How to apply for social housing

In this guide, we explain how to apply for social housing.

Social housing is homes that cost less to live in.

The government helps pay for social housing.

You can live in social housing if you:

• need support to find a home
• don’t earn much money.

You can live in social housing:

• by yourself
• with a group of people, like your family.

You can live in social housing if you are an Australian citizen.

A citizen is someone who has the rights and freedoms of the country where they live. 

You can live in social housing if you are a permanent resident in Australia.

If you are a permanent resident of a country, you are allowed to live there but you are not a citizen. 

You can live in social housing if you have proof you can pay for it. 

You can live in social housing if you show that you will:

• stay in the home for a long time
• take care of the home.

Social housing is usually for people over 18 years old.

But sometimes people who are 16 or 17 years old can live in social housing.

You can find out more about who can live in social housing on the Eligibility for social housing page on the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) website.

You can live in social housing if you meet DCJ’s rules about how much money you can earn.

You must earn less than $770 per week if you:

• are an adult
• live by yourself.

If you live with other people, you can earn more money.

You can earn an extra $290 per week for each other adult in your home.

For example, a home with you and one other adult can earn up to $1,060 per week.

If you live with a child, you can earn more money.

You can earn an extra $380 per week for a child in your home.

For example, a home with you and one child can earn up to $1,150 per week.

If you have more than one child, you can earn an extra $125 per week for each other child in your home.

For example, a home with you and 2 children can earn up to $1,275 per week.

You might also get the disability allowance.

The disability allowance is for people who pay for support because of a disability.

It means you can earn an extra $125 per week for each person who gets it

You might also get the exceptional disability allowance.

The exceptional disability allowance is for people who pay a lot of money for support because of a disability.

It means you can earn an extra $290 per week for each person who gets it.

You can find out more about the disability allowances on the DCJ website.

You can apply for social housing on the DCJ website.

You can also apply over the phone.

1800 422 322

When you apply for social housing, you can choose who you want to provide your housing.

For example, you could choose:

• DCJ
• a community organisation.

You can also choose the area you want to live in.

You will need to share information about yourself.

For example, you will need to share documents that prove who you are.

You will need to tell DCJ about any money you earn.

You will need to tell DCJ about anything you own that might be worth a lot of money, like a car.

You will need to tell DCJ about any property you own, like a house.

If you already owe money for social housing, you will need to prove that you are paying it back.

You will need to tell DCJ if you have a disability or a health condition that affects the type of social housing you need.

For example, if you need a ramp.

DCJ will use this information to decide what support they can give you.

DCJ will tell the people who run social housing in your area if you can live in social housing.

You will need to wait until they have a home for you.

Waiting times can change in different parts of New South Wales.

There might be a lot of people who want social housing in your area.

DCJ might decide that you need a home faster than other people.

For example, if you are not safe where you live now.

DCJ might still be able to support you if you can’t live in social housing.

There are supports for people who:

• lost their home in a natural disaster, like a bushfire or flood

• take care of children and don’t have a home

• are at risk of domestic and family violence.

Domestic and family violence is when someone close to you hurts you, such as:

• your partner, like your boyfriend or girlfriend
• a member of your family
• someone who takes care of you
• someone you live with.

You can call the Housing Contact Centre to learn more about these supports.

1800 422 322