The amount of rent assistance you can get depends on your rent amount, whether you are single or a member of a couple, and if you receive certain other payments. For every $1 of rent you pay above a threshold, you get 75 cents in rent assistance up to a maximum amount. Here are the key details for rent assistance as of September 2025:
- For a single person, the rent threshold is $152 per fortnight. If your rent exceeds this, you receive $0.75 for every dollar above this threshold, up to a maximum of $215.40 per fortnight.
- For a member of a couple (combined), the rent threshold is $246.20 per fortnight, with a maximum rent assistance payment of $203.00 per fortnight. Each partner receives half of this amount.
- If you receive Family Tax Benefit as well, the thresholds and maximum payments are higher.
Example for a single person paying rent:
- If you pay $439.20 or more per fortnight, you get the maximum $215.40 rent assistance.
- If you pay less than that (e.g., $345.50 per fortnight), your rent assistance is calculated as ($345.50 - $152.00) × 0.75 = $147.37 per fortnight.
This rent assistance rate is updated twice yearly in March and September based on cost of living changes. If more tailored information is needed (e.g., family situation or specific rent amount), that can be calculated too.
