If you receive income support from Centrelink and pay rent to a private landlord for accommodation, you may qualify for rent assistance. Rent assistance is paid in addition to a pension, allowance or benefit that you may receive.
You may qualify for rent assistance if you pay more than a certain amount for:
- rent (other than for public housing)
- fees paid for a caravan site or similar, which you occupy as your principal home
- service and maintenance fees in a retirement village (special rules apply)
- fees paid to moor a vessel you occupy as your principal home, or
- lodging (if you pay for board and lodging it is generally two thirds of the amount paid unless the payment for lodging is identifiable).