$215.40 Centrelink Rent Assistance Hike Sept 2025 – Who Qualifies & New Rates

Housing costs are biting hard across Australia, and for many low-income renters, every dollar matters. That’s why the Centrelink Rent Assistance update for September 20, 2025 is important news: the maximum rate for singles is set to lift to $215.40 per fortnight, a modest increase of $3.40. Couples and sharers will also see smaller boosts, part of the government’s twice-yearly indexation adjustments designed to help people keep pace with rising living costs.

What Is Rent Assistance?

Rent Assistance is an extra payment added on top of your regular Centrelink support (like the Age Pension, JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, or Parenting Payment) if you’re renting in the private market or community housing. It’s not a standalone benefit—you only get it if you already receive another qualifying Centrelink payment.

The rate you get depends on how much rent you pay, whether you’re single or partnered, and in some cases whether you’re sharing housing. You’ll only receive the maximum rate if your rent is above a certain threshold.

New Rent Assistance Rates – From 20 September 2025

Situation	Current Max (Mar 2025)	New Max (Sep 2025)	Increase
Single (no children)	$212.00	$215.40	$3.40
Single, sharer	$141.33	$143.33 (est.)	$2.00
Couple, combined	$199.80	$203.50	$3.70
Couple separated due to illness	$212.00	$215.40	$3.40
One of a couple temporarily separated	$199.80	$203.50	$3.70

To qualify for the full rate, singles need to pay at least $152 in rent per fortnight (and more, in practice, to hit the maximum).

Eligibility Rules

To get Centrelink Rent Assistance in 2025, you must:

• Be receiving a qualifying Centrelink payment (Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, JobSeeker, Parenting Payment, Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY, etc.).
• Pay rent above the minimum rent threshold in your state/territory.
• Rent privately (including boarding, community housing, or retirement villages).
• Not own or partly own the home you live in.
• Not live in government-subsidised housing or an aged care facility where rent is already capped.

How to Apply

Most people don’t need to make a separate claim. If you:

1. Already receive a Centrelink payment, and
2. Report that you pay private rent,

…then Services Australia will automatically assess your eligibility and add Rent Assistance to your payment.

If your rent changes, you must update the amount through:

• Your myGov account (linked to Centrelink),
• The Express Plus Centrelink app, or
• By calling/visiting Services Australia.

Failing to update rent costs could mean you’re underpaid—or overpaid and later required to repay the difference.

Why This Increase Matters

The rise from $212 to $215.40 for singles may not seem huge, but for people struggling to pay rising rents, utilities, and groceries, it’s a welcome cost-of-living boost. Rent Assistance is one of the few targeted housing supports available for low-income Australians, and indexing it to inflation ensures it doesn’t lag too far behind.

Fact Check

• True: Rent Assistance increases on 20 September 2025 under normal indexation rules.
• True: The new single maximum rate is $215.40 per fortnight.
• True: Couples, sharers, and separated partners see smaller increases.
• False: This is not a “special one-off boost.” It’s part of the twice-yearly indexation process.

For full details, always refer to the official site: servicesaustralia.gov.au.

FAQs