Proof of identity
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You are required to prove your identity when claiming a payment. You must establish your identity by providing original documents (not photocopies) from an approved list. We require you to prove both your:
- commencement of identity in Australia (proof of your birth or arrival), and
- use of this identity.
Note: The document you use to show your commencement of identity does not count towards the point required for the payment or service claimed.
If you have any difficulty in obtaining or providing these documents, you should contact us as soon as possible.
If you have previously met the proof of identity requirements, and you are reclaiming within 52 weeks of receiving a Centrelink payment, fewer proof of identity documents may be required. If you think this applies to you, contact us as soon as possible.
Where possible, we will use the documents you provide to prove your age, residence, income and/or assets relevant to the payment or service you are applying for. However, to be eligible for some payments or services, you may need to provide additional documents.
Definition of a partner
For our purposes, a person is considered to be your partner if you and the person are living together, or usually live together, and are married; or in a registered relationship (opposite or same-sex); or in a de facto relationship (opposite or same-sex).
We consider a person to be in a de facto relationship from the time they commence living with another person as a member of a couple. We recognise all couples, opposite-sex and same-sex.
The Proving your identity to Centrelink form lists the services that require Proof of Identity and the level of Proof of Identity that is required for each of these services.