How Easter and Anzac Day will affect your Age Pension payment

Public holidays are a much-loved part of Australian life, but they can disrupt normal services such as Centrelink payments over Good Friday, Easter holidays and Anzac Day.

Services Australia, the body that delivers government payments and services, says there will be changes to opening hours and Centrelink payments and services over Easter.

Services Australia and Centrelink offices will be closed on Good Friday (7 April 2023) and Easter Monday (10 April 2023). They’ll also be closed on Anzac Day (25 April 2023).

This may mean changes to your reporting and payment dates. And you may even get your Centrelink payment early.

If you don’t need to report employment income, Centrelink will pay you early.

“We won’t delay payments because of a public holiday, but we may pay you earlier than normal. An early payment is your normal payment, just paid early,” Centrelink advises.

“Where we pay an early payment, we pay as close to and before your normal payment day. You’ll need to budget so this payment lasts until your next payment day.”

Services Australia general manager Hank Jongen said self-service options would continue to be available during this period.

Centrelink says that if you report early during your assessment period, you’ll need to include what you expect to be paid for your full period.

“You must also do this for any other changes that may affect your payment. If you make a mistake, you can correct your report within 14 days, or when you next report.

“If you report after your assessment period, we’ll pay you after you report to us. You may want to do this so you can be sure of your employment income or changes to your circumstances.”

To report you can use:

  • your Centrelink online account through myGov
  • Express Plus Centrelink mobile app
  • phone self service.

Centrelink says you must report when you are due, so it can pay you.

If you receive any of the payments or allowances listed below, your Centrelink payment reporting dates have changed.

  • JobSeeker Payment
  • Partner Allowance
  • Widow Allowance
  • Austudy
  • Farm Household Allowance
  • Special Benefit
  • Status Resolution Support Services Payment.
Date report normally dueDate you can reportRevised payment dateNext payment date
Tuesday 4 April 2023Monday 3 April 2023Tuesday 4 April 2023Wednesday 19 April 2023
Wednesday 5 April 2023Tuesday 4 April 2023Wednesday 5 April 2023Thursday 20 April 2023
Thursday 6 April 2023Tuesday 4 April 2023Wednesday 5 April 2023Friday 21 April 2023
Friday 7 April 2023Wednesday 5 April 2023Thursday 6 April 2023Monday 24 May 2023
Monday 10 April 2023Thursday 6 April 2023Tuesday 11 April 2023Monday 24 April 2023
Thursday 20 April 2023Thursday 20 April 2023Friday 21 April, 2023Friday 5 May 2023
Friday 21 April 2023Thursday 20 April 2023Friday 21 April 2023Monday 8 May 2023
Monday 24 April 2023Friday 21 April 2023Monday 24 April 2023Tuesday 9 May 2023
Tuesday 25 April 2023Monday 24 April 2023Wednesday 26 April 2023Wednesday 10 May 2023
Source: Services Australia correct at 4 April 2023.

If you receive any of the payments or allowances listed below, your Centrelink payment reporting dates have also changed.

  • Age Pension
  • Disability Support Pension
  • Double Orphan Pension
  • Parenting Payment
  • Pensioner Education Supplement
  • ABSTUDY
  • Carer Payment
  • Carer Allowance
  • a families payment.
Date report normally dueDate you can reportRevised payment dateNext payment date
Tuesday 4 April 2023Monday 3 April 2023Wednesday 5 April 2023Thursday 20 April 2023
Wednesday 5 April 2023Tuesday 4 April 2023Thursday 6 April 2023Friday 21 April 2023
Thursday 6 April 2023Tuesday 4 April 2023Thursday 6 April 2023Monday 24 April 2023
Friday 7 April 2023Wednesday 5 April 2023Tuesday 11 April 2023Monday 24 April 2023
Monday 10 April 2023Thursday 6 April 2023Wednesday 12 April 2023Wednesday 26 April 2023
Thursday 20 April 2023Thursday 20 April 2023Monday 24 April 2023Monday 8 May 2023
Friday 21 April 2023Thursday 20 April 2023Monday 24 April 2023Tuesday 9 May 2023
Monday 24 April 2023Friday 21 April 2023Wednesday 26 April 2023Wednesday 10 May 2023
Tuesday 25 April 2023Monday 24 April 2023Thursday 27 April 2023Thursday 11 May 2023
Source: Services Australia correct at 4 April 2023.

If you receive a JobSeeker Payment, Partner Allowance, Widow Allowance, Austudy, Special Benefit, or Status Resolution Support Services Payment, and don’t need to report employment income, Centrelink will pay you early.

Normal payment dateRevised payment dateNext payment date
Wednesday 5 April 2023Tuesday 4 April 2023Wednesday 19 April 2023
Thursday 6 April 2023Wednesday 5 April 2023Thursday 20 April 2023
Friday 7 April 2023Wednesday 5 April 2023Friday 21 April 2023
Monday 10 April 2023Thursday 6 April 2023Monday 24 April 2023
Thursday 20 April 2023Thursday 20 April 2023Thursday 4 May 2023
Friday 21 April 2023Friday 21 April 2023Friday 5 May 2023
Monday 24 April 2023Friday 21 April 2022Monday 8 May 2023
Tuesday 25 April 2023Monday 24 April 2023Tuesday 9 May 2023
Wednesday 26 April 2023Wednesday 26 April 2023Wednesday 10 May 2023
Source: Services Australia correct at 4 April 2023.

If you receive the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Pensioner Education Supplement, Carer Payment, Carer Allowance, or families payment and don’t need to report, you will also be paid early.

Normal payment dateRevised payment dateNext payment date
Thursday 6 April 2023Wednesday 5 April 2023Thursday 20 April 2023
Friday 7 April 2023Thursday 6 April 2023Friday 21 April 2023
Monday 10 April 2022Thursday 6 April 2023Monday 24 April 2023
Monday 24 April 2023Monday 24 April 2023Monday 8 May 2023
Tuesday 25 April 2022Monday 24 April 2023Tuesday 9 May 2023
Wednesday 26 April 2023Wednesday 26 April 2023Wednesday 10 May 2023
Source: Services Australia correct at 4 April 2023.

You can still use your Centrelink online account through myGov, or the Express Plus mobile apps, or Centrelink phone self service system to do any of the following:

You can still report your income, even when Centrelink is closed. However, if you do this on a public holiday you will be paid after the public holiday.

For more information, click here.

Read more: COVID driving more older Australians into poverty

YourLifeChoices Writers
YourLifeChoices Writershttp://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/
YourLifeChoices' team of writers specialise in content that helps Australian over-50s make better decisions about wealth, health, travel and life. It's all in the name. For 22 years, we've been helping older Australians live their best lives.
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