Commonwealth Rent Assistance rates 2026
Commonwealth Rent Assistance
Maximum Rent Assistance per fortnight (single, no children)
Effective 20 September 2026 · Source: DSS / Services Australia · What changed on 20 September 2026
Commonwealth Rent Assistance is an extra payment for people who pay rent and already get an income support payment or more than the base rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A. It is added to your main payment to help with the cost of renting. It is paid by Services Australia through Centrelink.
This page shows the maximum rates and the rent thresholds, with their effective date. Rent Assistance is indexed twice a year, and the next change is on 20 March 2027.
Full Commonwealth Rent Assistance rate table
| Family situation | Max payment /fortnight | Rent threshold | Rent for max payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $223.80 | $157.80 | $456.20 |
| Single — Sharer | $149.20 | $157.80 | $356.74 |
| Partnered — Illness separated | $223.80 | $157.80 | $456.20 |
| Partnered — Temporarily separated | $211.00 | $157.80 | $439.14 |
| Couple | $211.00 | $255.80 | $537.14 |
Source: DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 September 2026 — Commonwealth Rent Assistance — SSAct
| Family situation | Max payment /fortnight | Rent threshold | Rent for max payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single — 1 to 2 children | $263.06 | $207.34 | $558.09 |
| Single — 3 or more children | $297.36 | $207.34 | $603.82 |
| Partnered — Illness or temporarily separated — 1 to 2 children | $263.06 | $207.34 | $558.09 |
| Partnered — Illness or temporarily separated — 3 or more children | $297.36 | $207.34 | $603.82 |
| Couple — 1 to 2 children | $263.06 | $306.60 | $657.35 |
| Couple — 3 or more children | $297.36 | $306.60 | $703.08 |
Source: DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 September 2026 — Commonwealth Rent Assistance — FAAct
The table below shows the maximum Rent Assistance rates and the rent thresholds for each family situation. There are different rates for a single person, a single person who shares, a couple, couples separated by illness, and families with one to two children or three or more children.
Rent Assistance is not a fixed amount. How much you get depends on how much rent you pay above the rent threshold, up to the maximum for your situation. The table shows the maximum and the threshold so you can see both ends of the scale.
What changed on 20 September 2026
| Rate | Before 20 September 2026 | From 20 September 2026 | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single, no children | $219.40 | $223.80 | +$4.40 | +2.01% |
| Single — Sharer, no children | $146.27 | $149.20 | +$2.93 | +2.00% |
| Partnered — Illness separated, no children | $219.40 | $223.80 | +$4.40 | +2.01% |
| Partnered — Temporarily separated, no children | $206.80 | $211.00 | +$4.20 | +2.03% |
| Couple, no children | $206.80 | $211.00 | +$4.20 | +2.03% |
| Single — 1 to 2 children | $257.88 | $263.06 | +$5.18 | +2.01% |
| Single — 3 or more children | $291.48 | $297.36 | +$5.88 | +2.02% |
| Partnered — Illness or temporarily separated — 1 to 2 children | $257.88 | $263.06 | +$5.18 | +2.01% |
| Partnered — Illness or temporarily separated — 3 or more children | $291.48 | $297.36 | +$5.88 | +2.02% |
| Couple — 1 to 2 children | $257.88 | $263.06 | +$5.18 | +2.01% |
| Couple — 3 or more children | $291.48 | $297.36 | +$5.88 | +2.02% |
- On 20 September 2026, Commonwealth Rent Assistance, single, no children, rose $4.40, or 2.01%, from $219.40 to $223.80.
- Across the 11 rates in the table, the rise ranged from 2.00% to 2.03%.
Commonwealth Rent Assistance in 2026
| Rate | Before | 1 January 2026 | 20 March 2026 | 1 July 2026 | 20 September 2026 | 2026 change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum — Single | $215.40 | — | $219.40 | — | $223.80 | +$8.40 (+3.90%) |
| Maximum — Single — Sharer | $143.60 | — | $146.27 | — | $149.20 | +$5.60 (+3.90%) |
| Maximum — Partnered — Illness separated | $215.40 | — | $219.40 | — | $223.80 | +$8.40 (+3.90%) |
| Maximum — Partnered — Temporarily separated | $203.00 | — | $206.80 | — | $211.00 | +$8.00 (+3.94%) |
| Maximum — Couple | $203.00 | — | $206.80 | — | $211.00 | +$8.00 (+3.94%) |
| Maximum — Single — 1 to 2 children | $253.12 | — | $257.88 | — | $263.06 | +$9.94 (+3.93%) |
| Maximum — Single — 3 or more children | $286.02 | — | $291.48 | — | $297.36 | +$11.34 (+3.96%) |
| Maximum — Partnered — Illness or temporarily separated — 1 to 2 children | $253.12 | — | $257.88 | — | $263.06 | +$9.94 (+3.93%) |
| Maximum — Partnered — Illness or temporarily separated — 3 or more children | $286.02 | — | $291.48 | — | $297.36 | +$11.34 (+3.96%) |
| Maximum — Couple — 1 to 2 children | $253.12 | — | $257.88 | — | $263.06 | +$9.94 (+3.93%) |
| Maximum — Couple — 3 or more children | $286.02 | — | $291.48 | — | $297.36 | +$11.34 (+3.96%) |
- Commonwealth Rent Assistance, maximum, Single, rose $8.40 (3.90%) across 2026, from $215.40 to $223.80: $4.00 on 20 March 2026 and $4.40 on 20 September 2026.
How much Commonwealth Rent Assistance pays
The maximum Rent Assistance for your family situation is shown in the data block and table above. It is paid every two weeks, on top of your main payment.
You do not automatically get the maximum. Rent Assistance is worked out from how much rent you pay above the rent threshold. The more rent you pay above the threshold, the more you get, up to the maximum. The next increase is on 20 March 2027.
| Situation | Rent a fortnight | Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Single, no children | $300 | $106.65 a fortnight |
| Single, no children | $450 | $219.15 a fortnight |
| Single, no children | $600 | $223.80 a fortnight |
| Single, 1 or 2 children | $300 | $69.50 a fortnight |
| Single, 1 or 2 children | $450 | $182.00 a fortnight |
| Single, 1 or 2 children | $600 | $263.06 a fortnight |
Rent is per fortnight. A single person with no children is paid under the Social Security Act; with children it is paid with Family Tax Benefit Part A.
- A single renter paying $300 a fortnight gets $106.65; at $600 the payment is $223.80, $117.15 more than at $300.
Estimate your Commonwealth Rent Assistance
Rent threshold for this situation: $157.80.
Estimated Rent Assistance
$0.00per fortnight
- ≈ per year (×26 fortnights) $0.00
How this is worked out
What this means
Rent Assistance is added to your main payment every two weeks. You have to be getting a qualifying payment first, and you have to pay more than a set amount of rent, called the rent threshold, before any Rent Assistance is paid.
The amount is worked out with a simple rule: for every dollar of rent you pay above the rent threshold, you get 75 cents of Rent Assistance, up to the maximum for your situation. The single rent threshold is $157.80 and the single maximum is $223.80.
Because of the 75 cents rule, paying more rent does not always mean more Rent Assistance. Once your rent is high enough to reach the maximum, extra rent does not increase your payment. The rent level at which you reach the maximum is called the rent ceiling.
Rent Assistance does not have its own income or assets test. It is part of your main payment, so it reduces as your main payment reduces under that payment's income test. It is indexed on 20 March and 20 September, and the next increase is on 20 March 2027.
Who can get Commonwealth Rent Assistance
Services Australia assesses Rent Assistance on whether you get a qualifying payment, how much rent you pay, and your family situation. You cannot usually get Rent Assistance if you pay rent to a government housing authority, or if you own the home you live in.
This page reports the rates and the rent thresholds. It does not decide your claim. For the eligibility rules that apply to your own situation, check the official Rent Assistance page linked at the top and bottom of this page.
Related
- Rate table pageEvery variant on its own page
- 20 September 2026 indexationEvery payment, old against new
- Payment dates 2026Cycles and public holidays
Commonwealth Rent Assistance: common questions
- How much Rent Assistance can I get?
- It depends on how much rent you pay and your family situation. You get 75 cents for every dollar of rent above the rent threshold, up to the maximum for your situation. For a single person the rent threshold is $157.80 and the maximum is $223.80. The full table on this page shows every family situation.
- How does the 75 cents rule work?
- For every dollar of rent you pay above the rent threshold, Rent Assistance pays 75 cents, up to a maximum. So if your rent is below the threshold you get nothing, and once your rent is high enough to reach the maximum, paying more rent does not increase your payment.
- When does Rent Assistance go up next?
- Rent Assistance is indexed on 20 March and 20 September, along with pensions and allowances. The next increase is on 20 March 2027. This page updates to match.
- Do I need another payment to get Rent Assistance?
- Yes. Rent Assistance is added to a qualifying payment, such as an income support payment or more than the base rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A. It is not a payment you can get on its own. It also does not have its own income test; it reduces as your main payment reduces.
- Is Rent Assistance taxable?
- No. Rent Assistance itself is not taxable. It is paid with your main payment, and whether that main payment is taxable depends on which payment it is.
Estimates and general information only — not financial advice. Check Services Australia for your circumstances.
Rates effective 20 September 2026 · next scheduled indexation 20 March 2027. Source: DSS / Services Australia. Last checked 23 September 2026.