

The government agency website provides the below example for those who do need to make the one-off calculation.

How to calculate the one-off report between December 7 and 18. Screengrab: Services Australia.

Will I need to upload my payslip to the Centrelink online service?

Jongen said people would not need to upload their payslips to Centrelink’s online services.

But he said low-income earners would still be required to report their hours worked in the reporting period in order to meet their mutual obligations.

“This means they report the gross amount they were paid in their reporting period, and the number of hours they worked during the same period,” Jongen said.

While Services Australia said it would not be necessary to upload payslips, South Australian advocacy group Uniting Communities Law Centre (UCLC) advises people to continue to keep copies.

The advocacy group is among a number of centres across Australia which provide free advice on a range of Centrelink-related issues.

People who are experiencing problems with Centrelink payments can find their state’s specialist legal centre through the Economic Justice Australia website .

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How centrelink opening hours, payments and reporting dates will change for the 2024 anzac day public holiday.

Payment and reporting dates over the Anzac Day public holiday are set to shift for Centrelink customers.

The revised dates accommodate for branch closures affecting processing times and face-to-face appointments.

Centrelink branches across Australia will be closing for the Anzac Day public holiday on Thursday, April 25.

Most call centres will also be closed on Anzac Day, but online services and phone self-services will still be available.

This means you may need to report early — but may be paid early, too.

Your Centrelink online account will show your new reporting date for the Anzac Day reporting period.

“When you report early, you’ll need to include what you expect to be paid for that reporting period,” Services Australia said.

“You must also do this for any other changes that may affect your payment.

“If you make a mistake, you can correct your report within 14 days, or when you next report.

“You can still report your income to us, even when we’re closed.

“However, if you do this on a public holiday, we’ll pay you after the public holiday.

“You can also choose to report after your reporting period if you’re unsure of your employment income (or) there are changes to your circumstances during your reporting period.

“You can report once you know your employment income or the changes to your circumstances.

“We’ll pay you after you report to us.”

If you do not need to report income to receive your Centrelink payment, your payment will come a day early.

“An early payment is your normal payment, just paid early,” Services Australia said.

Payment and reporting changes for allowances

For Centrelink customers receiving JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Farm Household, Austudy, Special Benefit, and Status Resolution Support Services payments the following date changes apply:

• Those who would normally report income on Monday, April 22 can now report three days earlier on Friday, April 19. Those reporting on the Friday will receive payment on the following Monday.
• Customers who would normally report income on Tuesday, April 23 can now report a day earlier on Monday, April 22. Those reporting on the Monday will receive payment on the Tuesday.
• Those who would normally report income on Wednesday, April 24 can now report a day earlier on Tuesday, April 23. Those reporting on the Tuesday will receive payment on the Wednesday.
• For customers who would normally report income on Thursday, April 25, you can now report a day earlier on Wednesday, April 24. Those reporting on the Wednesday will receive payment on the Friday.

Payment and reporting changes for pensions

For Centrelink customers receiving a families payment, a Parenting Payment, Pensioner Education Supplement, Assistance for Isolated Child, Carer Payment, Carer Allowance, ABSTUDY, and the Age, Disability, or Double Orphan pension the following date changes apply:

• For customers who would normally report income on Monday, April 22, you can now report three days earlier on Friday, April 19. Those reporting on the Friday will receive payment on Tuesday, April 23.
• Customers who would normally report income on Tuesday, April 23 can now report a day earlier on Monday, April 22. Those reporting on the Monday will receive payment on the Wednesday.
• Those who would normally report income on Wednesday, April 24 can now report a day earlier on Tuesday, April 23. Those reporting on the Tuesday will receive payment on the Friday.
• For customers who would normally report income on Thursday, April 25, you can now report a day earlier on Wednesday, April 24. Those reporting on the Wednesday will receive payment on the Monday.

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Reporting income

by James Coyle | Oct 10, 2022 | Centrelink Age Pension | 12 comments

Reporting Income

Reporting income can be a minefield for those on an Age Pension or those who may be entitled to one in the near future. The difficulty for many is that it is less than clear which income is reportable to Centrelink – and how and when you need to do this. Additionally, uploading information online is not always as straightforward or intuitive as some organisations think. Today we share some recent Q&As on reporting income and how it  works in the real world.

I’ve just received my superannuation statement. Does this need to be forwarded to Centrelink now or will they request it? I can’t see anywhere on the Centrelink website to upload it? Thanks

Our answer . Centrelink won’t request the document from you, so it is best to take the initiative and upload it yourself. When you log in to your online Centrelink account you will see an option in the top right hand corner that says ‘Documents and appointments’ which, if you click, you will then see the ‘Upload documents’ option.

I am very confused. I have recently received my half yearly ‘Income Payment’ from my Account Based Pension which is paid into my bank account. Do I have to report this to Centrelink as income? Meanwhile, my Pension & Super values have dropped a lot since I started to receive the Age Pension in earlier this year. Do I need to resubmit my bank statement and the pension valuation to Centrelink?

Our answer. The good news about Account Based Pensions is that these income streams are treated as assets and assessed based on the total balance available in the account, not the amount you are paid from it. Therefore you do not need to declare the payment you received as it is not considered income. Regarding your super balances it is definitely a good idea to give Centrelink updated balances of these and all other assets such as bank accounts, cars etc. so that Centrelink can more accurately calculate how much Age Pension you are entitled to. If, in fact, your superannuation has decreased, you could be entitled to a  higher Age Pension, so this is an incentive to keep your records up to date.

I have recently received a tax refund. Do I need to report this as income?

Our answer. Tax refunds are not considered income for the purposes of Age Pension testing, so it is not necessary for you to report this.

How often should I advise Centrelink of changes to assets, ie share holdings and bank accounts?

Our answer . The important thing to know about updating your assets with Centrelink is that they will only update/recalculate based upon changes you advise and nothing else. Ergo, if you update the balances of your bank accounts only, Centrelink will not check on the share prices nor will they presume a decrease in the value of your car or consider any other changes that could have occurred.

As we’ve discussed before, the difference between assets and income (and therefore what is reportable) can be very confusing. There are also penalties for misreporting or failing to report, so there is a lot at stake. If you would like support from our qualified financial advisers on your specific income or asset concerns, tailored one-on-one advice consultations can provide a timely solution.  Also, don’t forget that if you are employed and on the Age Pension you need to report your employment income to Centrelink on a fortnightly basis.

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This article is provided by Retirement Essentials Representative Number: 001260855.  We are an authorised representative of SuperEd Pty Ltd ABN 88 118 480 907 AFSL #468859.  This information is not intended as financial product advice, legal advice or taxation advice. It does not take into account your personal situation, goals or needs and you should assess your own financial situation, consider if the information is suitable for you and ensure you read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) if you choose to make any changes to your financial situation. It is always advisable to consult a financial adviser before making financial decisions.

12 Comments

Hello My husband is on the pension. I am not of pension age yet but understand that my income and assets are considered in the calculation. I have just got occasional job where on average I might work 1 day every 3 weeks – earning only about $140. I can’t see on the web site where to update that information. Would you kindly let me know how to do this? Cheers

Hi Jan, well done for trying to proactively resolve this issue yourself however you will need to call Centrelink on 132 300 so that they can ‘turn on’ the income reporting function so that you can begin declaring what you earn each fortnight.

Thank you, I find the information on this forum very enlightening and useful. Please keep up the good work.

Brilliant thank you so much incredibly helpful! I so look forward to your weekly info!

My wife and i receive the full aged pension plus a DVA disability pension My wife will shortly receive an inheritance of approximately $ 260,000 Please correct me if I am wrong , I understand that if she deposits this amount into her accumulated super scheme she does not need to declare this money to Centrelink Whilst her age is 61 she qualifies for the pension because i receive the DVA disability pension If she decides to withdraw this money at a later date as a on off withdrawal to help pay for a new retirement home does she have to then declare the balance to Centrelink

Hi Chris, great question! We actually have not come across this scenario previously whereby someone under Age Pension age is eligible and receiving the Age Pension so we do not have any first hand experience. Centrelink’s website only covers the standard scenario of a younger partner not being eligible. Technically, based on Centrelink’s wording of “ superannuation investments if you are over Age Pension age ” you are correct, if your partner is under Age Pension age their super in accumulation is exempt however her receiving the Age Pension already may over-rule that. Best you call Centrelink on 132 300 to be sure.

Very helpful however still unsure whether I need to report employment income when my part pension continues to be determined under the assets test. When my pension was approved I wasn’t working but will be soon, however I won’t earn enough to bring the income test into play?

We had a property in Canada Centerlink knows about the property and is in the assets declaration Back in May we had a major break-in and on the 7 october they [insurance company settled $28,0465 This was the cost to fix and replace what was stolen and damaged Do i need to report this to Centerlink? I believe that it is not additional income as this is what it would cost to replace and fix up the cabin? Could you advise us

Hi Mike, you are correct! Although you did get a large increase to your bank balance you then spent the money fixing and replacing what was damaged. You would only need to declare to Centrelink if you spend less than you were paid and therefore the net result is you have more money in your account.

There is no option to upload documents on my online Centrelink account. The search facility does not lead to Documents and Appointments either.

The top right location you cite for uploading documents on the Centrelink website is not there. Could you perhaps check and confirm.

Hi Mira, unfortunately we cannot post pictures in these comments to show you specifically where to go but can assure you that if you are logging in to your online Centrelink account using an internet browser (it is different if you use the app) then the menu option “Documents and appointments” is definitely there in the top right hand corner.

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Centrelink Payments Are Changing on Anzac Day in 2024, Here’s What to Know

While some businesses will be open, or re-open later in the day, on the public holiday on Thursday , Centrelink will not be one of them. All physical branches will be closed across Australia on Anzac Day . As the Centrelink website advises:

“Our service centres and most call centres will close for the Anzac Day public holiday Thursday 25 April 2024. This means your reporting and payment dates may change and you’ll need to report early.”

This closure also impacts Centrelink call centres, but online services will be running.

This means you may be required to report early, but the bonus is that means you could also be paid early. If you choose to report on the public holiday date, payment will not be processed until Centrelink branches re-open after the holiday.

Services Australia says that you can choose to submit after your reporting period for two reasons: if you’re unsure of your employment income, or if there are changes to your circumstances during your reporting period.

Don’t stress too much if you make mistake when you report because Centrelink will give you 14 days to correct your mistake.

Anzac Day public holiday Centrelink reporting dates

To help those who have to report, Centrelink has provided a list of the new dates around the Anzac Day public holiday. For those on JobSeeker , Youth Allowance , Farm Household Allowance, Austudy, Special Benefit or Status Resolution Support Services Payments, the dates are as follows:

• If your normal reporting date is Monday April 22 the new reporting date is Friday April 19. The revised payment date will be Monday April 22.
• If your normal reporting date is Tuesday April 23 the new reporting date is Monday April 22. The revised payment date will be Tuesday April 23.
• If your normal reporting date is Wednesday April 24 the new reporting date is Tuesday April 23. The revised payment date will be Wednesday April 24.
• If your normal reporting date is Thursday April 25 (aka the Anzac Day holiday) the new reporting date is Wednesday April 24. The revised payment date will be Friday April 26.

For those on Centrelink payments including a families payment, ABSTUDY, Age Pension, Assistance for Isolated Children, Carer Allowance, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, Double Orphan Pension, Parenting Payment, Pensioner Education Supplement, the new reporting dates are:

• If your normal reporting date is Monday April 22 the new reporting date is Friday April 19. The revised payment date will be Tuesday April 23.
• If your normal reporting date is Tuesday April 23 the new reporting date is Monday April 22. The revised payment date will be Wednesday April 24.
• If your normal reporting date is Wednesday April 24 the new reporting date is Tuesday April 23. The revised payment date will be Friday April 26.
• If your normal reporting date is Thursday April 25 (aka the Anzac Day holiday) the new reporting date is Wednesday April 24. The revised payment date will be Monday April 29.

Centrelink advises that each individual’s Centrelink account should show the new reporting date for the Anzac Day period, so check your account to be 100% sure.

For those who don’t need to report to receive a payment you don’t need to worry about this change, in fact Centrelink says it may just pay you early due to the public holiday closure. However, this means you’ll need to adjust your budget to last until the next payment date, which will be at the usual time rather than pulled forward. You can check the Centrelink website for revised payment dates.

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Do I need to report annual leave?

Elvira receives a pension and still works part time and wants to know how to report her upcoming annual leave.

•••

Q. Elvira I am 68 years of age and still working and getting paid a part pension. I would like to know if I have to submit annual leave and leave loading as an income to Centrelink? I would like to take 40 hours annual leave. I work permanent part time, approximately 35 hours per fortnight.

A. If you take leave from work you need to report how much of your income in the reporting period was:

• hours you worked, including any paid sick leave hours.

Even if you don’t have mutual obligation requirements, which won’t apply to you on the Age Pension, you still need to provide Centrelink with the above information.

You have 14 days to tell Centrelink about leave earnings at a different rate from your normal income.

You also need to inform Centrelink if your employer pays you for leave that you have built up but didn’t take time off for. Centrelink assesses this differently from other leave.

If you enjoy our content, don’t keep it to yourself. Share our free eNews with your friends and encourage them to sign up .

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Disclaimer: All content on YourLifeChoices website is of a general nature and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It has been prepared with due care but no guarantees are provided for ongoing accuracy or relevance. Before making a decision based on this information, you should consider its appropriateness in regard to your own circumstances. You should seek professional advice from a Centrelink Financial Information Services officer, financial planner, lawyer or tax agent in relation to any aspects that affect your financial and legal circumstances.

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The U.S. economy slowed down in the first three months of 2024, report shows

Scott Horsley

The U.S. economy grew more slowly than expected in the first three months of the year. But consumers are still spending money — especially on services such as travel and restaurant meals.

SCOTT DETROW, HOST:

But first, the U.S. economy downshifted the first three months of this year. The government report out today shows the economy grew less than half as fast in the first quarter as it did during the previous three months. The news triggered a sell-off in the stock market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 375 points. NPR's Scott Horsley joins me now. Hey, Scott.

SCOTT HORSLEY, BYLINE: Hi - good to be with you.

DETROW: So investors were not happy about the slowdown. How big of a concern is this?

HORSLEY: Today's report shows the economy grew at an annual rate of just 1.6% in the first quarter. That is a marked downshift from the previous quarter, when we grew at nearly 3.5%. But, you know, that headline figure may overstate just how hard we hit the brakes. Some of the drop-off came from one-time factors, which really don't tell us much about the underlying economy.

If you zoom in on consumer spending, which is the biggest driver of economic growth, that actually held up pretty well. Americans did spend less on big-ticket items like cars and furniture in the first three months of the year. Those things are often financed, so high interest rates are likely taking a toll. But economist Shannon Grein of Wells Fargo notes people continue to ramp up their spending on services like restaurant meals and travel.

SHANNON GREIN: I think the overall report was still consistent with an economy that's pretty much firing on all cylinders.

HORSLEY: Indeed, services spending rose at an annual rate of 4% in the first quarter, which is fast enough to keep the economy chugging along and potentially fast enough to put some upward pressure on inflation. In fact, today's report shows a key measure of inflation ticked up in the first quarter, so that's something the Federal Reserve is going to be keeping a close eye on.

DETROW: And, of course, they've been keeping interest rates high. How are people paying for all of this spending?

HORSLEY: You know, some people are relying on credit to finance their spending, which is costly if you don't pay off that balance every month. But a lot of this spending is being bankrolled by people's paychecks. You know, we still got a very strong labor market. Lots of people are working. Wages are going up. And most people are not saving a lot of what they earn, so that money's going right back out the door as spending.Today's report also shows business investment held up pretty well in the first quarter, and there was a surprisingly big jump in housing investment.

DETROW: Yeah. That was interesting, especially since, as we've been saying throughout the conversation, mortgage rates are still pretty high. What's going on there?

HORSLEY: Yeah. Those high mortgage rates are definitely dragging down the housing market. Sales of existing homes are down, and there aren't a lot of older homes on the market, but that's giving an unexpected boost to new home construction. Investment in new homes was way up in the first quarter. Shawn Woods is a home builder in Kansas City. He says about 1 out of 3 homes sold in that area is now newly built.

SHAWN WOODS: The inventory that people can find for a new home is new construction, which is great for us as homebuilders, helping out our sales a lot. March and April have been really good months. We're looking for continued good momentum through the spring.

HORSLEY: Woods and other home builders have also been downsizing some of their homes, maybe cutting back on some of the luxury finishes in order to craft a product that home buyers can afford.

WOODS: Before the pandemic, there's no way we could get under really 325,000, and we have reengineered some of our plans, taken different specifications and things like that. And we're bringing new homes to the market now in the 286 to 290 range, starting price. So that's helped immensely.

HORSLEY: That's especially important now that mortgage rates are up above 7%.

DETROW: That's NPR's Scott Horsley. Scott, thanks so much.

HORSLEY: You're welcome.

Copyright © 2024 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

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Link Centrelink

Centrelink can help you access Australian Government social security payments and services. Find out more about Centrelink  on the Services Australia website.

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This information was printed 27 April 2024 from https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/when-and-how-to-tell-us-about-overseas-travel-if-you-get-jobseeker-payment . It may not include all of the relevant information on this topic. Please consider any relevant site notices at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/site-notices when using this material.

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Student Protest Movement Could Cause a Tumultuous End to School Year

Protesters were arrested at the University of Minnesota and Yale, and the House speaker, Mike Johnson, said he would come to Columbia to speak to Jewish students about antisemitism on campuses.

• Share full article

By Troy Closson

As a wave of pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses showed few signs of abating on Tuesday, the demonstrations have raised new questions about what shape the end of the semester may take for thousands of students across the United States.

At Columbia University, where the arrests of more than 100 protesters unleashed a flurry of national protests, students will have the option to attend their last week of lectures remotely for safety reasons. At the University of Texas at Austin, protesters announced plans to occupy a campus plaza and said that, at least for them, “class is canceled.”

And at the University of Michigan, administrators were already looking ahead and bracing for graduation. They set up designated areas for demonstrations, and agreed to “generally be patient with lawful disruptions.”

“Commencement ceremonies have been the site of free expression and peaceful protest for decades,” the university said in an online message, adding, “And they will likely continue to be.”

The steps are an acknowledgment that the last weeks of the spring could be among the most difficult for administrators at some of the nation’s most prestigious universities. On Tuesday, the campus police at the University of Minnesota took nine people into custody after they erected a protest encampment, following dozens of arrests at Yale and New York University.

Other demonstrations continue to emerge from coast to coast, including at the University of New Mexico and Emerson College. At California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, students took over a campus building, and barricaded the exits with chairs and trash bins.

The pro-Palestinian student movement has disrupted campus life, especially for Jewish students. Many have said they no longer feel safe in their classrooms or on university quads as the tone of protests at times has become threatening. Speaker Mike Johnson said he would meet with Jewish students at Columbia University on Wednesday and give remarks about the “troubling rise of virulent antisemitism on America’s college campuses,” according to a news release.

At the same time, many school leaders may face the possibility of graduation ceremonies transforming into high-profile stages of protest over the war in Gaza.

No matter how administrators approach these final weeks, the stakes are uniquely high for students who are graduating. Many graduated from high school in the first months of the coronavirus pandemic, and never walked across the stage or celebrated alongside their classmates.

The tumult on campuses escalated after Columbia’s administration called in the police last week to arrest student protesters who had organized a large encampment on a school lawn and refused to leave.

At the New School in Manhattan, where protesters have set up tents inside a school lobby, a couple dozen students formed a picket line on Tuesday as they chanted to the beat of a drum. When one student was asked how long protesters intended to continue the demonstrations, she said there was no immediate end in sight.

“We’re demanding something,” said the student, Skylar Schiltz-Rouse, a freshman who joined the protest on Monday. “So if it doesn’t happen, we’re going to have to keep going.”

It was not yet apparent whether the turmoil at schools would prompt additional arrests, or whether college leaders would adopt a less aggressive playbook as the semester winds down.

Many administrators, watching the uproar at Columbia, seem to be choosing other strategies to handle the protests. Several universities, including Harvard and schools in the California State University system, have shut down parts of their campuses in an effort to avoid major clashes and conclude the school year quietly.

“What you’re seeing is an inability to find spaces for dialogue and conversation and understanding,” said Benjie Kaplan, the executive director of Minnesota Hillel, a Jewish student group.

After school leaders often inflamed unrest with their initial responses, some have begun to hit the brakes.

At Barnard College, Columbia’s affiliate school, many student protesters had received interim suspensions for last week’s tent demonstration. But in a Monday night email, the school’s president, Laura Ann Rosenbury, extended an olive branch.

The school would lift most of the suspensions and restore students’ access to campus, she said, as long as they promised to follow the rules. Those who still face discipline would have access to hot meals, mental health counseling and academic support. And with a professor’s permission, they could also finish out the semester virtually.

“I strongly believe that exposure to uncomfortable ideas is a vital component of education, and I applaud the boldness of all of our students who speak out,” Ms. Rosenbury said in the email, her first message since the arrests of protesters on Columbia’s campus last week, several of whom were Barnard students.

“But,” she said, “no student should fear for their safety while at Barnard.”

She added: “In these last few weeks together before our seniors graduate, let’s be good to one another.”

Some pro-Palestinian students, though, may regard commencement as an opportunity.

Protesters at many schools have vowed to press on until their universities divest from companies with ties to Israel, often chanting “We will not stop. We will not rest.” Administrators are on high alert for demonstrations or threats, as tens of thousands of families travel to campuses in May and June to attend graduations.

Dagmar Michelson, a senior at the New School, was unsure if protests were planned for the university’s May 17 ceremonies. But if they are, she added, she would not be upset.

“It’ll be nice for those who haven’t recognized their privilege,” she said.

Earlier this month, the University of Southern California cited security concerns when it canceled a speech by its valedictorian , a first-generation Muslim student who questioned the university’s explanation. The school later said it would also not host outside honorees.

Already, students have organized demonstrations meant to disrupt cherished college traditions.

At Michigan, several dozen protesters took over a celebration for honors students last month, waving signs that read “Divest Now” and interrupting a speech by the university’s president, Santa J. Ono, according to The Michigan Daily .

“Protest is valued and protected,” Dr. Ono said in a statement after the event. “Disruptions are not.”

Shira Goodman, the senior director of advocacy at the Anti-Defamation League, said the disturbance at Michigan “may unfortunately be a harbinger for what’s to come.”

The group is concerned about the potential of harassment or “identity-based hostility” toward Jewish families at graduation ceremonies. “We remain deeply concerned,” Ms. Goodman said in a statement.

Some colleges are now stepping in to promise Jewish students a safe haven. Brandeis, a historically Jewish university in Massachusetts, said this week that it would extend its deadline for transfer applications in response to campus protests.

The president, Ronald D. Liebowitz, said the school would provide an environment “free of harassment and Jew-hatred.”

Other schools have had little time to look ahead to the future as they reel from the last few days.

At N.Y.U., where at least 120 people were arrested on Monday night after refusing to vacate a plaza, several students said on Tuesday that they would continue to voice support for Palestinians, and were unconcerned that their protest activities might upend final essays and assignments.

The university had said it turned to the police because “disorderly, disruptive and antagonizing behavior” of protesters created safety concerns. But on Tuesday, a professional faculty organization shot back.

The school’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors called “much of their account” false, referring to the administration, and criticized the decision to call the police as an “egregious overstep.”

And at Columbia, the university’s president, Nemat Shafik, is facing the threat of a formal censure resolution from the school’s faculty for her handling of demonstrations. Many Republican lawmakers are also still calling for her resignation, arguing that the school has failed to safeguard its Jewish students.

The decision to offer hybrid classes at Columbia seemed to be a tacit acknowledgment that many students were, at the very least, uncomfortable there. Many are expected to log on from their dorms and apartments. Others might attend from a large protest encampment that remained in the center of campus.

Along with the demonstration, occasional outbursts at rallies have occurred outside the campus’s gates over the past several days. But otherwise, Columbia has been quiet during what is typically a bustling final week of the semester.

Angela V. Olinto, the university provost, said in an email on Monday night that if even one student wanted to finish out the year online, professors should offer hybrid classes — or move to fully remote if that was not an option.

“Safety is our highest priority,” Dr. Olinto said.

Maia Coleman , Eliza Fawcett , Colbi Edmonds , Jose Quezada , Ernesto Londoño , Kaja Andric , Coral Murphy Marcos , Dana Goldstein , Karla Marie Sanford and Stephanie Saul contributed reporting.

Troy Closson reports on K-12 schools in New York City for The Times. More about Troy Closson