How long does an employer have to provide an Employment Separation Certificate?

An employer must complete a requested Employment Separation Certificate within 14 days. The form is SU001, and employers can lodge it online through Services Australia's Business Hub. If you are already receiving a payment, Services Australia needs the certificate within 14 days as well.

When does Centrelink need an Employment Separation Certificate?

Services Australia may request a certificate where you stopped work within the 12 months before making a new claim. It uses the certificate to work out the right payment amount and the correct start date.

What if my employer refuses to provide the certificate?

Tell Services Australia. They can contact your former employer directly, and they can accept other evidence — payslips, a termination letter, or your final payslip — so your claim is not held up while you wait.

Does redundancy pay affect when my Centrelink payment starts?

It can. Redundancy pay and paid-out leave may trigger an income maintenance period, which delays the start of your payment. Services Australia uses the amounts on the separation certificate to calculate that period, so check them against your final payslip.

Employment Separation Certificate — Do You Need One?

Check whether Centrelink needs an Employment Separation Certificate from your former employer, and track the 14 days they have to provide it.

Last verified: 26 July 2026

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Employment Separation Certificate — Do You Need One?

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