Commonwealth Rent Assistance
Couple — temporarily separated
Equivalent to approximately $14.50 per day ($203.00 ÷ 14 days).
Couples who are temporarily living apart can receive up to $203.00 per fortnight combined in Rent Assistance. The combined couple rate applies even when living separately on a temporary basis. Rent Assistance is paid on top of your main Centrelink payment and is indexed in March and September.
Rate Details
This rate applies to couples living apart temporarily — for example, where one partner is working away from home or in temporary care.
| Rent threshold (assistance starts) | $152.00/fn |
| Rent ceiling (maximum reached) | $422.67/fn |
| Maximum Rent Assistance | $203.00/fn |
How it's calculated
You receive 75 cents for every dollar of rent above the threshold, up to the maximum. Rent below $152.00/fn receives no assistance.
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 .