Changes to waiting periods for welfare payments

From 1 January 2022 there will be significant changes to the waiting periods for newly arrived residents’ access to certain welfare payments. These changes will only apply to residents granted the relevant permanent or temporary visa on or after 1 January 2022. For those granted their visas prior to this the rules that applied when they were granted their visa will be applicable.

The changes from 1 January 2022 include:

- increasing the existing waiting period for Carer Payment, Parental Leave Pay, and Dad and Partner Pay from two years to four years;

- increasing the existing waiting period for Carer Allowance and Family Tax Benefit Part A from one year to four years; and

- introducing a new waiting period of four years for Family Tax Benefit Part B.

There are some limited exemptions from these waiting periods including for humanitarian entrants and their families, and people who experience a substantial change in circumstances and are in financial hardship.

For more information see: https://www.dss.gov.au/living-in-australia-and-overseas/recent-and-upcoming-policy-changes.