Crisis Payment is a one-off payment equal to one week of the maximum basic rate of your income support payment, for people in an extreme circumstance such as family and domestic violence, having to leave home, arriving as a humanitarian entrant, or release from prison.
Key facts
- Crisis Payment equals a week's pay at the maximum basic rate of your income support payment or ABSTUDY Living Allowance, without supplements.
- From 20 September 2026 that's $412.45 on JobSeeker (single, no children) and $567.70 on the Age Pension (single).
- You can get up to 4 payments in 12 months for family and domestic violence and other extreme circumstances combined.
- There are separate Crisis Payments for humanitarian entrants and for release from prison or psychiatric confinement.
How much Crisis Payment is
It's one week of the maximum basic rate of the payment you get, which is half the fortnightly maximum basic rate. Supplements and allowances aren't included.
Crisis Payment for some common payments, from 20 September 2026
| Your payment | Maximum basic rate a fortnight | Crisis Payment (one week) |
|---|---|---|
| JobSeeker, single, no children | $824.90 | $412.45 |
| JobSeeker, single with children | $883.30 | $441.65 |
| JobSeeker, partnered | $755.10 | $377.55 |
| Age Pension, DSP or Carer Payment, single | $1,135.40 | $567.70 |
| Age Pension, DSP or Carer Payment, each member of a couple | $855.90 | $427.95 |
| Youth Allowance, living away from home | $677.20 | $338.60 |
The one-week amounts are half of Services Australia's published fortnightly maximum basic rates.
When you can get it
You may get Crisis Payment if you experienced family and domestic violence and left home (or stayed after the violent family member left), had to leave home because of another extreme circumstance and can't reasonably return soon, arrived in Australia as a humanitarian entrant for the first time, or were released after at least 14 days in prison or psychiatric confinement. You generally need to be getting, or be eligible for, an income support payment.
See also: Centrelink advance payment.
Common questions
How much is the Centrelink crisis payment?
One week of the maximum basic rate of your income support payment. From 20 September 2026 that's $412.45 on JobSeeker (single, no children) and $567.70 on the Age Pension (single).
How many crisis payments can you get in a year?
Up to 4 in 12 months for family and domestic violence and other extreme circumstances combined.
Do I have to pay back a crisis payment?
No. It's a one-off payment, not an advance.
Other payments: JobSeeker · Youth Allowance & Austudy · Parenting Payment · DSP · Carer Payment · Family Tax Benefit · Parental Leave Pay · Concession cards · Pensioner Concession Card · Medicare Safety Net · Carer Allowance · Advance payment · Deeming rates · Newborn payments · Age Pension · Rent Assistance. Back to all Centrelink payment rates.
Source: Services Australia, Crisis Payment, How much Crisis Payment you can get, How much JobSeeker Payment you can get, How much Age Pension you can get (pages last updated 20 September 2026). Checked 21 October 2026. General information only; Services Australia works out your actual payment.