Public Holiday Payment Arrangements
Centrelink makes special arrangements every Christmas and Easter holiday period to make sure benefits recipients are not disadvantaged by the holidays. Payments that are made automatically will not be delayed by the holidays but some payments may be made earlier than usual.
All Centrelink offices and Call Centres will be closed on: Thursday 25 December 2008 (Christmas), Friday 26 December 2008 (Boxing Day), Thursday 1 January 2009 (New Years Day), and Monday 26 January 2009 (Australia Day).
Some of Centrelink’s smaller customer service centres will also be closed on 29 December 2008. Arrangements are in place to ensure that customers from these sites will not be disadvantaged.
Important points for payments
* An early payment is not an extra payment. It is a normal payment paid early because of the public holiday period. Centrelink advises recipients to budget carefully so this payment lasts until the next payment is due.
* No payments will be delayed by public holidays. Some payments will be made early.
* Where payments are made early, they are advanced for as few working days as possible – to minimise disruption to budgeting patterns.
The Public Holiday Payment Arrangements factsheet is available at
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/holiday_easter_xmas.htm
