Services Australia reveals the public holiday closures affecting Centrelink payments over the Christmas and New Year period

Services Australia will shut the doors to its service centres and most call centres on a number of weekdays — Christmas Day, Boxing Day, December 27, and New Year’s Day — over the upcoming holiday season.

The public holiday closures mean some recipients will automatically be paid earlier than normal, but some Centrelink recipients will need to alter their income reporting dates to be paid on time.

“We want to help you plan so you still get paid,” the Services Australia website said.

“You may need to report your income early so we can pay you during these closures. We may pay you early.”

The closures will affect payments for Austudy, Farm Household Allowance, JobSeeker Payment, Special Benefit, Status Resolution Support Services Payment, and Youth Allowance.

Families payments, ABSTUDY, the Age Pension, Assistance for Isolated Children, Carer Allowance, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, the Double Orphan Pension, Parenting Payments, and the Pensioner Education Supplement will also be affected.

For those who do not need to report their income to get paid, payments will automatically come through earlier than usual.

“An early payment is your normal payment, just paid early,” Services Australia said.

“When we make an early payment, we pay as close to and before your normal payment day.

“You’ll need to budget so this payment lasts until your next payment day.”

How and when to report your income

For recipients of Services Australia payments who do need to report their income to receive a payment, there have been changes to a total of nine reporting dates: December 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, and January 1.

Those affected will need to report their income at an earlier date. A full list of revised reporting dates can be found on the Services Australia website.

Recipients can otherwise view their reporting dates for the next 12 weeks using their Centrelink online account if it is linked to myGov.

“When you report early, you’ll need to include what you expect to be paid for that reporting period,” Services Australia said.

“You must also do this for any other changes that may affect your payment.

“If you make a mistake, you can correct your report within 14 days, or when you next report.”

Income can still be reported online during the closures, but payments will not be made to those who do this until after the public holiday.