Commonwealth Rent Assistance

Couple — combined

$203.00

maximum per fortnight (combined)

Verified 2026-02-25 Next indexation 2026-03-20

Equivalent to approximately $14.50 per day ($203.00 ÷ 14 days).

Couples renting privately can receive up to $203.00 per fortnight combined in Rent Assistance ($14.50 per day). You receive 75 cents for every dollar of rent above $246.20 per fortnight as a couple, reaching the maximum at $516.87 per fortnight rent. Rent Assistance is paid automatically on top of your main Centrelink payment and is indexed in March and September.

Rate Details

Rent threshold (assistance starts)	$246.20/fn combined
Rent ceiling (maximum reached)	$516.87/fn combined
Maximum Rent Assistance	$203.00/fn

How it's calculated

You receive 75 cents for every dollar of combined rent above the threshold, up to the maximum. Rent below $246.20/fn combined receives no assistance.

Worked example: $400/fn combined rent

($400 − $246.20) × 0.75

= $153.80 × 0.75

= $115.35 Rent Assistance/fn

If you receive Family Tax Benefit Part A, different Rent Assistance rates apply.

Other Rent Assistance rates

Rates verified against the DSS A Guide to Australian Government Payments and Services Australia . Last verified: 2026-02-25. View DSS rate schedule →

General guidance only. Verify your entitlements with Services Australia on 132 300 or at servicesaustralia.gov.au .