About the BasicsCard
The current BasicsCard will expire on 1 July 2013 and will not work after this date. Read more about BasicsCards expiring.
Freecall™ available
Calls to the BasicsCard balance checking line are now free from a Telstra mobile. You can check your BasicsCard balance on Freecall™ 1800 057 111 from any landline or Telstra mobile. Find out more on Freecall numbers.
About the BasicsCard
The BasicsCard is a reusable, Personal Identification Number (PIN) protected card. Customers can use their BasicsCard to buy things they need such as food, clothes, health items and hygiene products.
The BasicsCard was introduced as a way for customers to use their income managed money to buy priority items at a variety of approved stores and businesses.
New BasicsCard
The new BasicsCard is free. It works just like the current one and can be used straight away. The new BasicsCard’s expiry date is June 2016.
You can use your new BasicsCard at the same approved stores and businesses that accept the current BasicsCard. Any money on your current BasicsCard will be transferred onto your new BasicsCard when it is issued to you.
Any regular amounts of money you have arranged to go onto your BasicsCard will go onto your new BasicsCard.
You will be asked to choose a new four-digit PIN when you get the new card. You can use your current PIN if you wish.
Using your BasicsCard
Watch the video to find out how to use your BasicsCard and keep your BasicsCard safe.
Transcript [rtf, 62kb] | Watch on YouTube
Getting a BasicsCard
We will offer you a BasicsCard when you start Income Management and will talk to you about how to use it.
Checking balances on your BasicsCard
You can check your BasicsCard balance by:
- calling the BasicsCard balance Enquiry Line on Freecall™ 1800 057 111
- using our online BasicsCard balance-enquiry service
- calling the Income Management line, on Freecall™ 1800 132 594
- using a BasicsCard kiosk, available in selected locations
- visiting your nearest Centrelink Service Centre.
BasicsCard kiosk locations
| Northern Territory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Region | Location | Address |
| Alice Springs | Yeperenye Shopping Centre | 36-38 Hartley Street Alice Springs Northern Territory, 0870 |
| Alice Springs | Northside Foodland IGA | 3 Hearn Place Alice Springs Northern Territory, 0870 |
| Alice Springs | Alice Springs Coles | Corner of Gregory Terrace and Bath Street Alice Springs Northern Territory, 0870 |
| Bathurst Island | Nguiu Ullintjini Association | Wurrumiyanga Bathurst Island Northern Territory, 0822 |
| Casuarina | Casuarina Square Shopping Centre | 247 Trower Road Casuarina Northern Territory, 0810 |
| Casuarina | Casuarina Village Shopping Centre | 54 Bradshaw Terrace Casuarina Northern Territory, 0810 |
| Darwin | Air Raid Arcade | 35 Cavenagh Street Darwin Northern Territory, 0800 |
| Karama | Karama Shopping Plaza | 37 Kalymnos Drive Karama Northern Territory, 0812 |
| Katherine | Oasis Shopping Centre | Katherine Terrace Katherine Northern Territory, 0850 |
| Palmerston | Palmerston Shopping Centre | Temple Terrace Palmerston Northern Territory, 0830 |
| Wadeye | Murrinpatha Nimmipa Store | Wadeye Community Wadeye Northern Territory, 0822 |
| Western Australia | ||
| Broome | Broome Boulevard Shopping Centre | 106 Fredrick Street Broome Western Australia, 6725 |
| Midland | Midland Gate Shopping Centre | 274 Great Eastern Highway Midland Western Australia, 6056 |
| New South Wales | ||
| Bankstown | Centro Bankstown | Stacy Street Bankstown New South Wales, 2200 |
| Chester Square | Chester Square Shopping Centre | 1 Leicester Street Chester Hill New South Wales, 2162 |
| Roselands | Centro Roselands | Roselands Dr Roselands New South Wales, 2196 |
| Victoria | ||
| Shepparton | Riverside Plaza | 8025 Goulburn Valley Highway Shepparton Victoria, 3631 |
| Queensland | ||
| Rockhampton | Stockland Rockhampton | Corner Yamba Road & Bruce Highway North Rockhampton Queensland, 4701 |
| Rockhampton | City Centre Plaza | Corner Fitzroy & Bolsover Streets Rockhampton Queensland, 4700 |
| Yeppoon | Central Shopping Centre | 42 Park Street Yeppoon Queensland, 4703 |
| Browns Plains | Grand Plaza | 27-49 Browns Plains Road Browns Plains Queensland, 4118 |
| Beenleigh | Beenleigh Market Place | 114-118 George Street Beenleigh Queensland, 4207 |
| Logan | Logan Hyperdome | Corner Pacific Highway and Bryants Road Loganholme Queensland, 4129 |
| South Australia | ||
| Elizabeth | Elizabeth Shopping Centre | 50 Elizabeth Way Elizabeth South Australia, 5112 |
| Elizabeth | Elizabeth South Shopping Centre | 100 Phillip Hwy Elizabeth South South Australia, 5112 |
| Munno Para | Munno Para Shopping Centre | 600 Main North Rd Smithfield South Australia, 5114 |
Businesses accepting the BasicsCard
You can use your BasicsCard at approved stores and businesses that display this BasicsCard sticker.
Find approved BasicsCard stores and businesses in your area
For assistance or more information, call the Income Management Line on Freecall™ 1800 132 594.
Alternative payment methods
You can do your shopping anywhere. If a store does not accept the BasicsCard, you can contact us to organise a payment to be made directly to that store.
What can and cannot be purchased using the BasicsCard
You can use your BasicsCard to buy most things except excluded goods and services. Excluded goods and services are alcohol, pornography, tobacco and tobacco products, gambling products, gambling services, home-brew kits, and home-brew concentrate.
You also cannot use your BasicsCard for:
- Cash out from a store or ATM
- Book-up (a credit offered by stores and other traders for the purchase of goods or services—usually in remote and regional areas of Australia)
- gift card or vouchers.
If you get a refund for items you bought using your BasicsCard, the money will be refunded back onto your BasicsCard. You cannot get a cash refund.
Putting income managed money onto your BasicsCard
We will talk to you about putting some of your income-managed money on your BasicsCard. Money can be put on your BasicsCard every fortnight when you get your Centrelink payments. You can also put extra money put on your BasicsCard from your Income Management account at any time using self service or contact us on Freecall™ 1800 132 594 between 8.00 am - 5.00 pm, seven days a week, including public holidays.
Using the BasicsCard outside an Income Management area
There are stores and businesses across Australia where you can use your BasicsCard. You need to talk to us before you travel, to ensure that you can access your income-managed money while you are away. We can provide you with a list of stores closest to where you will be staying that accept the BasicsCard. Remember to take your BasicsCard with you when you travel.
Find approved BasicsCard stores and businesses in your area
Keeping your PIN safe
Your BasicsCard is protected with a four-digit PIN. You will need to choose a PIN when you are issued with your BasicsCard. You must keep your PIN secret and secure. This means that you do not:
- tell anyone else your PIN, including family and friends
- write your PIN on your BasicsCard or on anything carried with your BasicsCard
- let anyone else see your PIN when you are using it
- let anyone else use your BasicsCard.
If someone has your BasicsCard and knows your PIN, he or she could spend all of your money. If you forget your PIN, call the Income Management Line on Freecall™ 1800 132 594.
Keep your BasicsCard safe:
- Do not throw your BasicsCard away.
- Remember to take your BasicsCard when you leave a store.
- Keep your BasicsCard in your BasicsCard wallet.
Lost, stolen, or damaged BasicsCard
If your BasicsCard is lost, stolen, or damaged, call the Income Management Line, on Freecall™ 1800 132 594, as soon as possible. This line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We will stop anyone else from using your BasicsCard and will talk to you about how to get access to your income-managed money until you get a new BasicsCard.
For more information on the BasicsCard, download the terms and conditions.