Human Services Portfolio General Manager, Hank Jongen, has announced that Centrelink, Medicare Australia and the Child Support Agency (CSA) have made special arrangements to ensure customers are not inconvenienced over the Easter period and ANZAC Day.
Mr Jongen said all Centrelink, Medicare and CSA offices will be closed from Friday April 22 to Tuesday, April 26. Tasmanian offices are the exception, and will be open on Tuesday, April 26.
The Centrelink, Medicare, and CSA general enquiry phone lines will also be closed during the holiday period. However, Medicare Australia’s critical public and health provider services phone lines will remain open.
Online services will be available for Medicare and CSA customers. Centrelink online and phone self service will be unavailable from Friday, April 22 to Monday, April 25.
Mr Jongen said Centrelink customers who are due to receive a payment on a public holiday and don’t need to report will be paid early to ensure their payment is not delayed.
“Centrelink does not want to disrupt customers’ regular budgeting patterns, so early payments will be made as close to the normal payment day as possible,” Mr
Jongen said.
“It’s important that customers understand this is not an extra payment – it’s their normal payment, which will not be paid again until their next usual pay day.”
Mr Jongen also urged Centrelink customers who needed to lodge forms or report earnings to receive a payment to check their
reporting dates.
“It’s important for customers to check their reporting dates as it may be earlier than usual,” Mr Jongen said.
“Customers can check the reporting dates on their reporting statement, or by using online services or phone self service.
“As the form covers the normal assessment period, customers will need to include an estimate of their earnings for the full period.
“Customers may choose to return their form after the end of the assessment period to make sure they provide correct details of their earnings. However, their payment will be delayed.”
For more information about the Human Services Portfolio arrangements over Easter and ANZAC Day, visit www.centrelink.gov.au, www.medicareaustralia.gov.au, and www.csa.gov.au.
