When you are a single parent there can be times when finances are tight. Here are some financing loan options including short-term lenders, traditional banks or credit unions as well as alternative financial solutions. All of these are outlined on the page below.
Financial hardship
If you're experiencing financial hardship and would like to speak to someone for free financial counselling, you can call the Financial Counsellors hotline on 1800 007 007. It is open from 9:30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. When comparing short term loans, ensure you take into consideration any fees, charges and rates you may be charged. It's important to weigh up all your options before applying for any form of credit.
⚠️ Warning about Borrowing
Do you really need a loan today?*
It can be expensive to borrow small amounts of money and borrowing may not solve your money problems.
Check your options before you borrow:
- For information about other options for managing bills and debts, ring 1800 007 007 from anywhere in Australia to talk to a free and independent financial counsellor
- Talk to your electricity, gas, phone or water provider to see if you can work out a payment plan
- If you are on government benefits, ask if you can receive an advance from Centrelink: Phone: 13 17 94
The Government's MoneySmart website shows you how small amount loans work and suggests other options that may help you.
* This statement is an Australian Government requirement under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009.
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Emergency loans that single mothers could apply for
Updated September 21st, 2019
What options are there for single parents?
- Short-term loan. These loans provide access to cash limits between $100 and $2,000, or sometimes up to $10,000. Applicants can be in a variety of financial situations and be considered, including receiving Centrelink payments, but it's important to keep in mind that higher fees and rates will apply.
- Bank loan. Some banks offer same-day loans for existing customers, applicants need good credit to be eligible, but will consider those who receive Centrelink payments too.
- Alternative finance. There are various low- and no-interest loans available to those on low incomes, as well as charities who offer financial assistance. You can find out more information in this guide and in the section below.
Can Centrelink recipients apply for short term loans?
Yes. Banks, as well as short-term lenders will consider Centrelink applicants for loans. It depends what payments the applicants receive and the annual income, for eligibility criteria and to compare lenders head to this page.
What alternative finance options are there for single mothers?
- NAB StepUP. This loan is for people on a low income who need a loan for essential goods and services. Applicants can borrow between $800 and $3,000 at a rate of 5.99% p.a.
- No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS). This is offered by Good Shepherd Microfinance and is also designed for purchasing essential goods and services. Applicants can borrow between $300 and $1,200 and repay it over 12 to 18 months. You'll need a health care card or pension card or be on a low income, have resided in your current premises for three months and show a willingness and capacity to repay.
- Centrelink cash advance. Centrelink payments can be brought forward as a cash advance. Eligibility depends on how long the person in question has been on Centrelink and how much they receive.
- Good Money. These loans are available to residents of Victoria that receive Centrelink payments. The funds need to be used for purposes such as vehicle repairs, educational expenses, bills or debts.
- Services Relief Trust Fund. If you receive a salary and are a member of the Australian Defence Force you can access no and low interest loans that are repaid from your income.
How to compare emergency loans for single mothers
- Research the lender. Check the lender’s website and make sure its a reputable company. There have been many cases where scammers have pretended to be a loan provider, so see how easily they are to contact and check the credit licence.
- Take note of interest rates and fees. Rather than having interest rates, emergency loans have a hefty fee to cover the cost of borrowing.
- Find out what loan amounts are available. Different lenders may offer different minimum and maximum amounts. You don’t want to borrow more than you need, so you want to apply for a loan for as close to the amount you need as possible.
- Check if the loan terms flexible. The terms of the loan should also be compared so you have the optimal time for making repayments. Most lenders will require that you pay back the funds within the ‘next payday’ and will automatically deduct the funds from your account.
What you should consider before taking out an emergency loan
- Be careful of borrowing too much.
When you’re in need of emergency funds it can be easy to borrow more money than needed. It's important to remember that while a short term loan might help your current financial situation, it could cause more problems in the end. This is because over-borrowing can cause deeper debt and it may become very find it hard to repay the loan.
- Watch out for the expensive fees and penalties.
It's important to be clear on all the fees and penalties associated with a loan before taking one on. In particular watch out for unnecessary application fees or unnecessary ongoing maintenance fees.
What's required for an application
Applicants usually need to be over 18, an Australian citizen or permanent resident and be earning a regular income. You will also need documentation to prove your income, usually with 90 days of bank statements, a form of ID and details of your employment, income assets and debts.
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Matt Corke is the head of publishing in Australia for Finder. He previously worked as the publisher for credit cards, home loans, personal loans and credit scores. Matt built his first website in 1999 and has been building computers since he was in his early teens. In that time he has survived the dot-com crash and countless Google algorithm updates.
Im just interested in your personal help for single mother to seven kids
Hi Lashonda,
Thank you for leaving a question.
You have reached finder, a comparison website that assists users on financial decisions. We are not a loan provider. If you wish to check on lenders who could assist you on this, you may look at the comparison table on this page. Kindly review and compare your options on the table displaying the available providers. Once you have chosen a particular provider, you may then click on the “Go to site” button and you will be redirected to the provider’s website where you can proceed with the application or get in touch with their representatives for further inquiries you may have.
Before applying, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the details of the needed requirements as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
How can I get a loan today for just a small loan?
Hi Lee,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
On this page that you are currently looking at, just click on Go to site button and you’ll be redirected to their official page to process your application online. From the table where various lenders are listed they have different turnaround time of your application like 30 minutes or 1 hour or same day. You may also see their contact number once you’re redirected to their official page.
As a friendly reminder, while we do not represent any company we feature on our pages, we can offer you general advice.
I hope this helps. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Have a great day!
Cheers,
Jeni
Hi I had a car accident a month ago and need to come up with the excess money and am having trouble trying to get someone to lend me the money
Hi Letitia,
Thanks for reaching out and we’re sorry to hear about your accident.
If you are looking for find for a small loan (roughly from $100 and $2,000) to finance the excess money you need, please compare your loan options, make sure you meet the requirements/criteria and then get in touch with a lender featured on this page.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
May
Hi I’ve been in a pretty hard situation of late and I have been approved for a place for my daughter and I . I’m needing a bond alone and unfortunately dept housing can’t help me. I only receive benefits , not the best credit rating can anybody help me with bond loan .Please
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for your question and sorry to hear about your situation.
I can’t recommend a specific lender to you but you can find a list of lenders that you can consider here.
I hope this will help,
Elizabeth
Are there loans for single fathers on centrelink with bad credit who don’t have photo I’d but still 100 points of id thank you.
Hi Daniel,
You can compare loans for Centrelink recipients on this page, but you will need some form of photo ID for most. You can find out what is required on each review page, but you can get a proof of age card from a motor registry if you don’t have your licence so you’re able to apply.
I hope this has helped,
Elizabeth
Hello I’m single mother with four children get no child support money from their father who left me and left me with all the bills can I please get a loan today for I’m in financial crisis. Thank you
Hi Rosa,
Thanks for your question and sorry to hear about your situation.
While payday loans are an option for you, you also have a few other options you can consider before applying for one. If the loan is to cover bills you have the option of calling your billers to ask for an extension or payment plan – this is a standard service provided by utility and other service providers. If this cannot be provided, you also have the option of calling the financial counselling support line on 1800 007 007, which is a free service. I’ve also emailed you two links to other services who may be able to provide assistance.
I hope this will be of some use.
Thanks,
Elizabeth