How we can help
Contact us for free information about your legal issue and how we can help. If we can’t help, we can refer you to other organisations that can. Many requests can be dealt with online via our live Legal Help Chat.
- Speak to us over the phone or using our online chat
- Help in your language
- Support if you are deaf or find it hard to hear or speak on the phone
Our lawyers may be able to help if you:
- are unsure about your rights or entitlements
- disagree with a Centrelink decision
- are being investigated for fraud or charged with a criminal offence.
For some matters, you may be able to get a lawyer to run your case.
If we can’t help, we can refer you to other organisations that can.
We also provide legal assistance for veterans
We may also be able to help war veterans, war widows, and their dependants with some legal matters about pensions and payments.
We may be able to provide assistance for appeals to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal from a decision of the Veterans’ Review Board for:
- decisions about pensions for war-caused injury, disease or death
- some decisions about incapacity payments and compensation payments for permanent impairment relating to warlike or non-warlike service.
War veterans do not need to satisfy a means test to get a grant of legal assistance.
Other organisations that can help
Social Security Rights Victoria
Social Security Rights is a community legal centre that provides assistance, including legal help, to people with social security problems.
Community legal centres
Your local community legal can give you legal information and advice. Most services are free.
Legal Aid Commissions (outside Victoria)
Your local legal aid can give you information and advice.
Economic Justice Australia
Economic Justice is a network of community legal centres throughout Australia that specialise in social security law.
Resources about Centrelink
The resources on this page will help you if you:
- disagree with a Centrelink decision
- want to know more about your entitlements.
Our resources
See a list of all our free publications and .
We also have a video on Centrelink debts.
Resources from other organisations
Economic Justice Australia
A range of fact sheets about Centrelink and social security matters are on the Economic Justice Australia .
Centrelink
Centrelink has online to help you estimate or compare various payments that you might get based on your circumstances.
The Services Australia website has information about Centrelink, including:
The Guide to Australian Government also has information about eligibility and payment rates for a wide range of Centrelink payments.
The Law Handbook
The Law Handbook from Fitzroy Legal Service has information about Centrelink payments and eligibility requirements:
Disclaimer: The material in this print-out relates to the law as it applies in the state of Victoria. It is intended as a general guide only. Readers should not act on the basis of any material in this print-out without getting legal advice about their own particular situations. Victoria Legal Aid disclaims any liability howsoever caused to any person in respect of any action taken in reliance on the contents of the publication.
We help Victorians with their legal problems and represent those who need it most. Find legal answers, chat with us online, or call us. You can speak to us in English or ask for an interpreter. You can also find more legal information at www.legalaid.vic.gov.au
Reviewed 16 January 2023