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Telephone Allowance

Helps with the costs of maintaining a telephone and a home internet service.

Change of circumstances

You need to tell us if your circumstances change while receiving Telephone Allowance. For example, you need to tell us if you are no longer a telephone or home internet subscriber.

Call us on your usual payment number.

Telephone Allowance helps toward the cost of your telephone bills if you have a telephone connected in your or your partner’s name and you receive an eligible income support payment.

There are two rates of Telephone Allowance, depending on your circumstances. Your eligibility for it is assessed when you make a claim for certain Centrelink payments.

You need to know

Eligibility for Telephone Allowance

Find out if you are eligible for Telephone Allowance.

Payment rates for Telephone Allowance

These Telephone Allowance payment rates are effective from 20 September 2012.

Payment adjustments and reviews for Telephone Allowance

Telephone Allowance is usually adjusted on 20 September each year in line with the Consumer Price Index—that is, in line with increases in the costs of living.

From time to time, your eligibility for the allowance may be reviewed.

First steps

Claiming Telephone Allowance

When you claim certain Centrelink payments, your eligibility for Telephone Allowance is assessed at the same time.

If you already receive a qualifying Centrelink payment and you later become a telephone or home internet subscriber, you can test your eligibility for Telephone Allowance by:

calling us on your usual payment number
visiting your nearest DHS Service Centre.

If you disagree with a decision we make

You always have the right to appeal any decision we make. Read more about reviews and appeals.

Existing customers

Change of circumstances while receiving Telephone Allowance

You need to tell us if your circumstances change while you are receiving Telephone Allowance. For example, you need to tell us if you are no longer a telephone or home internet subscriber.

You need to let us know about any changes within 14 days in case they affect your allowance.

If you don’t tell us about changes, you may be overpaid and you will probably have to pay the money back.

Payments paid while outside Australia

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