Support for Single Mothers Australia (Updated 2026)
Raising kids is hard. Finding yourself as a single mother, no matter the reasons behind it can be daunting, overwhelming, and scary. Since women typically earn less than men, it’s no surprise that for most single mothers, their biggest concern is their finances. Followed closely behind that is their mental health. Without a partner to help you carry the burden and give you a break, you need to find ways to look after yourself.
To help you figure out what support you can get we’ve pulled together a list of the financial support on offer for single mums, as well as information on how to apply for it. We also have some info on building a support network to help you and your kids make the most of your situation.
Financial Support
There are several different ways that you can claim financial assistance as a single mother. Which ones apply to you will depend a lot on your individual circumstances.
Parenting Payment (Single)
This is the main form of income support for parents. It’s designed to help low-income families cover the costs of raising their children. You may have already been receiving payments; however, you must inform Centrelink that you are now a single parent. The payment scale for single parents is larger than for couples.
The eligibility criteria are:
- You must be the principal caregiver.
- You must be an Australian Resident in Australia.
- You have a fortnightly income of less than $2,220.85 (add $24.60 to this total for each child after your first).
- Your total assets are below the required limit – $268,000 for homeowners / $482,500 for non-homeowners.
- You have a child under the age of 8.
The payments rate gets updated twice a year, so it is subject to a small amount of change. The maximum amount at the time of writing is $793.10 per fortnight. To get the full amount your earning would have to be less than $192.60 (add $24.60 to this total for each child after your first). As your earnings increase over this amount, your benefit amount decreases.
To receive your payments, you may need to take some regular actions. You may be required to participate in ParentsNext or complete steps in your Job Plan. You also need to make sure that you keep your details up-to-date, especially if there are any changes to your income.
You can only apply for Parenting Payments once your child is born. Payments can be backdated up to four weeks, so you don’t have to rush and complete the application the moment your child arrives. However, it is best to do it as soon as possible. You can apply online by setting up a myGov account.
Depending on your situation, there may be a waiting period before you receive payment. If you need financial support urgently, there are other options.
Family Tax Benefit
This is a 2 part payment. Part A is paid for each child in the family. Part B provides extra support for single parents.
Part A
The eligibility criteria for part A payments are:
- Your child is under the age of 15 or is 16-19 and in full-time education.
- You must be living in Australia, and either has Australian citizenship or an appropriate type of visa.
- You should be caring for the child at least 35% of the time.
- You meet the income criteria.
- Your child has had all the appropriate immunisations for their age and situation.
The income criteria for Part A payments are a little complicated. But if you earn less than $98,988, you will probably be eligible for some amount of support. If you earn less than $55,626, you will be eligible for the full amount of support.
The amount you will get will depend on a combination of a lot of factors. These include the age and number of children, how much time they spend in your care, and your income. The base rate is $60.90 per fortnight, and the maximum payments are $189.56 for kids under 12 and $246.54 for kids 13 and older.
Part B
The eligibility criteria for a part B payment are:
- You’re a single parent to a child under the age of 16 or 16-19 and in full-time education.
- You must be living in Australia, and either has Australian citizenship or an appropriate type of visa.
- You should be caring for the child at least 35% of the time.
- Your income is $100,000 or less.
- You are not currently receiving Parental Leave Pay.
Part B is paid per family. The amount you get will depend on your youngest child’s age and the amount of time they are in your care. You can get an estimate of how much you will get using the government payment finder. The maximum rate is $161,14 per fortnight for kids up to 5 years old. The rate drops to $112.56 for kids 5-18.
You can apply online for both parts A and B of the Family Tax Benefit. You can apply for both at the same time. You will need to set up a myGov account if you don’t already have one. You will likely need to supply some supporting documents if it’s your first time applying for this benefit. This includes things like birth certificates, proof of income, and proof of identity.
Child Care Subsidy
This is a payment to help cover the costs of your child care. The payments are made directly to your child care provider, so you pay a reduced fee.
The eligibility requirements for Child Care Subsidy are:
- Your child is under 13 years of age, not in secondary school, or is 13-18 and has a disability or requires supervision.
- Your child has had all the appropriate immunisations for their age and situation.
- You use an approved child care service.
- You must be living in Australia, and either has Australian citizenship or an appropriate type of visa.
The size of the subsidy you will get is based on a lot of factors. Your income, the type of care setting you use and the hours a recognised activity you do all factor in. The easiest way to see how much you might be eligible for is to use the government’s payment finder to get an estimate.
You can submit a claim online using a myGov account.
Rental Assistance
Rental Assistance for single mothers is available. If you get a Parenting Payment (Single), you will also be eligible for rental assistance if you rent a property.
You will only get assistance if your fortnightly rent is between $163.52 – $382.29. The higher you rent, the more support you will receive. The most you can get per fortnight is $164.08 if you have 1 -2 children. If you have 3 or more children, you can get up to $185.36.
To claim a payment, you need to submit your rental details through your myGov account.
Low Income Health Care Card
If you qualify for this card, it gives you access to cheaper prescriptions and health care. Depending on where you live this card can also entitle you to other benefits such as lower electricity and gas bills, and public transport fares. You can check what you could get here. You have to apply for this card annually.
The eligibility requirements for a low-income health care card are:
- Your weekly income is less than $985.00 (for each child after your first add $34.00).
- You must be living in Australia, and either has Australian citizenship or an appropriate type of visa.
Once you have a card, you can lose it if your income exceeds $9,850.00 in any 8 week period (add $340.00 for each child after your first).
You can make a claim online through your myGov account.
Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement
When you have a baby or welcome a new child into your care, you’re eligible for a non-taxable lump sum and a temporary increase to your Part A Family Tax Benefit. These payments are for newborn children. You can only get the payment if you or the child father have not received Parental Leave Pay.
You will get a lump sum of $570 per child. The supplement amount will depend on your income and how many children you have. The supplement is paid over 13 months and is added to you Part A payment. For your first child, the maximum you can receive is a total of $1,709.89. For any subsequent children, it’s $570.57.
Crisis Payment
This is a one-off payment for anyone struggling with extreme circumstances and may be dealing with financial hardship as a result. You may be eligible for this payment if you are in severe financial hardship, which means that the money you can access to spend is equivalent to two weeks of income support payments.
These payments will also be made if you have experienced an instance of domestic violence. These payments are meant to be short-term bridging payments. So they can only be claimed within 7 days of the event. If you have experienced domestic violence and need support, you can find resources here.
The amount you will get from these payments will depend a great deal on your circumstances. You can make a claim online, but you will likely also need to have some contact with a social worker as well.
Additional Support Due To Covid-19
If your income has been affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, then you may be able to claim some additional support.
Coronavirus Supplement
Until 31 March 2021, you can get an extra $150 per fortnight. This is bundled with your Parenting Payment. It is considered taxable income. However, you can set up a tax deduction, so the tax is automatically taken out of the payment. You will automatically get this if you are receiving a Parenting Payment, so you won’t need to do anything extra to get this payment unless you want to set up the tax deduction.
Covid-19 Crisis Payment
Crisis payments have been opened up to people struggling due to the impacts of the coronavirus.
You may be eligible for a crisis payment if
- you are in severe financial hardship.
- you receive an income support payment.
- You are currently being required to self isolate or quarantine Australia or are caring for someone else who is in quarantine.
The amount you will get from these payments will depend on your circumstances. You can make a claim online.
Other Support for Single Mothers
Being a single mum can make you feel isolated. But there are many resources and groups that you can join, which can give you the chance to feel supported and talk to other single moms who may be able to empathise with you and offer some relevant advice.
Singlemum.com.au is an online community for Australian single mums. They also have a Facebook support group for mums in all stages of becoming single mothers.
Australian Single Mother Forum is an online community for supporting single mums and leading conversations on relevant topics.
Relationships Australia provides a range of services, including counselling, family mediation and dispute resolution. They have a lot of experience in providing support to help single mum’s manage difficult family situations.
The council of single mothers and their children supports families who are struggling and need a helping hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do single mums get on Centrelink?
The maximum amount you can get on Centrelink is $793.10 every two weeks. This depends on your circumstance and if you meet the eligibility criteria. You should also be aware that there may be a waiting period before you receive your first payment. So, it’s a good idea to inform Centrelink of your circumstances as soon as possible.
What benefits can single mothers claim?
The exact benefits you will be able to claim will depend on your individual circumstances. The most common benefits that will apply to most single mothers include:
- Parenting Payment (single)
- Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement
- Family Tax Benefit – A & B
- Child Care Subsidy
How do you help a struggling single mother?
If you are looking for ways to support a single mother, there are lots of ways you can offer support. You may not be able to provide financial support, but there are plenty of ways you can offer your time that will make their lives a lot easier. For instance, you could offer to spend a day helping them get their yard work done, you could help by coming round and preparing a meal for the family. Most importantly, you can offer to take care of their children for a while to give them a much-deserved break.
