Last updated July 2023

A person may be able to apply for social security payments by submitting an intent to claim form, providing supporting documentation and attending an interview.

Submitting an intent to claim and supporting documentation

An intent to claim can be a letter, visit or phone call to Centrelink where the person advises they wish to claim a social security payment. A person can also commence a claim online through their myGov account if they have one set up.

Starting a claim is also referred to as a ‘statement of an intention to claim’. If people are unable to complete and lodge the claim form immediately and save the partially completed form online, they may be able to ask for payments to be backdated to the date they first commenced the claim (whether online or in person), as long as Centrelink receives a completed claim within 14 days or up to 13 weeks if it was not reasonably practicable for the person to lodge the claim earlier.

Centrelink cannot refuse an application. Even if a Centrelink worker has advised that a claim is unlikely to be successful, a claim can still be made and Centrelink must accept and assess it.

Attending an interview

A person applying for a payment may be asked to attend a phone or in-person interview and provide documentation supporting the claim. Original copies of documents to prove the person’s identity, income, assets, rent and previous employment may be required.

Assessment of the claim

Processing times of claims for payments can vary. Many can be processed quickly, with the first payment received in three to four weeks. Disability Support Pension applications take longer to process, and it sometimes takes several months for successful applicants to receive their first payment.