Welfare call times drop, claims processing faster

Claims processing and call wait times for welfare recipients have improved, figures show. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

Call wait times for people ringing Centrelink have dropped, while claims processing has sped up, data shows.

The Albanese government will on Monday release Services Australia quarterly performance data for the first time, which will be released frequently in a bid to build trust and accountability.

Government Services Minister Bill Shorten said extra funding for 3000 more staff and additional training had reduced the "backlog mountain down to a hill".

"Getting on top of claims processing is vital to supporting Australians at their most vulnerable and through significant events in their life," he said.

Government Services Minister Bill Shorten (file image)
Bill Shorten says extra staff and more training are behind the improved performance.

At the beginning of 2024, it took an average of 84 days to process the age pension, but that has dropped to 49 days.

JobSeeker payments were being settled in less than a week, down from 27 days.

Paid Parental Leave applications are being processed in three days, down from 31, the Family Tax Benefit Lump Sum is being handled in two days, and Disability Support Pension claims are being processed in 71 days, down from 109.

The amount of time it takes to process claims can be affected by delays in doctor's reports. 

Congestion messaging, where more calls are being received than what the network can handle, has plunged in 2024 from 4,385,399 to 929,824.

The average speed for an answer to a phone call for social security and welfare improved by almost eight minutes.

A number of Services Australia offices were undergoing safety upgrades, with about 12,000 assaults recorded against officers in a financial year. 

These range from people throwing pens at employees, to a Centrelink worker in Melbourne being stabbed.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store