The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia.

3.4.3.50 Notification & recipient obligations for WA

Note: WA ceased on 1 January 2022. The following information is for historical purposes only.

Notifiable events for WA

In addition to the common notifiable events, WA recipients MUST notify Centrelink within the 14-day notification period, if any of the following events occur, or are likely to occur:

  • the recipient

    • varies their investments
    • decides to travel overseas and their travel may impact on their entitlement or rate of payment after an absence of more than 6 weeks
    • becomes partnered
    • starts, ceases or varies employment
    • sells their home or purchases another
    • receives compensation
    • receives an overseas pension, OR
    • receives other government payments.

Example: DVA pension.

Common provisions

Some notification and recipient obligations are common to MOST payments, and explained in 3.1.

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.1.3 Notification & recipient obligations

Reporting methods

A WA recipient can be required to give information to Centrelink in one or both of 2 different ways. The first way is that all recipients are required to report if a specified event or circumstance change occurs or is likely to occur, notification reporters (1.1.N.126). The second way is that some recipients are also required to give a statement about a specified matter, and sometimes to give a separate statement for each of several specified periods, statement reporters (1.1.S.350).

WA recipients who are statement reporters must provide a statement in order for payment to continue, as described in the following table.

If the WA recipient … statement given …
has varying income

Example: Income from casual employment.

 fortnightly.
does NOT have varying income once every 6 months.

Explanation: These forms are known as 6 monthly Entitlement Reviews.

Act reference: SS(Admin)Act section 68 Person receiving social security payment or …

Statement reporters - late reporting

WA will be cancelled if the recipient has not reported one fortnight, or 14 days after the due date. However, if special circumstances exist the payment MAY be restored. When a recipient is very late reporting, the following information should be considered to determine if special circumstances apply.

  • The reasons for the late reporting. The longer the delay, the greater the need to provide detailed reasons to account for the delay for the full period.
  • Whether Centrelink contributed in any way to the delay (see example 1).
  • Other mitigating or extenuating factors that may call for a more generous approach (see example 2).
  • The plausibility of the reasons for the delay.
  • Whether the recipient belongs to a disadvantaged group (see example 3).

Example 1: By not giving specific information when requested to do so or by giving incorrect information.

Example 2: Unexpected telecommunication problems, for example, phone service is down due to storms etc., or if the recipient has been indisposed.

Example 3: They are a migrant with low level of English comprehension or an Indigenous Australian.

Last reviewed: