Job seekers FAQs

Concession fares (50% off adult fares) will be introduced for eligible job seekers on Monday 3 April 2017.

If you're eligible you can apply for job seeker concession fares from Monday 3 April 2017.

Job seekers will need a Customer Reference Number (CRN) from Centrelink to apply.

Your Customer Reference Number (CRN) is your individual number given to you by Services Australia (Centrelink).

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009.

With your consent, the personal information collected will be used by TMR for the purposes of assessing your eligibility for a concession and to provide you with SMS or email notifications where relevant.

Apart from seeking confirmation of entitlement from the relevant organisation and contracted public transport business partners, your personal information will not be disclosed to any other third party without your consent unless authorised or required to by law. Read our privacy statement or call Translink on 13 12 30.

Yes. Unless you agree to both the privacy statements and terms and conditions, you can't apply for concession fares. The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009.

To be eligible for concession fares, job seekers must:

• live permanently in Queensland; and
• be receiving one of the following Commonwealth benefits:
  • JobSeeker Payment
  • Youth Allowance (job seeking category only).

You will need a Customer Reference Number from Centrelink and adult go card to apply. You can apply at the Translink website. You'll need to register an email address and/or mobile phone number. You'll receive an SMS or email confirming your concession has been applied within 14 days.

Within the go card area, concession paper tickets cannot be sold to job seekers. You need to apply for concession fares on your go card. If you don't have a go card, or don't have enough funds on your card to travel, you need to buy an adult paper ticket.

You'll receive an SMS or email once your application has been assessed.

If your go card is registered, you can track the progress of your application by logging in to your go card account otherwise call Translink on 13 12 30.

It will take up to 14 days for your concession to be approved and applied to your go card.

If your go card is registered, you can track the progress of your application by logging in to your go card account otherwise call Translink on 13 12 30.

We will send you an SMS or email to let you know about the outcome of your application. We'll also let you know when the concession fares are about to be removed because Centrelink has told us you are no longer eligible.

Yes, you will pay an adult fare during the time your application is assessed. However, should your eligibility change (e.g. you get a job or change to a different kind of benefit) you’ll have 14 days of concession travel before your card switches back to adult fare.

Once you're approved for concession fares, you need to touch on within 60 days to activate the fares on your go card. If you don't activate the concession within 60 days, the concession will no longer be valid and you'll need to call Translink on 13 12 30 and have your concession re-activated. You won't need to reapply for concession fares providing you remain eligible.

You can use your existing blue adult go card, as long as it hasn't expired. To check your expiry date, log into your go card account online, or visit a selected go card retailer or train station ticket office, or call Translink 13 12 30 anytime. If you don't already have one, you can buy a blue adult go card.

No, you will need a blue adult go card to apply for job seeker concession fares.

No, this does not mean you are registering your go card. Although we do collect your details so we can assess your eligibility for concession fares, we do not store your details in the same way or use your details to create a go card account.

No, you do not need to register your go card to apply for concession fares. However, registering your go card will allow you to track the progress of your application for concession fares online as well as:

• activate auto top-up
• protect your travel balance if your card is lost or stolen
• easily transfer your travel balance from one card to another go card
• check your travel balance and view up to six months' transaction history
• check your go card expiry date
• report an incorrect fare and request a balance adjustment.

If you have a registered go card, you can you change your email and/or mobile phone number by logging into your go card account, going to 'Settings' and updating your notification preferences. If you have an unregistered go card, please call Translink on 13 12 30.

Concession fares will be valid on your go card until you no longer meet the eligibility requirements. Changes to your eligibility are provided to Translink by Centrelink.

If you have provided contact details and have agreed to us contacting you, we will let you know by SMS or email around 14 days before your concession fares will expire.

From 3 April 2017, eligible job seekers in Queensland can apply to get 50 percent off fares on Translink public transport services (excluding Airtrain, travel and tourist rail services), regional qconnect bus services and approved regional ferry services.

Regional centres include (but are not limited to): Cairns, Townsville, Magnetic Island, Innisfail, Bowen, Airlie Beach and Proserpine, Mackay, Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Gladstone, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Gympie, Maleny to Beerwah, Kilcoy to Caboolture, North Stradbroke Island, Toowoomba and Warwick.

If you live outside the go card area you can apply online for regional concession fares.

Once your application has been approved, you'll receive a regional concession card from Translink in the mail.

Simply show your card to the driver to purchase a concession paper ticket.

Please note, your regional concession card cannot be used on services which have go card equipment. To travel on these services with go card, you need to apply for concession fares on an adult go card.

Once submitted, it will take up to 14 business days for your card to be sent to you in the post. Show your card to the driver to purchase a concession paper ticket.

Yes, you will pay an adult fare while your application is assessed.

The concession cards are valid for six months. If you are still eligible for job seeker concession fares you will need to re-apply.

If you submitted your application through our contact centre on 13 12 30, you'll receive a case reference number. We'll email you within 14 days after we've checked your eligibility with Centrelink.

Yes. In order to be eligible for a regional concession sticker or regional concession access card, you must be currently eligible with your go card. You will need to apply separately to get concession fares outside the go card area.

Job seekers who wish to travel on concession fares outside the go card area should contact Translink on 13 12 30, and if eligible, wait to receive their regional concession card in the post.

Job seekers will need a Customer Reference Number (CRN) from Centrelink and an adult go card to apply.

You can buy an adult go card online or over the phone by calling 13 12 30 anytime. Once you receive your go card you can apply online for concession fares to be activated to your go card.

Job seekers can buy an adult go card online or over the phone by calling 13 12 30 anytime.