---
title: "Centrelink: how it works"
description: "Centrelink is part of every engagement: we act as your nominee, lodge what's needed and keep Centrelink up to date."
---

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2. [Centrelink](https://portal.primeyears.com.au/help/centrelink?hsLang=en-au)

# Centrelink: how it works

## Centrelink is part of every engagement: we act as your nominee, lodge what's needed and keep Centrelink up to date.

Centrelink is part of every engagement, not a separate product. We become your nominee, much as your accountant deals with the ATO for you, and from then on we deal with Centrelink: the calls, the forms, the letters and the waiting.

### What it covers

Claims for the Age Pension or the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, updates to your income and assets, and the income and assets assessment an aged care home needs. Even with nothing to claim yet, we stay on as your nominee.

### What we do

- Become your nominee. See [Being your Centrelink nominee, and what we lodge](https://portal.primeyears.com.au/help/being-your-centrelink-nominee-and-what-we-lodge?hsLang=en-au).
- Check what Centrelink holds against your fact find.
- Lodge claims, and keep your record up to date as things change.
- Follow up until Centrelink responds, and explain each outcome in plain words.

### What we need from you

The nominee form in your welcome email, and your documents, given once. Missed the form? [You'll find it here](https://form.jotform.com/262108456863058). After that, forward any Centrelink letter and tell us when something changes. You don't sign claims or updates.

### How long it takes

We set up the nominee arrangement during onboarding, which takes about two weeks. If your advice changes your income or assets, we update Centrelink once it's in place.

After that, Centrelink sets its own pace, and some things take a while. It can feel like the button at a pedestrian crossing: you press it, and you wait. We keep pressing for you, often several times a week, so if you haven't heard from us, it doesn't mean nothing's happening.

### How we keep you posted

An email each time we lodge something, and the outcome, explained, when Centrelink replies. If an update would reduce or stop a payment, we tell you before we lodge it. Want to know where something is up to? Text us and we'll tell you.

### Ongoing service and the Concierge

The work is the same. On ongoing service, we look after Centrelink while you're with us, and check the new thresholds each July. On the Concierge, we do it for your 12 months, then hand the nominee role back unless you choose ongoing service, Foundations or Centrelink care.

### What happens next

Just booked your initial meeting? Nothing to do yet. See [Claiming the Age Pension or the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card](https://portal.primeyears.com.au/help/claiming-the-age-pension-or-the-commonwealth-seniors-health-card?hsLang=en-au) and [Telling Centrelink when things change](https://portal.primeyears.com.au/help/telling-centrelink-when-things-change?hsLang=en-au).

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