Rent Assistance

Purpose

To provide assistance to people with limited means who pay rent or similar payments to private landlords for accommodation.

Qualification

Rent assistance may be payable to:

  • pensioners without children
  • families receiving additional Family Payment
  • people receiving an allowance or benefit who do not have children, and
    - are over 25; or
    - are married; or
    - under 25 and living permanently or indefinitely apart from parents or guardians.

    • To qualify for Rent Assistance a person must be paying more than a threshold amount for:

  • rent (other then public housing);
  • service and maintenance fees in a retirement village;
  • accommodation in a nursing home;
  • lodging (where a person pays for board and lodging and cannot identify the amount paid for lodging, two thirds of the amount paid will be accepted as being for lodging);
  • fees paid for the use of a site for a caravan or other accommodation which the person occupies as their principal home; or
  • fees paid to moor a vessel that the person occupies as their principal home.

    • Rent assistance is not payable for periods when a person is outside Australia. People paying rent to government housing authorities are not eligible for Rent Assistance.

    Payment information

    For people who have dependent children, Rent Assistance is paid with their Family Payment. People without children have Rent Assistance paid as an addition to their pension, benefit or allowance. Payment generally commences from the payday after the req uest is made. Proof of rent (eg. a rent receipt or letter from land agent) is required.

    To Calculate rental assistance at current rates, go to Rental Assistance Calculator