Budget 2021 – Benefits for New Migrants

Four Year Benefits wait for New Migrants.

Australian Budget 2021.

Currently there is a four-year waiting period for some government payments, such as the jobseeker unemployment benefit and youth allowance.

From January 2022, that four-year waiting period will be extended to cover more government benefits, such as family tax benefit, carers allowance, paid parental leave and carers payments. These benefits currently have either no waiting period, or waiting periods up to only two years.

Those granted residency from 1 January 2022, will now face this four year waiting period for all the benefits.
Those granted residency after 1 January 2019 and before 1 January 2022, will stay on the waiting periods specified for 1 January 2019.
Those granted residency BEFORE 1 January 2019, will stay on the earlier waiting periods.

It is important that new migrants have their own financial support systems in place, in case of difficulties in the first few years of settling.

Centrelink Welfare Payment Waiting Periods.

Permanent Residence granted after 1 January 2022.

If you got your permanent residence visa, or specified visa subclass, on or after 1 January 2022, the following Centrelink Government benefits will also have the four year waiting period.

Family Tax Benefit.
Carers Allowance.
Paid Parental Leave.
Carers Payments.

Waiting periods as at 1 April 2021 are shown below.

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Permanent Residence granted after 1 January 2019.

If you got your permanent residence visa or specified visa subclass on or after 1 January 2019, the following waiting periods apply.

4 year waiting period.

There is a 4 year 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.
Youth Allowance.

2 year waiting period.

There is a 2 year waiting period for the following payments:

Carer Payment
Dad and Partner Pay
Parental Leave Pay.

You may be an Australian citizen and started living in Australia for the first time. In this case there’s a 2 year waiting period for Parenting Payment single and partnered.

1 year waiting period.

There is a 1 year waiting period for:

Carer Allowance.
Family Tax benefit Part A.

No Waiting Period.

There is no waiting period for Family Tax Benefit Part B.

Permanent Residence granted BEFORE 1 January 2019.

If you got your permanent residence visa or specified visa subclass before 1 January 2019, there is a 2 year waiting period. It applies to the following payments and concessions: