primary · Services Australia
Single, 1 or 2 dependent children, maximum payment
$257.88 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
I rent and already get a payment · Services Australia
Rent Assistance
Extra payment if you rent in the private market or community housing and already receive a qualifying income-support or family payment. Amount depends on rent paid and household type.
$257.88 / fortnight
Hover the amount for four other currencies (live rate).
Who it is for
People paying enough rent who receive a qualifying Centrelink payment (including some FTB Part A families).
A rent top-up on a state payment. Not a bond loan and not private renters’ insurance.
Conditions
- Qualifying payment
- You must already receive a payment that attracts Rent Assistance.
- Rent
- Fortnightly rent must be above the threshold. The maximum is reached at the rent ceiling.
Primary source first. A disputed or stale figure stays visible. Hover a rand or dollar figure for four other currencies. W weekly · F fortnightly · M monthly · A annually.
primary · Services Australia
Single, 3 or more dependent children, maximum payment
$291.48 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Couple combined, 1 or 2 dependent children, maximum payment
$257.88 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Couple combined, 3 or more dependent children, maximum payment
$291.48 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Single, maximum payment
$219.40 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Single, sharer, maximum payment
$146.27 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Couple combined, maximum payment
$206.80 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Member of a couple who is separated due to illness, respite care or imprisonment, maximum payment
$219.40 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Member of a couple who is temporarily separated, maximum payment
$206.80 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Single, 1 or 2 dependent children, rent threshold
$203.28 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Single, 1 or 2 dependent children, rent ceiling
$547.12 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Single, 3 or more dependent children, rent threshold
$203.28 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Single, 3 or more dependent children, rent ceiling
$591.92 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Couple combined, 1 or 2 dependent children, rent threshold
$300.58 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Couple combined, 1 or 2 dependent children, rent ceiling
$644.42 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Couple combined, 3 or more dependent children, rent threshold
$300.58 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Couple combined, 3 or more dependent children, rent ceiling
$689.22 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Single, rent threshold
$154.80 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Single, rent ceiling
$447.34 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Single, sharer, rent threshold
$154.80 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Single, sharer, rent ceiling
$349.83 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Couple combined, rent threshold
$250.80 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Couple combined, rent ceiling
$526.54 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Member of a couple who is separated due to illness, respite care or imprisonment, rent threshold
$154.80 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Member of a couple who is separated due to illness, respite care or imprisonment, rent ceiling
$447.34 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Member of a couple who is temporarily separated, rent threshold
$154.80 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
primary · Services Australia
Member of a couple who is temporarily separated, rent ceiling
$430.54 / fortnight
From 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19
Guide p.37, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19.
stale · International Social Security Association
ISSA 1 Jan 2024 — maximum (depending on household)
A$245.42 / fortnight
From 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31
2026 booklet maximum is $257.88 / $291.48 depending on children. Keep 2026.
How it is worked out
From the master rates booklet
A guide to Australian Government payments,
1 July to 19 September 2026 (co029-2607, page 37).
Core record coreau_ss_methodology.rent_assistance.
75 cents in the dollar above the rent threshold. No payment if fortnightly rent is at or below the threshold. The table maximum is paid once rent reaches the ceiling. The qualifying payment’s income and assets tests can still reduce this.
Paid with Family Tax Benefit Part A
| Household | Rent threshold | Rent ceiling | Maximum per fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single, 1 or 2 dependent children | $203.28 | $547.12 | $257.88 |
| Single, 3 or more dependent children | $203.28 | $591.92 | $291.48 |
| Couple combined, 1 or 2 dependent children | $300.58 | $644.42 | $257.88 |
| Couple combined, 3 or more dependent children | $300.58 | $689.22 | $291.48 |
Paid with an income support payment
| Household | Rent threshold | Rent ceiling | Maximum per fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $154.80 | $447.34 | $219.40 |
| Single, sharer | $154.80 | $349.83 | $146.27 |
| Couple combined | $250.80 | $526.54 | $206.80 |
| Couple, separated due to illness, respite or imprisonment | $154.80 | $447.34 | $219.40 |
| Couple, temporarily separated | $154.80 | $430.54 | $206.80 |
Not generally paid to people in government-funded aged care, people paying rent to a government housing authority (some sub-tenants excepted), single JobSeeker recipients under 25 living in the parental home, or dependent Youth Allowance at the at-home rate.
Rent Assistance calculator
Estimate from Core AU coreau_ss_methodology.rent_assistance.
Not a Services Australia determination.
Cross-checks
- agrees A guide to Australian Government payments Rates from co029-2607 (2026-07-01 to 2026-09-19).
- disagrees ISSA country profile — Australia ISSA Country profiles: Australia, policies as of 1 January 2024 (https://www.issa.int/node/195543?country=796). Amounts lag the 1 July 2026 payments guide (co029-2607). Compass keeps 2026.
How to apply
Reported with the qualifying payment. servicesaustralia.gov.au/rentassistance
Methodology
coreau_ss_methodology.centrelink_indexation
Maximum rates from Services Australia. Pensions and most allowances index on 20 March and 20 September. FTB indexes 1 July. Income and assets tests can pay less than the maximum. Current Compass figures are overlaid from the 1 July–19 September 2026 payments guide (co029-2607). Change this row in Core AU and the Compass follows.
- Read the live Services Australia page for that payment.
- Cross-check A guide to Australian Government payments for the current quarter (Core AU job payments_guide_quarterly).
- Do not treat a September-preview blog figure as in force before indexation day.