Centrelink Access Number

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know how to find out or reset my Centrelink Access Number? Would it be written down on a letter at any point?

When I go online to reset the CAN it asks for my children's CRNs. Do kids even have CRNs? How do I find them out?

Sorry about the silly questions, I am not a regular centrelink user, just trying to get my baby bonus claim through and they sent a letter saying I have to update our income estimate online but I can't get online without my CAN (which hubby set up, but now doesn't know what it is!). And when I call there is always a huge long wait time unless you have your CAN to get a callback :wall:

Thanks in advance!

Your CAN can't be reset; it's your Centrelink id number - it's written on every letter you get ;) the CRN is the same as a CAN basically - you may see it as a CRN rather than a CAN on your letters. You'll need a Centrelink letter about your children (childcare rebate is one example) so that you can see their CRN . I've kept a copy of the letter about my boys childcare rebate letters in an easy access spot so I can get their numbers quickly if I need to.
Hope this helps

The CAN isn't always the same as your CRN unfortunately!! You can try and re-register online or call them which would save you the confusion that is their online registration, but depends on how much time you have to waste! I have re-registered online over the years on several occasions and now have multiple CANs. But your CRN will always remain the same :)

Generally if you can't reset the information with the questions you are being asked you'll need to call up and get the consultant to reset it for you. 136150.

The kids' CRNs are on you health care card if you have one.

You'll need to call Centrelink if you can't find this information. Kids most definitely do have CRN's, none of the reference numbers can be changed, that's how they identify you!

Thanks everyone! I still haven't found the kids CRNs but we've only claimed Baby Bonuses for them, not CCB or CCR or parenting payments or anything. But I found my hubby's CRN and I got partway through the online reset thingy successfully til the website seemed to have a meltdown and said "service temporarily unavailable".

I guess I will try again tomorrow!

Sorry to argue but I have to disagree with a couple of the points raised by Russell.

He has mentioned being able to see the crn of a child if you have nominee access. A nominee is someone able to enquire and, in some cases, take action on a centrelink account on behalf of a customer. A young child would very rarely be a customer so they are linked to a parent/carer account and you are able to access through your own login. Given you can't be a nominee for a child you have nominee access to a file for them. Anything you would be able to view relating to a child in your care you would access through your own login (provides you have maximum access - level 3or4).

I'm not sure if it has been updated at this point but you may be able to see your child's crn if you claim CCB for them. I use the Express Plus Families app and can see my daughters crn even though I don't claim CCB, and honestly haven't checked through the standard login from a pc to see if it is available to me that way, so hopefully it has been. Unfortunately I can't confirm where to look on normal online services to confirm those details.

Given the question posed on the opening post was about how to get access to online services with a forgotten CAN I would suggest, as I did earlier, that the best way would be for someone to reset your password and give you a new temporary password. And given how infrequently you access your online services,ale a note of the details somewhere. :)

Good luck.

Thanks BG! Always trust you for good advice.

Thanks Russell for popping in too.