As a Centrelink customer, you’re probably on age pensions, disability pensions, or other forms of income where you only get a fixed amount of money every month. A sudden emergency or unexpected expenses can be a real issue for you, especially if it’s midway through the month. Thankfully, micro loans for Centrelink customers can come to your rescue!
Micro loans for Centrelink customers refer to loans explicitly designed for Australians on benefits. If you earn most or all of your income from Centrelink benefits and are looking for a way to access loans during emergencies, micro loans for Centrelink customers are an excellent choice.
If you receive benefits from Centrelink, you may not have many loan options open to you. Most banks and traditional lenders have strict criteria for lending to people without jobs. However, contrary to popular belief, you can still access small loans while enjoying the benefits of Centrelink.
Micro loans for Centrelink customers are available from Centrelink itself, community initiatives, non-profits, and specialist lenders that you can access through Gday Loans. You can borrow from $100 to $5,000 depending on the lender, even with a bad credit history.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) allows you to borrow Centrelink emergency cash loans known as advance payments of the benefits you’re getting from Centrelink. You’ll get part of your Family Tax Benefit or income support payment early and pay it back later out of your Centrelink payments.
You can also apply for a No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS) outside of Centrelink. NILS provides individuals and families on Centrelink with fair, safe and affordable loans without charging any interest. The design of NILS aims to offer a helping hand to Centrelink recipients and low-income borrowers, and it isn’t necessarily a bank loan or short-term loan.
It’s set up more like a circular community credit. Once a borrower successfully repays their loan, funds are freed up and made available for someone else in the community.
NILS allows you to borrow up to $1,500, and you can access them in around 178 community organisations scattered in 600 locations across Australia. There’s a high chance that there’s one near your area! NILS main aim is to provide low-income Australians with the financial access they require and which would be almost impossible to get through regular financial channels.
You have to meet various requirements to qualify for a NILS loan, including:
Remember, NILS doesn’t provide cash loans, and you can only use the funds for essential services and goods. Common uses include:
Micro loans for Centrelink customers feature flexible amounts that cater for all kinds of Centrelink borrowers. Whether you’re a student, pensioner, widow or low-income individual or family, you can find a suitable loan amount for your needs. You can access loans from $50 to $2,000 tailored to your needs and personal circumstances.
Micro loans for Centrelink customers can be accessed online from Centrelink or other lenders through a quick and easy online application process. Simply sign in and apply, and you’ll know whether you’re eligible or not. If you can’t apply online, you can print and complete various forms depending on the type of benefits you receive.
Repaying micro loans for Centrelink customers is straightforward. The owed amount is repaid every fortnight after receiving your advance and is automatically deducted from your Centrelink payments. You can repay your early, but you’ll not be able to borrow another loan straight away.
Most microloans for Centrelink customers feature little to no interest rate. The highest you can pay is a fixed interest rate of 5.99% per annum. Under the Australian government lending regulations, any amount below $2,000 does not attract any interest rates. Therefore, you’ll likely only repay the borrowed amount.
Loan Option |
Interest Rate |
Fees |
Loan Amount |
NILS |
0% |
None |
$300 - $1,200 |
StepUp |
5.99% (fixed) |
None |
$800 – $3,000 |
Advance Payment |
0% |
None |
$50 -$1,237 |
FairLoans |
0% |
$199.50 - $399 |
$1,000 - $2,000 |
The borrowing limit depends on the kind of payment you get from Centrelink. Here’s how much you can borrow with different Centrelink payments:
You can’t borrow over $1,161.71 if you get FTB Part A. You’re allowed to ask for a one-off advance at any time, and you can only get one regular advance at a time. For ordinary advances, the amount you can borrow is 3.75% of the standard rate for children under 13 and paid out every 26 weeks as long as you’re eligible or until you request it to stop.
The highest amount you can borrow is 7.5% of your annual rate for a one-off advance.
In any 13 fortnights or six months, you can only get one advance at the highest amount, up to advances of smaller amounts or three advances at the lowest amount. The highest and lowest amounts change along with pension amounts every March and September. If you’re single, the highest amount is $1372.66, and the lowest is $457.55. For couples, the highest is $1034.70, and the lowest is $344.90.
The highest advance you can get is $500, and the lowest is $250. You can receive it all at once or in two instalments.
The highest amount you can borrow is $500, and the lowest is $50. You can apply if you get a job and don’t have enough money to cater for something you need to start it or when your income support gets reduced by at least 50%.
Eligibility will depend on the type of benefit you’re receiving. You can apply for advance payment if you’ve been receiving any of the following for at least three months:
You can also apply for Centrelink emergency cash at any time if you’re getting any of these payments:
Unfortunately, not everyone will qualify for an emergency cash advance payment. You may not be eligible if;
If you wish to take out an advance payment outside of Centrelink through specialist lenders at Gday Loans, you first must meet a few simple eligibility criteria. These include:
Gday Loans connects you to some of Australia’s most trustworthy and reputable lenders who offer microloans for Centrelink customers. You can apply through a few simple steps.
The first step involves deciding on the loan amount you wish to borrow. You have to check what it will cost you to repay realistically based on your Centrelink payment. The second step involves gathering the required documents and having them ready to expedite the loan process.
Documents that lenders will require include;
The third step involves completing the easy to fill online application form at Gday Loans. You can fill it out in a few minutes, and you’ll need to provide your personal information, financial details and monthly expenditure information.
Once you’ve captured your information, Gday Loans will do the legwork and find the most suitable lender for you in a matter of minutes. You’ll then be connected to the lender directly, and they’ll provide you with a loan agreement for you to review and sign. Ensure you read it carefully and if you’re okay with terms, simply sign, return it and await funds disbursement! Most lenders at Gday Loans offer same day payouts, and in case of any delay, you’ll receive the funds within 24 hours at the latest.
Gday Loans allows you to borrow money online from a comprehensive panel of the most reputable lenders in Australia. You can access instant cash loans on Centrelink 24/7 from anywhere, anytime, through a quick online application process.
We’ll connect you to lenders who offer microloans for Centrelink customers with quick approvals and payouts on the same day you apply. Application and approval only take minutes, and you can get the funds within an hour if you apply early within business hours. If you apply at off-peak hours, rest assured you’ll get the funds early in the next business day.
A crisis payment is a one-off payment meant to help you if you’re in severe financial hardship or you’ve experienced an extreme circumstance. There are different types of Crisis Payments for different situations, and to be eligible, you must:
An extreme circumstance involves experiencing any one of the following:
Yes. Through Gday Loans, you can access reputable lenders in Australia who specialise in advancing cash loans to Centrelink recipients. If you’re eligible and can afford the loan, you can have money in your pocket on the same day you apply!
No. Payouts are generally dependent on banks, and they usually don’t process transfers on public holidays or weekends.
Yes. At Gday Loans, we work with lenders who welcome all types of borrowers. Instead of focusing on your past financial issues, they consider your current circumstances and whether you can afford to repay the loan.
Although it may be possible, it’s not advisable. The last thing you want is to have multiple debts that become difficult to repay. Before taking out a second microloan, ensure you’ve repaid the first one in full to avoid penalties and a negative credit score.
Check your options before you borrow:
* This statement is an Australian Government requirement under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009.
The Government’s MoneySmart website shows you how small amount loans work and suggests other options that may help you.
* This statement is an Australian Government requirement under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009.