What is Centrepay?
Centrepay is a Centrelink facility that allows Centrelink customers to have automatic deductions taken from their Centrelink payments for various purposes, such as payment of rent, gas, water, rates, or electricity. Once a landlord or utility service provider has been approved for registration with Centrepay, their customers who are in receipt of a Centrelink payment can nominate to use the deduction service.
Do Centrelink customers have to use Centrepay?
Centrepay is entirely voluntary. Centrelink customers can choose if they wish to use Centrepay to pay their bills, or choose to stop using Centrepay if they are already using it.
Does it cost anything to use Centrepay?
Centrepay is free to Centrelink customers. Landlord or service provider organisations registered with Centrepay will pay a transaction fee of $0.92 (plus GST) for each deduction transaction. The charge is levied automatically prior to the transfer of funds. The registration terms and conditions require these organisations to agree that they will not pass the transaction fee back to the customer.
What are the objectives of Centrepay?
The overall objectives of Centrepay are to provide a secure living environment and enhance the personal capacity of customers. These objectives can be met through Centrepay by assisting income support customers manage their finances and by helping them to meet their financial commitments.
For further information on Centrepay for customers and businesses refer to the Centrelink website.