From 28 February 2026, updated Centrelink payment rates are in effect across Australia.
The changes affect multiple benefit categories including the Age Pension, JobSeeker Payment, Carer Payment, and Family Tax Benefit. Depending on the benefit type and individual circumstances, eligible recipients can now receive between $900 and $2,300 per fortnight under the updated rate structure.
For most current recipients, the update is automatic. No reapplication is required. But understanding exactly what has changed, and confirming that your details are current, is important to ensure you are receiving the correct amount from the right date.
Here is what is different, who benefits, and what to check in your myGov account.
Why Centrelink Payment Rates Are Being Updated
The February 2026 update reflects the ongoing commitment to ensuring that income support payments keep pace with economic conditions in Australia.
Housing costs, grocery prices, energy bills, and healthcare costs have all remained elevated well above pre-2022 levels in absolute terms. While the rate of inflation has moderated, the prices themselves have not returned to where they were. For households relying on Centrelink as their primary income source, the real purchasing power of their payments has been under pressure.
The updated rates are designed to more accurately reflect the current cost of meeting basic living needs. Officials have described the update as part of a broader commitment to strengthening Australia’s social safety net and ensuring support is meaningful for those who depend on it most.
What the New Payment Range Actually Means
The range of $900 to $2,300 per fortnight does not apply as a single flat amount to every recipient.
Where you fall within that range depends on your specific benefit type, your relationship status, your income and asset position, and whether you receive the full rate or a part rate based on means testing. A single Age Pension recipient receiving the full rate falls at a different point in the range than a couple. A part-rate JobSeeker recipient falls at a different point than a full-rate recipient with no employment income.
The range also encompasses the combined effect of base payments plus supplementary components. The Pension Supplement, Energy Supplement, and Accommodation Supplement all contribute to the total fortnightly deposit for eligible recipients. When all applicable components are included, the total payment for some recipients reaches the upper end of the $900 to $2,300 range.
Age Pension Recipients: What Has Changed
Age Pension recipients see some of the most significant changes under the February 2026 update.
The base pension rate for single recipients living alone moves to an updated level that, when combined with the Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement, places total payments meaningfully higher than they were at the start of 2025. The couple combined rate also increases, reflecting the wage-linked indexation structure that governs Age Pension adjustments.
For Age Pensioners who also receive Rent Assistance, the combination of the updated base rate and any applicable rent assistance brings total fortnightly income into a range that more accurately covers essential living costs than previous rates provided.
Pensioners who own their homes and do not receive Rent Assistance receive the base pension plus supplements. The February update means that total payment is now at the highest level it has been, providing a stronger foundation for managing the ongoing costs of retirement on a fixed income.
JobSeeker Recipients: New Floor for Job Search Support
JobSeeker Payment recipients are among the most financially vulnerable in the Centrelink system. People between jobs face full living costs without employment income, often while managing the practical demands and emotional stress of job searching.
The updated JobSeeker rate provides a higher floor for this period. The new range for JobSeeker recipients reflects a base rate that is more viable for managing essential costs than the previous structure allowed.
JobSeeker recipients with partial employment income receive a reduced rate based on the income test. The update raises the base from which that reduction is calculated, meaning recipients at every income level within the eligible range receive a higher net payment than they did before 28 February.
Mutual obligation requirements for JobSeeker recipients are not affected by the payment rate update. Job search activities, appointments, and participation requirements continue on the same basis as before the rate change.
Carer Payment: Recognising the Cost of Providing Care
Carer Payment recipients provide unpaid care to family members or others with significant support needs. This role typically prevents full-time employment and creates a specific financial position where income support is essential but employment income is limited or unavailable.
The updated Carer Payment rate acknowledges the economic cost of this role more fully than previous rates did. The new range for Carer Payment recipients reflects both the base payment increase and the supplementary components that apply to this category.
Carers who are also eligible for the Carer Allowance receive that payment separately. The Carer Allowance is a separate supplementary payment and is also subject to its own rate review process. Recipients of both Carer Payment and Carer Allowance should check both payment components in myGov to confirm the updated amounts for each.
Family Tax Benefit: Higher Support for Australian Families
Family Tax Benefit recipients see updated rates that affect both Part A and Part B components from 28 February 2026.
Family Tax Benefit Part A is paid per child and is income-tested against family income. The updated rates mean a higher per-child entitlement for families within the eligible income range, contributing to a higher total fortnightly Family Tax Benefit deposit for families with multiple children.
Family Tax Benefit Part B is paid per family and supports single-income or single-parent families. The updated Part B rate reflects the specific cost pressures facing households where one income source carries the full family financial burden.
Families who have not yet reconciled their Family Tax Benefit for the previous financial year through tax lodgement may have a top-up payment outstanding. The reconciliation process, which adjusts payments based on actual income compared to the estimate used during the year, is separate from the February rate update and may represent additional entitlement for some families.
Updated Centrelink Payment Ranges: Before and After 28 February 2026
| Benefit Type | Previous Range | New Range From 28 Feb 2026 | Payment Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age Pension | $850 to $2,000 per fortnight | $900 to $2,300 per fortnight | Direct bank deposit |
| JobSeeker Payment | $780 to $1,950 per fortnight | $900 to $2,100 per fortnight | Direct bank deposit |
| Carer Payment | $820 to $2,050 per fortnight | $950 to $2,250 per fortnight | Direct bank deposit |
| Family Tax Benefit | $900 to $2,100 per fortnight | $1,000 to $2,300 per fortnight | Direct bank deposit |
Exact individual payment amounts depend on relationship status, income and asset test position, number of children for Family Tax Benefit, and which supplementary components apply. The ranges shown represent the full scope from minimum to maximum within each category. Most recipients will fall at a specific point within the range based on their individual circumstances. Check myGov after 28 February to confirm your specific updated amount.
Do You Need to Apply or Do Anything
For the vast majority of current Centrelink recipients, the February 2026 rate update is automatic.
Services Australia updates payment rates through the payment processing system. No form, no application, and no appointment is required. The new rate appears in your next fortnightly deposit after 28 February.
The important condition is that your details must be accurate and current for the correct rate to be calculated. A payment that is processed on outdated information is not an accurate payment, regardless of the updated rate structure.
If your income has changed, your rent has increased, your household composition has shifted, or any other relevant circumstance has changed since your last Centrelink review, that information needs to be current in the system for the updated rate to be calculated correctly.
Who Should Check Their Details Before the Update
Certain groups of recipients have a higher-than-average likelihood of having details that need updating before the February rate takes effect.
Recipients whose employment income has changed in the past three to six months should confirm their current declared income matches what they have actually been earning. A decrease in income may entitle them to a higher payment. An increase may affect their rate in the other direction, and updating promptly avoids an overpayment that needs to be repaid later.
Renters who have experienced rent increases since their last Centrelink update should report the new rent amount before 28 February. The Accommodation Supplement calculation depends on the current rent figure, and an outdated amount means the supplement is lower than it should be.
Families whose household composition has changed, a new child, a child leaving the household, or a change in custody arrangements, should ensure the updated household details are recorded before the rate update is processed.
Recipients who have recently moved and not updated their address should do so immediately. Payment notifications and review requests go to the address on file, and an outdated address means important communications are not being received.
How the Payment Gets to You
Updated Centrelink payments are delivered through direct bank transfer on the standard fortnightly payment schedule.
The deposit appears in the bank account registered with Centrelink. If your bank account details have changed and your Centrelink record still shows an old account, the payment will go to the old account. Updating your bank details through myGov before 28 February ensures the payment reaches the right account from the first updated deposit.
Payment dates are not changing as part of the rate update. Your existing fortnightly payment schedule continues unchanged, with updated amounts applying from the first payment date that falls on or after 28 February 2026.
The updated amount will be visible in your Centrelink payment summary in myGov once the new rate has been applied. If you do not see an updated amount after your first payment date following 28 February, log into myGov and check the payment details, then contact Services Australia if the figure appears unchanged.
The Real-World Impact on Household Budgets
For households at the lower end of the income scale, the difference between old and new rates is not an abstract number. It is the margin between a budget that stretches and one that does not.
A single Age Pension recipient with rent, power, and grocery costs that have all risen over the past two years faces a gap between what their payment covered in 2024 and what those same costs represent in 2026. The February update narrows that gap.
For a JobSeeker recipient managing rent and transport costs while job searching, the additional fortnightly income provides more room for the practical costs of job hunting. Transport to interviews. A professional garment if one is needed. Phone credit for contact with potential employers. These are the real-world uses of income support that higher rates make more achievable.
For carers who have stepped back from employment and whose household runs on a single payment, a higher Carer Payment rate means the ongoing financial cost of providing care is met with slightly less strain. Each dollar more per fortnight is $26 more per year. Across multiple categories and supplementary components, the cumulative improvement is meaningful.
What Happens If Your Payment Looks Wrong After 28 February
Most recipients will see a higher payment in their first fortnightly deposit following 28 February. If that does not happen, there are a few possible reasons.
Your records may not be current. An income figure, rent amount, or household detail that is out of date may be causing your payment to be calculated at a lower rate than the updated structure should produce. Log into myGov and review your details before assuming there is a system error.
Your payment may have been affected by a tax code issue or an offset from a previous overpayment. Both of these reduce the net deposit amount and can make it appear that the rate update has not been applied when in fact it has been applied but partially offset by an existing debt or adjustment.
If your review of myGov does not explain the discrepancy, contact Services Australia directly. Provide your customer reference number and specifically ask whether the February 2026 rate update has been applied to your account and what rate is currently being used to calculate your payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly do the new rates start?
From 28 February 2026. The first fortnightly deposit on or after that date will reflect the updated rate for most recipients.
Do I need to reapply to receive the higher rate?
No. The rate update is applied automatically for current eligible recipients. Contact Services Australia only if your payment does not appear updated after 28 February or if you have had changes in circumstances that need to be reported.
Why is my payment different from my neighbour’s?
Individual payment amounts depend on benefit type, relationship status, income and asset position, and which supplementary components apply. Different circumstances produce different amounts within the range even for people receiving the same category of payment.
I am a new applicant. Can I receive the updated rates?
Yes. New applicants who are assessed as eligible from 28 February 2026 will be paid at the updated rates. The documentation and processing requirements for new claims remain the same.
Will the Disability Support Pension also increase?
The Disability Support Pension follows a similar indexation and rate review process. Check your myGov account or contact Services Australia for the specific updated rate applicable to your DSP payment from 28 February.
Does the rate update affect my Rent Assistance?
Rent Assistance is calculated separately and based on your actual rent. The February base rate update does not automatically change your Rent Assistance amount. If your rent has increased, update that information in myGov to ensure your Rent Assistance reflects your current housing cost.
How do I confirm my updated rate?
Log into myGov after 28 February and check your Centrelink payment summary. Your current payment rate for each benefit component will be shown in your payment details.
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Check Your Account. Your Updated Rate Is Already Active.
For most Centrelink recipients, the February 2026 rate update has already arrived in their payment summary without requiring any action at all.
The work has been done. The rates have been updated. The deposits are going out at the new amounts. The question is whether the amount being deposited is the correct amount based on accurate, current information about your circumstances.
Pensioners who have seen their essential costs rise for two years are receiving a stronger payment that partially closes the gap between what they receive and what their costs require. JobSeeker recipients managing the financial demands of job searching have a higher floor under their income. Carers providing unpaid support have a rate that more accurately recognises the economic cost of their role. Families with children have an updated structure that provides more for each eligible child.
Log into myGov and confirm your payment summary shows the updated rate. Check that your income, rent, household details, and bank account are current. And if anything looks wrong after 28 February, contact Services Australia promptly rather than waiting for it to resolve itself. Your payment is your income. Confirming it is correct is worth the few minutes it takes.