Remote Area Allowance gives you extra financial help if you are getting an income support payment and you live in a remote area.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for Remote Area Allowance if you:

• receive an income support payment from Centrelink— for example, Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Newstart Allowance, Parenting Payment (single) or Youth Allowance, and
• usually live in a remote area that is defined as Tax Zone A (including, with some exceptions, Special Zone A), or Special Zone B.

You cannot get Remote Area Allowance if you:

• move permanently outside the qualifying tax zones, or
• live in ordinary Tax Zone B.

Go to the Australian Tax Office's Australian Zone List to determine what zone you live in.

Claiming

You do not need to fill out a form and make a claim for Remote Area Allowance.

You are automatically assessed when you get your income support payment if you are living in a qualifying tax zone, or when you move permanently to a qualifying tax zone.

Centrelink will send you a letter advising if you will receive Remote Area Allowance. The letter will also tell you when your payment starts and how much you will get.

More Information

For more information, go to the Remote Area Allowance section on the Centrelink website.