Newly arrived permanent residents in Australia may have to wait to get Centrelink payments. This waiting period is known as the Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period (NARWP).
Most new residents may have to wait for 4 years before they become eligible for most of the Centrelink payments.
If you hold an Orphan Relative Visa subclass 117 and subclass 837 or a Remaining Relative Visa subclass 115 or subclass 835 visa, the maximum waiting period for Centrelink payments eligibility is 2 years.
Centrelink Payments Waiting Period for Visas granted after 1 January 2019.
For a Permanent Residence Visa or Partner Provisional Visas (Subclass 820 and Subclass 309) granted on or after 1st January 2019, the waiting period for Centrelink payments is as follows:
4-Year Centrelink Waiting Period for the following payments and concessions:
- Austudy
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
- Ex-Carer Allowance (Child) Health Care Card
- Farm Household Allowance
- JobSeeker Payment
- Low Income Health Care Card
- Mobility Allowance
- Parenting payment single and partnered.
- Pensioner Education Supplement
- Special Benefit
- Teritary Access payment
- Youth Allowance
Partner Visa holders’ subclasses 820 and 309 are only eligible for the following:
- Low Income Health Care Card
- Special Benefit
2-Year Centrelink Waiting Period for the following payments and concessions:
- Carer Payment
- Dad and Partner pay
- Parental Leave Pay
Partner Visa Holders’ subclasses 820 and 309 are only eligible for the following:
- Dad and Partner pay
- Parental Leave Pay
For an Australian citizen who has just started living in Australia for the first time, there is a 2-year waiting period for parenting payments single and partnered.
1-Year Centrelink Waiting Period for the following payments and concessions:
- Carers Allowance
- Family Tax Benefit Part A
Partner Visa holders’ subclasses 820 and 309 are only eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A.
Centrelink No waiting Period for payments and concessions:
Newly arrived residents do not have to wait any period for any of the following payments:
- Child Care subsidy
- Double Orphan Pension
- Family Tax Benefit Part B
- Stillborn Baby Payment
Centrelink Payments Waiting Period for Visas granted before 1 January 2019.
There is a 2-year Centrelink payment waiting period for the following payments in the following cases.
For an Orphan Relative Visa, a Remaining Relative Visa
For Partner Visas 309 and 820 granted before 1st January 2019.
- Austudy
- Carer Payment
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
- Ex-Carer Allowance (Child) Health Care Card
- Farm Household Allowance
- JobSeeker Payment
- Low Income Health Care Card
- Mobility Allowance
- Parenting payment single and partnered.
- Pensioner Education Supplement
- Special Benefit
- Teritary Access payment
- Youth Allowance
Partner Visa holders’ subclasses 820 and subclasses 309 are only eligible for the following Centrelink payments:
- Low Income Health Care Card
- Special Benefit
Centrelink No waiting Period for payments and concessions:
Newly arrived residents do not have to wait any period for any of the following payments:
- Childcare subsidy
- Carer Allowance
- Dad and Partner Pay
- Double Orphan Pension
- Family Tax Benefit Part
- Stillborn Baby Payment
- Partner Leave Pay
Partner temporary and provisional visa holders’ subclass 820 and subclass 820 are only eligible for Carer Allowance.
Centrelink New Zealand Visa Waiting Periods
For New Zealand Citizens the time spent in Australia is counted after they arrive on a New Zealand Passport with a Special Category Visa (SCV). New Zealand citizens don’t need permanent residence to claim the following Centrelink payments.
- Childcare Subsidy
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
- Family Tax Benefit
- Foster Child Health Care Card
- Low Income Health Care Card
Exemptions to the Centrelink Newly arrived resident’s waiting period
Australian Citizens, a refugee, former refugees, or a holder of a certain visa subclass may not have to wait for the Newly arrived resident’s waiting period for certain payments.
SOURCE: Service Australia website
Disclaimer: The above information is not tailored to personal circumstances.
For information relevant to personal circumstances, please book an
appointment with Oracle Immigration Consultant’s expert migration agents in
Australia.
For any inquiries, please contact us at +61 430812158. We are premier Immigration agency and consultancy in Melbourne (Bundoora and Geelong).
