Can Centrelink help you with income support should you fall ill for extended periods? YourLifeChoices member Geoff wants to know if he is eligible to apply for sickness allowance.
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Q. How do I apply for sickness benefits? And what are the eligibility criteria?
A. The sickness allowance is an income support payment for Australian residents who are unable to work or study for a while because of illness, injury or disability.
You can get sickness allowance if you’re 22 years or older, but under Age Pension age and either:
- have a job
- get Austudy or ABSTUDY as a full-time student.
You must also:
- meet an income and assets test
- meet residence rules
- be temporarily unable to work or study because of a medical condition
- provide a Centrelink medical certificate from your doctor
- have work or study to return to when you’re better.
The easiest way to claim is online, but you will need a myGov account linked to Centrelink to do this.
There will be no new claims for sickness allowance from 20 March 2020. If you’re sick and unable to work or study, you may be eligible to apply for a JobSeeker Payment.
If you’re getting the Sickness Allowance on 20 March 2020, your payment will continue until your medical certificate expires. After it expires your sickness allowance will stop.
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