Rent Assistance in Australia

Australian social security benefits include an amount for “Rent Assistance” for those people in financial need.

An example of the current rates for 2009 are:

The Maximum Rent Assistance for a couple with 1 or 2 children is $65.24 per week.
That figure reduces depending on how much rent you pay.

The Maximum Rent Assistance for a single person is $37 per week, again reducing depending on actual rent paid.

There is of course an income test applicable to this.

This benefit is also one of the few Australian Centrelink benefits that is available to Migrants without having to wait the normal 2 year qualifying period.

Source:

• Centrelink – Rent Assistance