Medicare and Centrelink payments change over public holidays

THERE will be some changes to payments and services over the Easter and Anzac public holidays for Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support customers.

All service centres and most phone lines providing Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support services will be closed on Good Friday (April 19), Easter Monday (April 22) and Anzac Day (Thursday, April 25).

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

“Our Express Plus mobile apps, phone selfservice lines and online accounts are the easiest way to do business with us.

“You can use myGov on public holidays to change your appointments, apply for an advance payment, update details, lodge Medicare claims and report your employment income.

“Payments won’t be delayed by the public holidays but some people may have changes to their reporting dates.

“If you’re due to receive a payment on a national public holiday you may be paid beforehand so you will need to budget for a longer period between payment dates. If you use self-service options to report on a public holiday you will be paid within the next two working days.

“I encourage people to check their reporting dates on our website, through their Centrelink online accounts or via phone self-service.”

He said people who report early will need to estimate their earnings for their normal 14-day assessment period, because while reporting dates may be different, the assessment period remained the same.

“If you make a mistake, you can correct your estimate within 14 days, or when you next report.

“There are no changes to Child Support arrangements, however payments made after 18 April may be delayed by public holidays.

“People can continue to lodge Medicare claims at their doctor’s office or using self-service. Critical services for Medicare providers such as organ donor and PBS authorities will remain available over this period.”

The Express Plus Lite mobile app is also available to report income in Arabic, Chinese, Persian (Farsi) and Vietnamese.

For more information about holiday period reporting and payment dates, head to humanservices.gov.au/holidays.