Income

Centrelink treats any amount 'earned, derived or received' by you for your own use or benefit as income. This includes any:

wages;
profits from business (such as farming) or self-employment;
interest; and
goods or services received in return for a benefit given to someone else.

Income also includes money received from investments. Centrelink assumes that you receive a certain rate of interest on investments and loans owed to you. They assess all investment income at this rate, whether or not you actually receive it. This is called 'deeming'. The deeming rate changes, so contact Centrelink for the current figures.

Certain income from private trusts and private companies, as well as certain assets held by these bodies, will be attributed to individuals, and assessed under the income and assets tests. If you hold these kinds of income or assets, consult your financial advisor or accountant.

Centrelink will consider your total income from all sources, unless it is considered exempt income under social security law. Items not included as income are other social security payments, Department of Veterans Affairs pensions, emergency relief payments, insurance payments, Medicare and health fund payments, loans repayable by you, and some gifts to pensioners, carers and sole parents from immediate family members.