What you'll do
- Take the right first steps after losing income
- Protect your essentials while money is tight
- Talk to creditors early and honestly
- Check what support you may be entitled to
- Find free help to plan the road ahead
6 min read
First steps after job loss
Losing a job can feel destabilising, and it is completely understandable if debt feels like the last thing you can face. But acting early — even with a short message — usually keeps your options open and the stress lower. The priority now is protecting your essentials and buying yourself a little breathing room.
Steps to take
- Make sure rent or mortgage, food, and utilities are covered first.
- Check your entitlements — Centrelink may be able to help while you look for work.
- List your debts and their minimum payments so you can see the picture.
- Contact us early through the contact form and explain your job has ended.
- Ask about a temporary pause or reduced payments while you find new work.
- Keep a note of every arrangement you make.
Get support for the road ahead
A free financial counsellor can help you make a plan that protects your essentials and keeps creditors on side until you are working again — call the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007. If a pause would help right now, our guide to pausing payments walks through it. This is a temporary chapter, and there is real support to get you through it.
Good to know
- Protect your essentials — housing, food and utilities — first.
- Check your Centrelink entitlements while you look for work.
- Contact creditors early and ask about a pause or reduced payments.
- A free financial counsellor (1800 007 007) can plan the road ahead with you.
FAQ
I have just lost my job — what do I do first?
Cover your essentials, check your Centrelink entitlements, and contact creditors early to ask about a pause. Free help on 1800 007 007 can map it out with you.
Can I pause payments until I find work?
Often yes. A temporary pause is exactly what hardship support is for. Get in touch and explain your situation, and we will look at what is reasonable.
What income support might I get?
Services Australia (Centrelink) may be able to help while you are between jobs. Ask them directly, or a financial counsellor can check your entitlements for free.
Still not sure? Our team is happy to talk it through.