Centrelink Compensation Recovery
Medicare Compensation Recovery Program
When you have an injury or illness, you may get Medicare benefits, nursing-home benefits, or residential-care subsidies.
The Medicare Compensation Recovery Program recovers these benefits or subsidies you have been paid, if you get a compensation payment of more than $5,000 (including all legal costs).
Quick links
Find your nearest DHS Service Centre.
Read more about Medicare Compensation Recovery Program.
Centrelink Compensation Recovery Teams in each state provide a free compensation advisory service. Solicitors, other professionals and injured people can use this service to get advice about the effect that compensation payments may have on Centrelink payments.
Before you accept a compensation payment, you or your solicitor should call your nearest Compensation Recovery Team.
They can help you with queries such as:
- how a proposed lump-sum or continuing compensation payment may affect your Centrelink payments
- whether you need to repay any money to us as a result of receiving a compensation payment
- whether your compensation payment will stop you from receiving future Centrelink payments and, if so, the period in which this applies.
You need to know
Compensation payments
Under social-security law, compensation is defined as any payment for personal injury, illness, or disease that replaces lost income or earning capacity. This includes payments from within Australia and from overseas and applies to periodical payments as well as to lump sums.
Compensation can be paid for a work-related illness, injuries from a car accident, injuries caused by slips and trips, or any other injury that is due to the negligence or fault of another person. Payments under a sickness or accident policy that are reduced (offset) because you received payments from us also count as compensation.
Compensation affects your Centrelink payments
Because Centrelink payments are calculated on your income, receiving a compensation payment may reduce or prevent you from receiving, Centrelink payments.
Most Centrelink payments are affected by compensation. This includes a range of other payments made to people getting income support. Depending on your circumstances, past payments may also need to be repaid.
Compensation information for solicitors and insurers
Solicitors and insurers can get more information on compensation, including forms, publications and legislation links.
Existing customers
Call a Compensation Recovery Team
Call a Centrelink Compensation Recovery Team on the numbers below, for free compensation advice.
| State | Area | Phone | Fax |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW and ACT | All areas | 02 9208 2001 | 02 9208 2096 |
| VIC and TAS | All areas | 03 9201 9119 | 03 9201 9398 |
| QLD | Brisbane | 07 3871 6111 | 07 3871 6098 |
| Rest of QLD | 1800 777 653 | ||
| SA and NT | Adelaide | 08 8402 8088 | 08 8402 8260 |
| Rest of SA and NT | 1800 633 002 | 1800 018 310 | |
| WA | All areas | 08 9464 2632 | 08 9464 2654 |
Download the compensation and damages form
Download the Compensation and damages form if you are getting, are about to get, or have already got a compensation payment. This form is used to calculate your rate of payment or to review your entitlement.
Compensation review and appeal rights
If you think a decision we made is wrong, you have the right to ask us to look at it again. This will not cost you anything and is easy to do. Read more about reviews and appeals.
Compensation estimator
The compensation estimator assists customers and their legal advisers to estimate the impact of a pending compensation claim.