The 2025 Bonus payment of $4,000 Centrelink comes with the scheme of Work Bonus, that allows older Australians who receive eligible payments to earn more through their work without reducing Centrelink benefits.
What is the $4,000 Centrelink Bonus?
– It is a one time addition to your Work Bonus balance in case you are eligible and you can get a good deal of extra income even before it influences your pension or benefit payments.
– The Work Bonus Scheme presently exempts first $300 per fortnight of work income in the income test and any unused amounts are held in your Work Bonus balance which has a limit (now increased to 4000 dollars to eligible claimants).
– The increase essentially increases the amount of money an average pensioner in the country will have to earn without cutting on the money earned.
Who Qualifies?
– Should be Age Pension, Disability Support Pension or Carer Payment recipients of Age Pension age or above.
– Needs to have made a valid eligible Centrelink payment claim between 1 December 2022 and 30 June 2024 or must be a new claim after July 2024.
– Has not been in receipt of this $4,000 Work Bonus previously.
-Boosted Accrued Work Bonus balances are not allowed to exceed the maximum balance of $11,800.
When is the $4,000 Bonus Paid?
– You do not get the $4,000 as a lump sum, but rather as an addition to your Work Bonus balance.
– It has the advantage of being available to beat your income earned in the workplace as soon as you are eligible.
– It implies that you can make extra income by doing part-time or casual work but your pensions will not be reduced until the increased balance is exhausted.
– No particular date of payment is provided since it is a credit that is deducted in the facilities of Centrelink in their income test calculations and not a actual cash payout.
How to Check or Claim
– Visit your Centrelink online account through myGov and check your balance of a Work Bonus.
– No independent claim was required provided that you had qualified under the qualifying criteria and had submitted your eligible payment claim.
– Centrelink should be contacted in case you are eligible but have not been boosted.
Summary Table: $4000 Centrelink Bonus 2025
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Bonus Type | Work Bonus balance boost (credit) |
| Amount | $4,000 added to Work Bonus balance |
| Eligible Payments | Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment |
| Age Requirement | Age Pension age or older |
| Claim Period | Claims lodged between Dec 2022 – Jun 2024, or new claims thereafter |
| Payment Mode | Credit within income test, not direct cash payment |
FAQs
Q1: Is the $4,000 bonus paid as cash?
No, it has added to your Work Bonus credit which adds to your earnings exemption.
Q2: Who can get this $4,000 boost?
Recipients of Eligible Age Pension, DSP and Carer Payment who are yet to receive it.
Q3: How do I use this bonus?
It enables you to make additional income and then your pension is impacted by the income test of Centrelink.
