Rumors of a $1,490 Centrelink payment for low-income Australians in May 2025 have been circulating online, but these claims are false. Services Australia, the official agency managing Centrelink payments, has not confirmed any such payment. Many Australians have been confused by these rumors, so it’s important to clear up the facts.
What Centrelink Payments Are Actually Available?
While the $1,490 payment isn’t real, Centrelink continues to offer various forms of financial support to eligible Australians. Some of the most common and verified payments include:
$400 Cost of Living Bonus (April 2025): Provided to Age Pension recipients, Disability Support Pensioners, Carer Payment recipients, JobSeeker, and Youth Allowance recipients.
$250–$750 Relief Payments: These are issued based on household income and dependency levels and are designed to help ease inflation pressure.
$1,144 Cost-of-Living Boost: Available to eligible recipients who meet income thresholds.
Ongoing Financial Assistance: If you’re struggling financially, you may qualify for payments like JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment, or Austudy.
How to Protect Yourself from Centrelink Scams
It’s important to be cautious when reading about Centrelink payments online, especially when rumors like the $1,490 payment are circulating. Fraudulent messages, phishing scams, and fake websites are common, so always verify information through official government channels.
Here’s how to protect yourself:
- Use myGov to check for official Centrelink messages.
- Look for official websites with URLs ending in .gov.au.
- Never share personal information via email or text—Centrelink will never ask for sensitive details in this way.
- Report scams to Scamwatch (Scamwatch.gov.au).
What to Do If You’re Wondering About Your Payments:
Log into myGov: Visit my.gov.au and review any updates or payment notices.
Check the Payment Calendar: Find upcoming payment dates on Services Australia’s official site.
Contact Centrelink: If you have any doubts, reach out directly to Centrelink at 132 850 or use their online contact form for inquiries.
By staying informed and vigilant, you can ensure you’re receiving the correct payments and avoid falling for scams. Remember, the $1,490 payment claim is not true, but there are other verified financial supports available through Centrelink. Always verify before making any decisions.