Social Security Payments Increase by $3.10 Every Two Weeks for Job Seekers
The Albanese government announced that millions of Australians would receive a financial boost from the indexation rises.
Australians receiving social security benefits, including unemployment, will see a slight increase on March 20 to account for inflation.
Pensioners, job seekers, parents, and students receiving government payments will experience a minor rise as part of the latest indexation round tied to the Consumer Price Index and wages.
Starting March 20, a single person over 22 without children will get a JobSeeker payment of $789.90, including the energy supplement, up by $3.10 per fortnight.
These government-funded payments serve as a safety net for numerous Australians, including pensioners, carers, and individuals with disabilities.
Single parents on welfare will receive an additional $4, increasing their taxpayer-funded allowance to $1030.30 per fortnight, including various supplements.
Pensioners on the single maximum rate, as well as those on disability support or carer payment, will see a $4.60 boost to a total of $1,149 per fortnight with the supplements.
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Additionally, partnered pensioners will receive an extra $3.50 per fortnight each, or $7 per couple, raising their combined payment to $1,732.20.
Couples receiving JobSeeker, Abstudy, or partnered parental payment will each see a rise of $2.80 per fortnight, reaching a maximum rate of $723 each, including the energy supplement.
Those receiving JobSeeker or other payments can work to a certain extent, but their government pay decreases as their income increases.
The Labor government under Albanese noted that “millions of Australians” are in line to benefit from these indexation rises.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth emphasized that the Labor government is committed to assisting Australians in coping with the rising cost of living.
“Indexation plays a vital role in our social security safety net. For pensioners and other payment recipients benefiting from this financial increase, it will help alleviate some financial pressure.”
The government highlighted that these latest indexation increases come on top of the $11.5 billion allocated to Australia’s social welfare in the 2023 and 2024 budgets.
“In addition, changes to Commonwealth Rent Assistance, combined with indexation, have generated an increase of between $44.13 and $87.92 per fortnight for approximately one million households on the maximum rate—representing a rise of over 45 percent since Labor took office,” the Labor government said.
The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) raised concerns that the increases would not cover electricity and medication.
ACOSS said individuals were already sacrificing essentials to survive on $56 a day, which includes forgoing fresh fruits and vegetables among other things.
The previous Coalition government introduced this card in various communities, including Ceduna, East Kimberley, Goldfields, Cape York, Bundaberg, and Hervey Bay, mandating that 80 percent of payments be used for essential services through a card.
“And in Indigenous communities where drugs and alcohol are prevalent, we will reintroduce the Cashless Debit Card for working-aged welfare recipients in consultation with communities, to make sure children are getting the support from their parents that they deserve,” Dutton said at a Coalition campaign rally in January.
In a separate interview, Dutton reiterated his belief in the dignity that comes with work.
“It’s not just for paid employment, that obviously helps the worker and his or her family. It’s also the dignity that comes with turning up to work,” he said.
Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume also said on March 10 that if elected, the Coalition will aim to improve housing, cost of living, and energy prices.
