The Australian Government has passed legislation to provide existing Income Management participants the choice to move to enhanced Income Management and get a SmartCard, and for all newly eligible Income Management participants to start on enhanced Income Management and be given a SmartCard by default. No new participants will be issued a BasicsCard. 

Enhanced Income Management will be available as a choice for current Income Management participants and by default for new participants, from today, 4 September 2023, in: 

• Northern Territory
  
• Bankstown, NSW
  
• Logan, Rockhampton and Livingstone, QLD
  
• Playford, APY Lands and Greater Adelaide, SA
  
• NG Lands, Kiwirrkurra Community, Kimberley Region, Perth Metropolitan and Peel Region, WA
  
• Greater Shepparton, VIC
  
  

People can also volunteer for the enhanced Income Management program if they are eligible and live in: 

• Bundaberg and Hervey Bay, Queensland
  
• Ceduna, South Australia 
  
• Goldfields region, Kununurra and Wyndham in the East Kimberley region, Western Australia.

People in Cape York and Doomadgee region may be referred to enhanced Income Management by the Family Responsibilities Commission. 

You may get questions from people you regularly engage with about the changes and what it means to them. To support you in these conversations, you can access a range of communication products containing information to share with people. Several factsheets have been attached and include information on how to: 

•  navigate the upcoming changes and help them understand what they mean to them
  
•  understand the options available to make an informed decision 
  
•  connect to available services for tailored support, such as financial literacy support.

Communication products will be updated as required, with new products made available over time. You can access products on the Department of Social Services website Enhanced Income Management - Stakeholder resources (dss.gov.au) 

Services Australia staff will provide information and individualised support directly to participants. This includes offering assistance with the enhanced Income Management account and SmartCard technology, and providing information and referrals to other support available. 

You should refer people to the SmartCard eIM hotline on 1800 252 604, or let them know they can also visit a Services Australia service centre. More information about enhanced Income Management and the SmartCard is available at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/enhanced-income-management-and-smartcard 

We welcome any questions and if you would like to discuss further, please do not hesitate to reach out through this mailbox: IMEngagement@dss.gov.au