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Unemployment Benefits in Australia
Australia's payment for people out of work is JobSeeker Payment from Services Australia (Centrelink), for people aged 22 to 66 who meet income, assets and residence rules, with mutual obligations managed through Workforce Australia.
✓ From official pages ✓ Each part says when we checked
At a glance
Services Australia (Centrelink)
points a month
Centrelink employment services line (to claim JobSeeker Payment if not online)
The job market in Australia
The International Labour Organization's estimates put Australia 70th lowest of 183 countries for unemployment in 2025; the world's rate was 4.9%.
Australia's unemployment rate over the years · every country, ranked
What to do first
- Register with the public employment service, Workforce Australia. Official page
- Apply for JobSeeker Payment: online through a myGov account linked to Centrelink, with supporting documents; if not online, call the Centrelink employment services line on 132 850. A claim can be started up to 13 weeks before a known change. Official page
- Keep up with the job-search rule while you claim (below), and keep a record of where you applied.
- Search the government's job listings on Workforce Australia jobs. Official page
- Questions: call 132 850 (Centrelink employment services line (to claim JobSeeker Payment if not online)).
JobSeeker Payment
Who can get it. People between 22 and 66 years old who are unemployed and looking for work (or sick or injured for a short time) and meet the income and assets tests and residence rules.
How to claim. Online through a myGov account linked to Centrelink, with supporting documents; if not online, call the Centrelink employment services line on 132 850. A claim can be started up to 13 weeks before a known change.
From an official page, read October 26, 2026.
Looking for work while you claim
Each month you need to earn points to reach your points target for income support. The starting target is 100 points, which includes 4 job searches worth 5 points each; points come from tasks and activities such as applying for jobs, going to interviews, paid work and volunteering. Extra points go into a points bank (up to 50% of the target) for the next month.
- Earn the monthly points target, including 4 job searches
- Report activities to earn points
Reporting. Report your points online, on the app, with your provider or through the Digital Services Contact Centre; progress is tracked on your homepage each monthly reporting period.
From an official page, read October 26, 2026.
Keep my work search record for Australia
Free. It lists where you applied and what else you did to look for work, each line ready to copy into the form you report on. It is your own record: we send nothing to any government.
Help finding work
- The public employment service: Workforce Australia
- The government's job listings: Workforce Australia jobs
Health cover between jobs
Medicare covers health care for Australians whether or not they work; myGov's page for people who lost their job points to Medicare and to concession and health care cards.
From an official page, read October 26, 2026.
Who to call
Centrelink employment services line (to claim JobSeeker Payment if not online): 132 850.
From an official page, read October 26, 2026.
Questions
Is there unemployment benefit in Australia?
Yes: JobSeeker Payment, paid by Services Australia (Centrelink).
How do I claim unemployment benefit in Australia?
Online through a myGov account linked to Centrelink, with supporting documents; if not online, call the Centrelink employment services line on 132 850. A claim can be started up to 13 weeks before a known change.
Do I have to look for work while I claim in Australia?
Each month you need to earn points to reach your points target for income support. The starting target is 100 points, which includes 4 job searches worth 5 points each; points come from tasks and activities such as applying for jobs, going to interviews, paid work and volunteering. Extra points go into a points bank (up to 50% of the target) for the next month.
Who do I call about unemployment in Australia?
Centrelink employment services line (to claim JobSeeker Payment if not online): 132 850.
Where can I get help finding a job in Australia?
The public employment service is Workforce Australia. The government lists jobs on Workforce Australia jobs.
Nearby countries
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
New Zealand
Norfolk Island
Where this comes from
Every part of this page was read on an official website, and each links the page it came from and the day we checked it. Rules and amounts change, so check that page before you rely on a figure. Jobareer is not part of any government and cannot see or change a claim.
See also: unemployment rate by country · Australia's unemployment rate · unemployment in the US, state by state.