Using your Payment Card

It’s important to use your payment card to buy essential items only such as food, petrol, clothing - it depends what you've applied for, and you can talk to a Work and Income staff member about this.

Payment Cards can’t be used for non-essential items like:

• alcohol
• cigarettes
• tobacco
• gift cards
• vouchers (this excludes phone top-ups)
• lotto tickets
• non-essential appliances (such as an air fryer), or
• non-essential electronics (such as a gaming console).

1. Select your item and head to the checkout.
2. Swipe the payment card through the EFTPOS terminal.
3. Select the CHQ option on the terminal keypad.
4. Enter the last 4 digits of the payment card number when you're asked for a PIN.
5. If you haven’t spent all the money, you can go to another enrolled store, and repeat this process.
• Cash or change can't be given. The payment card pays the exact amount of the goods or services.

Items that can be bought

A range of items can be bought by you on a Payment Card through Youth Service. This includes:

• food and grocery items
• public transport passes
• pre-paid power cards
• education and training related items, eg stationery
• healthcare related items, eg medication costs
• basic clothing, eg socks
• basic appliances, eg electric jug
• basic household items, eg plates/plastic food containers.

Where you can use your card

You can use your payment card to buy approved items, as long as:

• the store you're going to is registered with us to accept payment cards
• you don’t try to spend more money than is available
• you’re only buying the item that’s been approved.

You can use your payment card at registered food suppliers.