Rural Call Centres

Rural Call Centres provide people living in rural and remote areas with a telephone service to help them deal with the challenges of being isolated and living away from more populated centres.

To talk to someone at the Rural Call Centre in your state, call your nearest DHS Service Centre.

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You may be eligible for Remote Area Allowance if you usually live in, or have temporarily moved into for an extended period, a remote area that is in a qualifying tax zone and you receive an income-support payment such as:

  • Age Pension
  • Disability Support Pension
  • Newstart Allowance
  • Parenting Payment (single)
  • Youth Allowance

Students who have a term address that is away from their usual place of residence may qualify for Remote Area Allowance in certain situations.

You do not need to make a claim for Remote Area Allowance. You are automatically assessed when you get your income-support payment if you are living in a qualifying tax zone, or when you move permanently to a qualifying tax zone.

If you are eligible to receive the Remote Area Allowance, we will send you a letter advising when your payment starts and how much you will get.

You need to know

Eligibility for Remote Area Allowance

Find out whether you are eligible for Remote Area Allowance.

Read more about eligibility

Payment rates for Remote Area Allowance

Find out about the payment rates of Remote Area Allowance.

Read more about payment rates

Existing customers

Change of circumstances while receiving Remote Area Allowance

You need to tell us if your circumstances change while receiving Remote Area Allowance. For example, you need to tell us if you change address or leave Australia.

You need to let us know about any changes within 14 days in case they affect your Remote Area Allowance. If you don't tell us about changes, you may be overpaid and will probably have to pay the money back.

If you deliberately don’t tell us about changes, you could be charged with fraud.

Payments paid while outside Australia

There are rules about getting your payment when you leave Australia.

Read more about payments paid while outside Australia