‘$3.10 isn't even a litre of milk’: Centrelink recipients slam latest payment increase

Rising living costs continue to put immense pressure on Australians relying on welfare support.

While government payments are adjusted in line with inflation, many recipients argue these increases fail to keep pace with real-world expenses.

For those on JobSeeker, the Age Pension, and Commonwealth Rent Assistance, the latest payment adjustment has sparked frustration rather than relief.


Welfare recipients have slammed the latest Centrelink increase, saying the adjustment fails to ease the financial strain they are facing.

From today, payments such as JobSeeker, the Age Pension, and Commonwealth Rent Assistance have risen in line with inflation.

However, many on welfare said the increase was too small to keep up with the soaring cost of essentials.


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Centrelink rise slammed as ‘pointless’ by recipients. Image source: Getty/Scott Barbour


Damien, 62, said the change was ‘paltry’ and did nothing to help him afford food or medication.

‘I just scoffed at it. I just feel like not accepting it. It's not going to do us any benefit at all,’ he shared.

‘$3.10 isn't even a litre of milk. We're supposed to be the lucky country.’

He had been on JobSeeker since 2019 and briefly took on a part-time job last year to break free from the welfare cycle.

Despite earning $400 a week, the increased income meant his Centrelink payments were cut, and his social housing rent—calculated as a portion of his income—rose.

He quit after a few months, saying it ‘wasn’t worth the trouble’.

With rent set to increase again in May, the JobSeeker indexation would leave him $4.50 worse off.

Social housing tenants have long criticised the system, where any increase in Centrelink payments triggers a rent hike.


Trudi, a disability pensioner, said she had grown frustrated with the cycle.

‘We get absolutely nothing, it's b*******,’ she said.

‘The government is slapping itself on the back, beating its chest... it's not enough, it will never be enough.’

Emily, 25, said she was forced to choose between basic needs, often skipping meals to afford essentials.

‘I am living on one meal per day,’ she said.

‘If I run out of both my medications at around the same time, I must choose between medicine for my chronic pain or medication for my PCOS.’

She said her rent accounted for 55 per cent of her income, leaving her unable to afford internet and sometimes struggling to recharge her phone.

‘This is my reality, and the reality of countless others,’ she said.


The rising cost of living had made it harder for JobSeeker recipients to get by, with many now relying on charity organisations for essentials.

Even dual-income households had turned to outreach services as food prices surged.

Since March 2020, grocery prices had risen by 17 per cent, while rental costs had increased by 37.6 per cent, according to CoreLogic data.

Petrol had jumped 42 per cent since 2022, while insurance costs had risen by 20 per cent.

JobSeeker had increased from $565.70 per fortnight in 2020 to $781.10 today—an adjustment of 27.5 per cent.

Despite these increases, many argued the payment was still not enough to cover necessities.


The Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee reported that JobSeeker payments remained below all benchmarks, causing severe hardship for many Australians.

It recommended raising JobSeeker to 90 per cent of the Age Pension, which would bring the payment to $942.39 per fortnight.

The Australian Council of Social Services had called for an even higher increase to at least $82 per day.

Damien said even an extra $100 per week would not be enough for a comfortable life.

Mission Australia’s Marion Bennett warned that failing to raise JobSeeker would have wider consequences.

‘If people are able to receive an adequate income, then they actually will be less frequently needing to use other government services,’ she said.

‘So there's actually a return on that investment of $1.24 for every dollar invested in JobSeeker.’


Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said today’s increase would ‘help ease some pressure’ but did not indicate whether further changes were planned.

She pointed to other government measures, including an $11.5 billion investment in welfare support.

Shadow Social Services Minister Michael Sukkar said the opposition had no plans to change JobSeeker, arguing that employment was the best way to improve living standards.

‘Few countries provide the strong safety net available to Australians,’ he said.

He added that since JobSeeker was taxpayer-funded, any changes needed to be handled ‘responsibly’.


In a previous story, the government announced a separate Centrelink change aimed at providing relief for pensioners.

While some welcomed the update, others questioned whether it would make a real difference.

Read more about how this change could impact pensioners.

Key Takeaways
  • Welfare recipients said the latest Centrelink increase failed to keep up with the rising cost of living.
  • Many struggled to afford essentials, with some skipping meals or choosing between medications.
  • Experts called for a higher JobSeeker rate, warning that inadequate payments caused severe hardship.
  • The government defended its welfare measures, while the opposition said any changes must be handled responsibly.

With the cost of living continuing to rise, do you think current welfare payments are enough to support those in need? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
 

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The increase in Job Seeker and the age pension is ludicrous. Almost couldn't believe it when I read the amount. Why are we funding an Olympics when so many people are struggling? $800,000 for Aucus to a country that is about to slap us with tarrifs and is lead by a dictator. The supermarkets should hang their heads in shame for their price gouging. It appears worldwide that the rich get richer and the poor struggle. I am in my 80's and I fear for kids going forward.
Agree but I think you meant $800M
 
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Maybe the Government needs to look at not hitting benefits when people take part time employment for a time period to encourage moving off benefits.

With the grocery price rises, I recall that when Woolworths announced a 5% increase on profits the reporter stated: "... due to inflation..."

Yes, it was due to inflation caused by big raising prices 5% above their cost increases, and you have to realise too, that the increase in executive bonuses would be included in those costs.

A lot of our price inflation is due to businesses acting as though they are separate to everyone else in the economy and taking higher profits than are justified


Everyone needs to work together to make an economy work properly.

When we have people on multi million dollar salaries critical of the pittance received by welfare recipients, the hypocrisy screams.
This is Capitalism, the survival of the fittest, the most priviledged, and is applauded and used by most (WHO ARE IN A POSITION TO MAKE BIG MONEY) private companies, multi-nationals, at the expense of the general poulation who they rely on to do the hard work, which makes them wealthy. Welfare is not on their list of priorities because there is no money to be made here. We are living in a capitalist economy, I don`t see changes that bring about equality. That`s why those on Centrelink benefits i.e pensioners or anyone that is not seen as productive will ever have a fair go!
 
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tell Damien, 62, to get off his lazy fat arse and get a real job and stop relying on the government for money. No reason whatsoever for him to have been on job seeker since 2019.
If I had my way I would reduce the job seeker allowance .
The amount they get makes it too easy for them to not work!
Your attitude is exactly why welfare recipients will never have a fair go, you must be in a position where you are fit and able, do not judge anyone until you have been in that position yourself.
 
Mate, you don’t need a million $ Super to live very comfortably.
I have $300,000 in super, worked hard for 50 years as did you, paid of my home and cars, raised 3 kids. Wife worked and I worked two jobs but we are living a very comfortable existence now and even doing overseas trips.
You are lucky you were in a position to do this, not everyone is!
 
I just sighed and let it go. They don’t care so no point complaining we are just peasants to them . An election coming up any improvements I don’t know but a change is as good as a holiday.
 
Do not be so personal and critical of another on this site - I doubt you know every aspect of why he is/has been on JobSeeker. Not everyone is in your boat. Some, through no fault of their own, could be in a boat that is sinking while you ‘appear’ to be floating well above the stormy seas. I see your comments as very vile, and extremely rude towards those who are the more unfortunate among us. Perhaps his ‘lazy fat arise’ as quoted by you, is a darned side smaller than yours.
In BruceC's defense the Jobseeker stated "He quit after a few months, saying it ‘wasn’t worth the trouble’."
 
I wonderful how many struggling working Aussies got a $225.60 pay rise in the same time frame these jobseekers did? And those complaining about the increase in their social housing rent? Consider the increase private renters faced. Instead of minimal increases, the various governments should be concentrating on cutting red tape, getting rid of the excess and unnecessary public service jobs, put on actual employees instead of contracting everything out to private companies and stop relying on charities and volunteers to do their job for them. It's pretty hard for working families who pay $600 a week in rent, $1200 a quarter for electricity etc to sympathise with those in public housing.
Don't forget the $1000 grant for INTERNATIONAL students to assist them in getting jobs (yes, the poor darlings whose parents can afford to send them, not only to university, but overseas)!!!
The system is more f***** up than I thought...
 
Anything to do with the price of energy, thank the biggest, most useless idiotic ratbag, CHRIS BOWEN.
Any one who voted for Albo, believing the "REHTORIC" of the complete bull shit, preaching about the lower cost of energy have ONLY themselves to blame.
So don't stay on the pension that the government is handing out to you if you are so against the present government and then go back on again when your preferred leader is reigning again. Dutton wants to follow everything Trump does and he's just put the US in recession. After all the years of working I appreciate what I get now.
 
One should look at the rise Politicians gave themselves recently and realize they don't give a rats about the common man. We need to get rid of this 2 party system and get back to independents everywhere, then things will get done. Also their ranks need to be trimmed as there are too many sleeping on the job or beating the drum on issues that do not affect every Australian like looking after minorities and ignoring what the majority want/need.
 
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So don't stay on the pension that the government is handing out to you if you are so against the present government and then go back on again when your preferred leader is reigning again. Dutton wants to follow everything Trump does and he's just put the US in recession. After all the years of working I appreciate what I get now.
The USA was already in a depression.
 
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Welfare recipients get this paltry amount twice every year, and pensioners especially feel insulted by this small amount that does absolutely nothing, nothing to help the rise in prices !
I recently had to move as my rented Two bedroom duplex’s rent went up to $600 a week the very cheapest I was lucky to get is $450 a week $900 a fortnight for 2 rooms and a bathroom ! And because my pension doesn’t meet the affordable amount to pay the rent I had to have a guarantor ! Another bloody insult as I’ve always had such a good record in rental history. In my opinion the government who ever is in should give this paltry amount to charity and give pensioners a living wage we all paid heaps in taxes for a very long time ! Instead they seem to wish all us older generation would curl up and die to save them paying pensions !
You can't blame any government for what your landlord charges, it not up to them to pay for your rent increases or if you need a guarantor. No government is able to dictate what landlords charge so you can't argue there.
 
Not only are all the pension and social services taxpayer funded, Politicians need to look in their own pockets for we pay the useless bunch of Kindy Kids to run this country.
Time ALL Australians stood up and said enough is enough. Cut out all the rorts they get on retirement and put them all on the same bloody miserable amount the rest of us are on. They would end up in the nut house in 6 months because they would not be able to handle the stress of it all.
 
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"Strong social safety net" and increases "need to be handled responsibly"? Who is the minister kidding? Absolutely out of touch. Everyone in Canberra should be made to live on the pension or jobseeker payment for six months. Without any assistance of any kind.
Jobseeker is an assistance to help you to be able to live until you get a job.
 
Anything to do with the price of energy, thank the biggest, most useless idiotic ratbag, CHRIS BOWEN.
Any one who voted for Albo, believing the "REHTORIC" of the complete bull shit, preaching about the lower cost of energy have ONLY themselves to blame.
Are you happy to pay more for Dutton's nuclear energy?
 
You can't blame any government for what your landlord charges, it not up to them to pay for your rent increases or if you need a guarantor. No government is able to dictate what landlords charge so you can't argue there.
I am sorry but you can blame Government, for one if they didn't bring in so many immigrants (446,000 last year and 536,000 the previous year, that's nearly a million people just in 2 years imagine adding the last 8 years.) the demand for housing wouldn't be the same and house prices and rent would be very different. Also energy costs going through the roof also their fault ( Green Energy cannot maintain supply) cause prices rises everywhere and people will try to recover these costs, I imagine even increasing rent.
 
And the ACCC or whatever they are called has just announced there is no evidence of price gouging by the Big 2 supermarkets . Are they dumb, stupid, blind and death. Talk about giving them carte blanche to keep at their dirty tactics and no end in sight of rising prices.
Actually they said there is no incentive for competition
 

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