Australia’s Centrelink has just announced that eligible people will get a $900 bonus payment during August. This bonus is part of the government’s plan to help people manage the sharp rise in living costs. It’s a once-off cash boost designed for those under the most financial pressure. The best part? The money goes straight into your bank account—there’s no application or form to fill out.
Who Can Claim It
To get the bonus, you have to be in specific Centrelink payment groups. That means you need to be getting JobSeeker, Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, or Parenting Payment. You must have been on the payment on or before August 1, 2025. The government has said the bonus is to help families facing tough budget choices as everyday prices keep climbing.
Payment Schedule
The extra $900 bonus will start showing up in your bank account on August 22, 2025, but when it actually lands can differ based on your normal payment cycle and your bank. For most people, the bonus will show up as a separate line item, not grouped with your usual fortnightly payment. Services Australia has said every eligible payment will be wrapped up by August 31, so the money will be in your account before spring kicks off.
How to Check Your Payment
It’s easy to double-check if the bonus is on its way. Just sign in to your myGov account, then go to your Centrelink online account. Look for the “Payment Summary” section, and the bonus will be listed right beside your regular payments. If you don’t see it by August 20 and think you should, give Centrelink a shout on 132 300 to sort it out.
What This Means for Households Here and Now
The extra $900 soon heading to families is big help right when the cost of living is weighing everyone down. Money pros are saying the smartest move is to put the cash toward overdue bills, chop down credit card debt, or pay for must-have stuff like food and power. For grandparents and anyone living on fixed pensions, it’s like getting another two weeks’ pay, which is nice after such a squeeze on the family budget.