Update Medicare and Centrelink After Divorce in Australia

Services Australia runs Medicare, Centrelink, and Child Support as separate systems. Updating one does not update the others — and missing the Centrelink notification deadline can trigger debt recovery against you.

The 14-Day Centrelink Rule

If you receive any income-tested payment from Centrelink — Family Tax Benefit, JobSeeker, Parenting Payment, or Rent Assistance — you must notify Services Australia of your relationship change within 14 days of separation. Not 14 days after divorce, 14 days after separation.

Missing this deadline doesn't just delay your payments. If Centrelink has been paying you at a coupled rate and you've actually been single, it may calculate an overpayment and issue a debt. A late report can also delay reassessment of your entitlement.

Update online through myGov, by phone, or in person at a Services Australia centre. You'll need to provide the date of separation, your new living arrangements, and updated income details.

Removing Your Ex from Your Medicare Card

Complete MS011, the "Application to copy or transfer from one Medicare card to another" form, to transfer yourself off the family Medicare card. You can submit it online through myGov, by post, or at a Services Australia centre.

If you and your ex-spouse share children, decide which parent's card the children will be listed on. Children can appear on both parents' cards — this is common in shared care arrangements and doesn't affect either parent's Medicare eligibility.

Once processed, you'll receive a new Medicare card with an updated number. Update this with your GP, specialists, pharmacy, and private health insurer.

Family Tax Benefit Reassessment

After notifying Centrelink of your separation, Services Australia reassesses your Family Tax Benefit under the applicable income, care, and relationship rules. The result may increase or reduce your payment.

Single Income Family Supplement is closed to new claims. If you already receive it, Centrelink will reassess your eligibility after the relationship change. If your ex-spouse was the higher earner, your individual income threshold for FTB Part B is more favourable as a single parent.

Single Parent Payment and Parenting Payment Single

If you're the principal carer of a child under 14 and meet the applicable income, assets, residence, and other rules, you may be eligible for Parenting Payment Single. This requires a separate claim — it is not an automatic conversion from a coupled payment.

In Tasmania, eligibility is the same as nationally — this is a federal payment administered by Services Australia. The income test, asset test, and activity requirements are assessed on your individual circumstances.

Child Support

Notifying Centrelink does not notify the Child Support program. If child support needs to be established or reassessed, you or your ex-spouse must contact Child Support separately.

Child Support assessments are based on both parents' incomes, the number of nights each parent cares for the child, and the age of the children. If you have a private arrangement and want it formalised (which protects FTB eligibility), you can register it through Child Support.

myGov and ATO Updates

Your myGov account links to the ATO, Medicare, Centrelink, and Child Support. Changing your relationship status through one linked service doesn't flow through to the others automatically.

Update the ATO separately — your marital status affects the Medicare Levy Surcharge threshold and your eligibility for certain rebates. At tax time, you declare the exact number of days during the financial year that you had a spouse.

The Tasmania After-Divorce Checklist includes a government notification tracker that sequences Medicare, Centrelink, Child Support, ATO, and electoral roll updates in the right order.

See more Tasmania guides →