Commonwealth Rent Assistance: How Much You Can Get
Commonwealth Rent Assistance is a fortnightly top-up for renters on Centrelink payments. Who qualifies, how it is calculated, and how to make sure you get it.
By Timothy Hirou GaschereauPublished 9 min read
If you are renting and on a Centrelink payment, Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) is extra money you may already be entitled to, and plenty of people miss it simply because their rent details are out of date. It is a fortnightly, non-taxable top-up that sits on top of your main payment to help with private rent.
Here is who qualifies, how it is worked out, and how to make sure Centrelink is actually paying it to you. General information only, not advice, and rates are indexed twice a year so check Services Australia for current figures.
🎯 The essential: CRA is a non-taxable fortnightly top-up on most Centrelink payments (Age Pension, JobSeeker, DSP, Parenting Payment, Youth Allowance, Family Tax Benefit Part A and more) for people paying private or community-housing rent above a threshold. You get 75 cents for every dollar of rent above the threshold, up to a maximum (about $211.20 a fortnight for a single, more with children). Public housing tenants and homeowners do not qualify. It is usually assessed automatically, so keep your rent details current.
What Commonwealth Rent Assistance is
CRA is an extra fortnightly payment from Services Australia that sits on top of most Centrelink payments to help private renters. It is not a loan, grant, bond or separate welfare payment you queue for: it is added to your existing payment if you qualify, and it is non-taxable, so it never shows on your tax return.
Who is eligible
Two conditions must both be met:
1. You are on a qualifying payment, such as the Age Pension, JobSeeker, Parenting Payment, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, Youth Allowance, Austudy, or Family Tax Benefit Part A above the base rate.
2. You pay rent above the threshold (about $149 a fortnight for a single) to a private landlord or community housing provider. Public housing tenants (already subsidised) and homeowners do not qualify.
How CRA is calculated
The formula is simple: (fortnightly rent minus the threshold) x 0.75. You get 75 cents for every dollar of rent above the threshold, up to a maximum rate. Once your rent is high enough to hit the cap, you get the maximum no matter how much higher it goes. Sharers (not couples) get two-thirds of the single maximum. Thresholds and maximums are indexed in March and September.
How much you can get (2025-26)
| Situation | Rent threshold (approx) | Max CRA per fortnight (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Single, no children | $149.00 | $211.20 |
| Single, with children | $149.00 | $280.80 |
| Couple, no children | $241.40 | $199.00 |
| Couple, with children | $241.40 | $235.60 |
| Single sharer | $149.00 | $140.80 |
Worked example
A single person with no children paying $900 a fortnight in rent: subtract the $149 threshold ($751), multiply by 0.75 ($563.25), then apply the cap. That is well above the $211.20 maximum, so they receive $211.20 a fortnight. In fact, once your rent tops about $430 a fortnight you already hit the single maximum, and paying more does not increase it. The cap is the cap.
How to make sure you are getting it
The good news: usually there is no separate claim. When you claim your main payment and tell Centrelink you pay rent, CRA is assessed automatically. To make sure you get every dollar: declare your rent when you claim, keep your rent details up to date in myGov whenever you move or your rent rises (CRA is not backdated), and provide a lease or a signed Rent Certificate (form SU523) if Centrelink asks.
Common traps
- Not updating rent details when you move or your rent rises: CRA is not backdated, so you keep getting the old lower amount.
- Assuming public housing qualifies: it does not.
- Thinking CRA is taxable: it is not, and it does not appear on your tax return.
- Forgetting the sharer rate (two-thirds of the single maximum).
- Not returning the SU523 rent certificate when asked, which can stop your CRA.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Commonwealth Rent Assistance taxable?
+
No. CRA is a non-taxable payment. It does not appear on your payment summary or your tax return.
Can I get rent assistance if I live in public housing?
+
No. Public housing tenants are not eligible, because their rent is already subsidised by the state government. CRA is for private and community-housing renters.
How much is rent assistance in 2025-26?
+
The maximum for a single person with no children is about $211.20 a fortnight. Couples, families and sharers have different rates. All rates are indexed in March and September, so check Services Australia for the current figure.
Do I need to apply separately for rent assistance?
+
Usually no. When you claim your main Centrelink payment and declare that you pay rent, CRA is assessed automatically. Just keep your rent details up to date in myGov.
What if my rent goes up?
+
Update your rent details in myGov or the Centrelink app as soon as possible. CRA is not backdated, so every fortnight you delay is money you do not get back.
Can I get rent assistance if I share a house?
+
Yes. If you are a sharer (not part of a couple), you can get CRA at two-thirds of the standard single maximum rate.
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Sources
This article is general information only, not financial advice. Rent Assistance rates and thresholds are set by Services Australia and indexed in March and September. Check Services Australia for the current figures and your eligibility.
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General information only. This article is educational and does not constitute personal financial advice. It does not account for your circumstances. Consider your own situation and seek advice from a licensed adviser before acting. Read our full disclaimer.
Timothy Hirou Gaschereau
Founder of Snowball Invest, not a financial adviser.
I write about what I'm learning myself, because nobody ever taught us how to take control of our own money. It's a skill, not a mystery, and it's never too late to learn it. The best day to start was yesterday, the second best is today.
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