What Is the Financial Information Service, and How Can It Help?

The Financial Information Service, or FIS, is a free service from Services Australia that explains money matters so you can make your own decisions. Its brochure calls it free, independent education, and says it is confidential and available to everyone, whether or not you get a government payment. FIS officers can explain how financial products work and how you might increase your retirement income, but they are not financial planners and they don't give advice. To reach them, call 132 300 if you don't get a payment, or your usual payment line if you do, and say Financial Information Service. (Source: servicesaustralia.gov.au, checked 6 Nov 2026)

What is the Financial Information Service?

Services Australia describes it as a service that helps you make informed decisions about your finances, including planning for retirement and understanding what happens when you move into aged care. (Source: servicesaustralia.gov.au, checked 6 Nov 2026) According to the brochure, FIS officers can explain:

• how financial products work
• the risks of certain financial products
• the roles of financial professionals
• the benefits of reducing debt
• how you can increase your overall retirement income.

The officers page adds that they can explain how a change in your personal circumstances may affect your financial situation, in the short and the long term. (Source: servicesaustralia.gov.au, checked 6 Nov 2026)

Who can use it, and what does it cost?

It is free, and the brochure says you don't need to be getting a government payment or service to use it. (Source: servicesaustralia.gov.au, checked 6 Nov 2026)

It is also confidential, with one catch worth knowing. Services Australia says personal information you give is confidential, but it may be used to adjust the rate of your Centrelink payment if what you tell them shows the rate is incorrect. (Source: servicesaustralia.gov.au, checked 6 Nov 2026)

What can't an FIS officer do?

General information only, not legal advice. It is not financial advice either. FIS gives information and education, and so does this page. For a decision about your own money, please speak with a licensed financial adviser.

Services Australia is clear about the limits. FIS officers are not financial planners or counsellors, and they don't:

• sell or give advice
• prepare financial plans or tax returns
• recommend investments or tell you how to invest your money
• buy investment products
• recommend financial advisers.

If you want advice, Services Australia points to the Moneysmart website for help choosing a financial adviser, and to the National Debt Helpline to find a free financial counsellor. (Source: servicesaustralia.gov.au, checked 6 Nov 2026)

When is it worth calling FIS?

The brochure lists times in life when FIS can help. Several line up with family and estate matters, including becoming a carer, getting a lump sum such as an inheritance, planning for or entering aged care, and dealing with the financial impact after the death of a close family member. (Source: servicesaustralia.gov.au, checked 6 Nov 2026)

Services Australia also mentions FIS ahead of some big decisions. Its gifting page suggests contacting it before you make a gift and mentions the free FIS right alongside that. (Source: servicesaustralia.gov.au, checked 6 Nov 2026) Its granny flat page suggests FIS for more detail on how a granny flat interest is assessed. (Source: servicesaustralia.gov.au, checked 6 Nov 2026)

How do you book an appointment?

If you get a payment, call the number you normally use for Centrelink. If you don't, call the Centrelink older Australians line. When asked why you are calling, say Financial Information Service. Depending on your circumstances, the FIS officer may book a face to face interview, either online by video chat or in person at a local service centre. (Source: servicesaustralia.gov.au, checked 6 Nov 2026) The older Australians line is 132 300, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. (Source: servicesaustralia.gov.au, checked 6 Nov 2026)

You can bring someone with you, or give someone authority to speak to Services Australia for you. Community groups may be able to have an FIS officer visit. (Source: servicesaustralia.gov.au, checked 6 Nov 2026) To speak in another language, the brochure lists 131 202. (Source: servicesaustralia.gov.au, checked 6 Nov 2026)

Are there free FIS webinars?

Yes. Live webinars are booked through Eventbrite, and you can ask questions in the live chat. When we checked on 6 Nov 2026, the next live session listed was Financial information for your retirement years, on Thursday 19 November 2026, 11:00 am to 11:45 am AEDT. Recorded sessions include one on the income and assets tests, recorded on 1 October 2026, and one on selling your home, recorded on 7 May 2026. (Source: servicesaustralia.gov.au, checked 6 Nov 2026)

If a parent has died and you are now the executor, the free Executor Toolkit lays out the first twelve months step by step, with notification letters and an expense tracker.

Related guides

Keep reading: how to get your affairs in order, talking to your parents about their estate plans, what to organise before a parent dies, and enduring power of attorney

Educational content only. Not legal, financial or tax advice. Estate laws vary across Australian states and territories. Always consult a qualified professional about your specific situation.

If you are the executor right now

The Executor's Companion is built for the person holding the job today rather than for planning ahead. It is a guided workbook for administering an estate: what to do in what order, what to ask each organisation for, and where to record what you have done, so nothing has to be held in your head at the worst possible time. It is $39.