About the Commonwealth Rent Assistance Calculator
This Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) calculator estimates how much Centrelink rent assistance you can get each fortnight. Rent Assistance pays 75 cents for every dollar of rent above a minimum threshold, up to a maximum that depends on whether you are single or partnered, whether you share accommodation, and how many dependent children you have. Enter your rent per week, fortnight or month and choose your family situation to see your estimated payment, the rent needed to get the maximum, and what you still pay yourself.
It is for renters in private or community housing who receive an income support payment (such as JobSeeker, Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Youth Allowance or Austudy) or more than the base rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A. Public housing tenants paying rent to a state housing authority cannot get Rent Assistance. Single sharers — people without children living in shared private accommodation — get a lower maximum.
The rates are the ones Services Australia published for payments from 20 March 2026. Rent Assistance is indexed to CPI on 20 March and 20 September each year, so the September 2026 indexation may have lifted the figures slightly — check the current Services Australia table before relying on an exact cent amount. Because Rent Assistance is added to your main payment, income above that payment’s free area can reduce it through the income test.
With the default inputs, the rent assistance (per fortnight) is $219.40. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the commonwealth rent assistance calculator
- 1Choose your family situation, including whether you are a single sharer.
- 2Enter the rent you pay — just your share if you split rent.
- 3Pick whether the amount is weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
- 4Read your fortnightly Rent Assistance and the rent needed for the maximum.
- 5Report your rent to Centrelink, as Rent Assistance is not paid unless you tell them.
Formula and method
Rent Assistance is 75 cents for each dollar of fortnightly rent above the minimum rent threshold for your situation, capped at the maximum rate. Weekly rent is doubled and monthly rent is converted with × 12 ÷ 26 to get a fortnightly figure. The rent at which you reach the maximum is the threshold plus the maximum divided by 0.75.
Rates used (from 20 March 2026): singles $154.80 threshold and $219.40 maximum; single sharers $146.27 maximum; couples $250.80 threshold and $206.80 maximum; singles with children $203.28 threshold; couples with children $300.58 threshold; and family maximums of $257.88 (1–2 children) or $291.48 (3+ children). The result is before any reduction from the income test on your main payment or Family Tax Benefit.
- Rent
- Rent paid per fortnight
- Threshold
- Minimum fortnightly rent before Rent Assistance starts
- Max
- Maximum fortnightly Rent Assistance for your situation
Worked examples
Single renter paying $450 a fortnight
Rent over the $154.80 threshold is $295.20, and 75% of that is $221.40 — more than the $219.40 maximum, so the full $219.40 is paid. That is $5,704.40 a year, and the renter still pays $230.60 a fortnight.
Single sharer paying $220 a week
Weekly rent of $220 is $440 a fortnight. The sharer maximum of $146.27 is reached at about $349.83 a fortnight, so this renter gets the full sharer rate.
Couple with two children paying $1,000 a month
$1,000 a month is $1,000 × 12 ÷ 26 = $461.54 a fortnight. Rent above the $300.58 couple-with-children threshold is $160.96, and 75% of that is $120.72 — below the $257.88 maximum.
Frequently asked questions
How is Rent Assistance calculated?+
Centrelink pays 75 cents for every dollar of rent you pay above a minimum threshold, up to a maximum. For a single person with no children the threshold is $154.80 a fortnight and the maximum is $219.40 (rates from 20 March 2026).
Who can get Commonwealth Rent Assistance?+
People who rent privately or in community housing and get an income support payment such as JobSeeker, Age Pension, DSP, Youth Allowance, Austudy, ABSTUDY or Carer Payment, or more than the base rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A.
What is the single sharer rate?+
If you are single, have no dependent children and share accommodation such as a house or flat, your maximum Rent Assistance is lower — $146.27 a fortnight instead of $219.40. Some people, such as those getting DSP or living in boarding houses, are exempt from the sharer rate.
Can I get Rent Assistance in public housing?+
No. Tenants paying rent to a state or territory housing authority are not eligible, because their rent is already subsidised. Community housing tenants can usually get it.
How often do Rent Assistance rates change?+
Rates are indexed to the Consumer Price Index on 20 March and 20 September each year. Your payment also changes when you report a rent increase or move.
Does my income affect Rent Assistance?+
Rent Assistance has no separate income test, but it is part of your main payment or Family Tax Benefit Part A. If your income reduces those payments, the Rent Assistance component can reduce too once the base payment is used up.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.