What is a Centrelink Loan

In a nutshell, Centrelink is a benefits program specifically fashioned for the people of Australia under the government department of Human Services. The aim of Centrelink is to offer assistance to pensioners, students, people with disabilities and those experiencing financial hardships, lower income or unemployment.

Sometimes, a Centrelink loan, otherwise known as an Advance Payment, can benefit individuals and families in mild financial crises. People who apply for Centrelink loans are often seeking money to assist in paying for expenses. Depending on the type of benefit you receive and the maximum and minimum payment amounts, a lump sum could be deposited into your account as an advanced payment to aid temporary monetary issues.

How are Centrelink loans applicable to me?

Centrelink loans are often confused with bad credit or quick cash loans. In either situation, they aren’t able to change your entire financial situation, as you’re only borrowing money. But, a loan could save you from more dramatic financial implications.

The Centrelink advance payment, or any other loan is immediate cash, which you can acquire by filing some documentation and adhering to a lender’s procedure.

If Centrelink doesn’t approve your advance payment, you may be eligible for the Cigno service. Help is always available, no matter your circumstance.

Requirements

Centrelink advance payments are approved every day. But there are some requirements and regulations for acquiring them. For example, you must be over 18 years of age and must provide valid proof of identification and age.

You must be an Australian citizen to receive this benefit. The applicant must also provide pay slips or proof of net income, and your credit history is also considered.

Short-term cash loans

If the Centrelink payment isn’t enough to cover your bills, several other options exist. The most popular are short-term cash loans, also known as payday loans. Unlike regular loans that can take weeks to reach you finally, payday loans are designed to be paid to your account as soon as possible. The term for a payday loan isn’t very long, and you’ll be expected to pay back what you owe using the money from your next work or welfare payment.

Some payday loan companies only deal with borrowers that are in full-time employment. At Cigno Loans, we offer short-term loans to Centrelink customers and those in work. Whether or not you have a good credit score is not important, as we don’t conduct credit checks in our assessment. As long as we can see that you have a steady income, we’ll be able to help you with instant cash solutions that meet your needs. In most cases, our fast loans can be paid out on the same day you apply.   

Application process

Another huge advantage of our payday loans is their easy application. We’ve designed an internet-based application process that makes our service far more practical and convenient than ever before. You can apply online through our website anytime, and we do everything we can to ensure the money reaches your account within hours.   

It can be tough living on a restricted income outside of work. We understand that balancing things can be tricky at the best of times, especially as all it takes to put you in a real pinch is for an unforeseeable cost to turn up suddenly. All you need to apply for one of our loans online is your most recent bank statement showing your income from Centrelink or your place of work and a government-issued ID.   

Not only is our application process very simple, but we also allow you to pick the amount you want to borrow. We offer loans up to $1000 and will provide you with an offer of the amount we think is most suitable for your circumstances after we have processed your application. Taking the minimum you need to cover your most urgent costs is highly advisable and will help ensure you can pay what you owe comfortably. 

Repayments

The best way to attack your money worries is to practice being as sensible with money as possible. We believe in providing short-term loans the right way, which is why we make all of the charges and rates in our loan terms as clear as possible in our offers. This helps you make a perfectly informed decision and be sure of all conditions before you agree to anything.

We also understand how easy it can be to forget certain dates down the line, which is why we’ve built helpful notifications into our process that keep you updated on your upcoming repayment days. When you have to manage a tight monthly budget, it’s never a bad idea to try and cut down on unnecessary spending as much as possible.

If you receive Centrelink payments and have a bad credit score, you can still access quick funds in emergency situations. Don’t like the idea of applying online? We have a friendly customer service team that will be happy to help you complete your application over the phone.   

Disclaimer: Please be aware that Cigno Loans’ articles do not replace advice from an accountant or financial advisor. All information provided is intended to be used as a guide only, as it does not take into account your personal financial situation or needs. If you require assistance, it is recommended that you consult a licensed financial or tax advisor.

 

NOTIFICATION OF MISCONDUCT BY CIGNO AUSTRALIA

Ordered by the Federal Court of Australia

The Federal Court of Australia has found that Cigno Australia Pty Ltd (Cigno Australia) and BSF Solutions Pty Ltd (BSF Solutions) have breached the law by engaging in unlicensed credit activity and charging prohibited fees.

In the period from July 2022 to 3 October 2023, over 100,000 consumers have been lent a total of $34 million, and charged fees of over $70 million, under the ‘No Upfront Charge Loan Model’ operated by BSF Solutions and Cigno Australia. At no time has either BSF Solutions or Cigno Australia held an Australian Credit Licence.

The Court also found that Mark Swanepoel (director of Cigno Australia) and Brenton James Harrison (director of BSF Solutions) were involved in these breaches of the law.

With effect from 24 May 2024, the Court has granted permanent injunctions preventing Cigno Australia and BSF Solutions from:

  • demanding, receiving or accepting fees or charges, including amounts of loan principal, from consumers in relation to credit provided under the ‘No Upfront Charge Model’; and
  • engaging in further credit activity pursuant to the ‘No Upfront Charge Loan Model’, including by entering into new agreements with consumers, for so long as they do not hold an Australian Credit Licence.

Cigno Australia was ordered by the Court to, by 5th July 2024, send written communications to consumers who between July 2022 and December 2022 entered into agreements with Cigno Australia and BSF Solutions under the ‘No Upfront Charge Loan Model’.

The Court will later determine whether (among other things) Cigno Australia and Mark Swanepoel ought to pay a pecuniary penalty in respect of this conduct, and whether Mark Swanepoel should be restrained from carrying on a business engaging in credit activity.

Cigno Australia, BSF Solutions, Mr Swanepoel and Mr Harrison intend to appeal the decision of the Court and have filed an application for leave to appeal. If the appeal is successful, some or all of the orders of the Federal Court of Australia may be set aside.

Where can you get more information?

Where to go for further support

You can access legal advice in your state at: Free legal advice – Moneysmart.gov.au.

If you are experiencing trouble with debt, or money worries in general, contact:

  • the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 or online chat (9:30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday).

If you need someone to talk to, contact:

  • Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24 hours) or their crisis support online chat or
  • Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 (24 hours) or their webchat