Remote Area Allowance

Remote Area Allowance gives people extra financial help if they receive certain income-support payments and live in a remote area.

For more information, see the Remote Area Allowance section of this website.

Quick links

Find your nearest DHS Service Centre

You can get help through a Rural Call Centre if you are calling from within the dedicated catchment areas (in Queensland and South Australia) or if you call the Drought and Farmer Assistance hotline, on 132 316.

You will talk to staff who understand the needs of people who live in an isolated area. They are knowledgeable and understanding, and some staff may even be from your own rural area.

Rural Call Centres improve rural customer satisfaction with service provision, and importantly, locate services and deliver jobs in regional Australia. Rural customers in the dedicated catchment areas can still call the Centrelink 13 number, but your call will be answered by specialist trained staff in the Rural Call Centres.

If you call the Drought and Farmer Assistance hotline on 132 316, you will also have your call answered by specialist Rural Call Centre staff.

First steps

Contact the Rural Call Centres

To talk to someone at the Rural Call Centre, phone the Drought and Farmer Assistance hotline on 132 316.

Rural customers in the dedicated catchment areas can still phone their normal Centrelink 13 number and calls are answered by specialist trained staff in the Rural Call Centres.