‘$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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As a 75 year old I am finding it very interesting to watch what is going on. Especially since I did do the Atkins diet many years ago. I dropped it due to some suggestions of issues but they turned out to be true. The major thing I have learned is the food manufacturers and the pharmaceutical manufacturers have taken over the information line and convinced us that we should eat this stuff and when we get sick there is no other alternative than take their pills and potions. When I was young we had no way to really investigate what was going on. Now we have the internet and we can research and get ideas on what we need to do. I don't do cereals anymore. Have a big issue with Kelloggs I won't go into here. Do you own research. It really is sickening. Also the Seventh Day Adventist "church". They started Sanitarium in this country and have never paid any tax ever. Kids are hooked on McDonalds and KFC and all the other ultra processed junk foods. Supermarkets sell it all as well. And people buy it. Gotta give the kids snacks. Why? Not because they need it but because they are actually starving. Wha they eat is not nourishing them. I don't care if you are carnivore or vegan or anywhere in between we all need to dump the junk and just eat real food. One example is even with the shortage most can afford eggs. I'm not a fan of being vegan but always suggest mushrooms to get the protein needed. Alls the chips and lollies and biscuits and cakes can be just dumped and forgotten about. Will be less health issue pretty quickly. And the final thing. Get the kids outside and in the sunshine, no sunscreen just moderate, controlled exposure. We have gotten it all wrong and we are not the ones getting the benefits
 
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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 tell me, just what exactly did the Coalition do in the 10 years they were in power to lower the cost of electricity, gas, food etc? I'm not a fan of Labor either. They are all a bunch of useless wallies as far as I'm concerned, but blaming one party for things that were already an issue before they became the ruling party, is wrong.
 
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.
Agreed we live quite comfortably on the pension saving $400.00 /fortnight for unexpected expenses. How do we do this? we prepared for retirement, Solor, our own water, grow a lot of our food, house paid for and hybrid car, power costs approx $1200/ year, Fuel costs approx $1500-$2000 / year and only $60000 in super. It can be done.
 
As a 75 year old I am finding it very interesting to watch what is going on. Especially since I did do the Atkins diet many years ago. I dropped it due to some suggestions of issues but they turned out to be true. The major thing I have learned is the food manufacturers and the pharmaceutical manufacturers have taken over the information line and convinced us that we should eat this stuff and when we get sick there is no other alternative than take their pills and potions. When I was young we had no way to really investigate what was going on. Now we have the internet and we can research and get ideas on what we need to do. I don't do cereals anymore. Have a big issue with Kelloggs I won't go into here. Do you own research. It really is sickening. Also the Seventh Day Adventist "church". They started Sanitarium in this country and have never paid any tax ever. Kids are hooked on McDonalds and KFC and all the other ultra processed junk foods. Supermarkets sell it all as well. And people buy it. Gotta give the kids snacks. Why? Not because they need it but because they are actually starving. Wha they eat is not nourishing them. I don't care if you are carnivore or vegan or anywhere in between we all need to dump the junk and just eat real food. One example is even with the shortage most can afford eggs. I'm not a fan of being vegan but always suggest mushrooms to get the protein needed. Alls the chips and lollies and biscuits and cakes can be just dumped and forgotten about. Will be less health issue pretty quickly. And the final thing. Get the kids outside and in the sunshine, no sunscreen just moderate, controlled exposure. We have gotten it all wrong and we are not the ones getting the benefits
I totally agree with you Lizzie. I no longer eat cereal either. Egg on toast, plain toast or yoghurt and fruit for breakfast now. Still eat cakes and biscuits but usually the homemade variety. Can't stand McDonalds or KFC. Did you know their buns have a shelf life of 25+ years? There are more chemicals in them than actual ingredients! I have always considered mushrooms the poor man's steak because of the high protein levels. Coles and Woolies eggs are still very reasonably priced. You don't have to buy the expensive brands. I am not a fan of sunscreen. I tend to burn more when I wear it, than when I don't. Oh, and I am 70. Same era, similar ideas.
 
I just hope that all the whining and moaning continues if the LNP gets in at the next election because trust me, you will not be any better off. In fact you will probably be worse off.
Yep. Everyone likes to blame the current leading party for the ills caused by the previous leading party. It's a never ending vicious circle. That is why a 'hung parliament' is better for all. Not one party can make, or break, laws automatically. Our current main government bodies have too much power between them and all they care about is feathering their own nests. Not one of them gives a jot for what is good for the average citizen. What other country gives their ex-politicians a pension for life in excess of $100K? Tell me, did you vote for this? I sure didn't. It's just another perk they voted for themselves.
 
Lets see how this paltry increase impacts rent allowance. Any increase in pension income usually sees a small reduction in rent allowance entitlements. Give with one hand and take with the other.
 
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. How are you going to encourage employment when you continue to substantially increase the payment for not working? Seems to me that the jobseekers are always getting a better deal in increases than the pensioner. I've always thought jobseeker was a stop gap payment measure so you could survive til you find employment. No-one will care as much about you as you do or should do as yourself. Get rid of the "middle man" (private employment providers) and bring back the CES, deal with Centrelink yourself directly and stop ramping up the jobseeker payment.
 
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 !
Well said! they seem to forget they are getting older as we all are!
 
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Well guys remember this at the Federal election & vote Greens last & Labor 2nd last! We got bigger increases under Liberal .. never have we had as low as the paltry $4:60 we got this time!
 

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One of the highlights of the recent USA election was the use of misinformation to bring down the Government. I will take one example from your article: " since 2022 the price of petrol has risen 22 percent ". Google the price of petrol in 2022. The answer " the highest recorded average price was 184.2 c/l".
Our local servos are selling at 169.7 c/l presently. A decease of 14.5c/l.

In Sydney this week we saw prices from 167.4c/l to 214 c/l, straight across the road from one another. This is about an 11% increase but given the price differential in such close proximity, it is a business gouging issue, not inflation.

Let's get thee facts correct please.
Compare like for like. If you think fuel prices have dropped, you are living in an alternate universe. I keep a tight check on costs including fuel. I shop around carefully. My monthly fuel bill (doing same mileage) is up 29% since May 2022. Oh, and my power bill is up by 58%.
Get the facts correct please.
 
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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 !
I couldn't agree with you more. The amount you are now paying in rent would leave you with (roughly) only $400 per fortnight on the single aged pension. By the time you put money away to cover the cost of electricity, medications, contents insurance etc you will have barely enough left to buy food. Let's hope you don't have any unexpected bills crop up. You will also be one of those who will have to toss up between food and doctor costs. How do I know all this? I am on the single aged pension too. Although my rent is not as high as yours (thankfully) I have a lot of medical issues so I too have to juggle my finances. Luckily my doctor bulk bills but my specialists don't. That means I have to find the money for upfront fees which range from $285 to $430 each time I attend. I can't believe they made you get a guarantor. I would feel insulted too. Like you June E I have worked and paid my taxes and like you I feel I have earned my pension, more so than the majority of our Politicians.
 
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The $3.50 will go straight to the banks when we draw cash out. Don't vote LABOR or LIBERAL. Vote for the Citizens Party Australia.
Hi liv42day. I totally agree and I will be voting ACP come the next election. Did you catch the YouTube clip with Robert Barwick (running in Victoria) and Andy Schmulow (running in NSW) earlier this week? It was brilliant.
 
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.
The are all of the above and useless wallies to boot!
 
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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.
Gov't can implement change in many matters & overnite, without us having a vote on it - so they could bring in legislation that rents cannot be over a certain amount for pple living on a c/link payment, these landlords have become greedy & will take the highest bidder to rent their houses too!
 
I think is disgraceful that government has given penioners a $4.60 rise in there pension. It won't even buy a loaf of bread. We have worked our whole life never been on social security, the job seekers get everything.
I won't been voting labour xxxxxxxxxxx
 
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The upcoming increase in the pension:



Some reflections.



I realise that the upcoming increase in the age pension has some, particularly those in political circles salivating and celebrating the anticipated increase of $2.30 per week for a single pensioner and $3.50 per week for a couple.

I certainly realise that under a LNP government the even unbelievably modest increase would be unlikely and that the LNP still harbour the desire to control our money by introducing the ‘cashless debit card’ treating us like we are all financially incompetent nitwits incapable of managing our money.

However, not withstanding the above just how euphoric should one get?

The single person increase equates to about 4.5 cents per hour based on a 38 hour week and will buy about half a cup of coffee or slightly less.

As I understand it, this half yearly increase is meant to be in line with cost of living increases.

I wonder how this is calculated??

I mean, there are costs that have had a major impact before even considering daily food prices

Example: house and contents insurance on my place increased by $450 for the year despite no claims, not in flood prone area and ‘shopping around’

Council rates increased by about $200 per year in round figures, health insurance went up about $3 per week or $150 per annum.

Now, one does not have to be a genius to work out that even with just those three items, the $2.30 per week increase falls far short of these increases.

Perhaps I should do away with health insurance and house and contents insurance??

Or, perhaps a proper livable pension could be paid so that when indexed it actually more closely reflects the cost of living increases?

Yes, I’m lucky because I own most of my house; about 90% of it, even a bit more but things must be even more challenging for those who don’t own a home.

I know people will race to defend the increase but, I’m sorry, I think it’s a paltry amount based on a miserly basis.

Should I be grateful anyway?

Perhaps. I was in the paid workforce for 52 years, never unemployed, paid taxes every year and hopefully, contributed positively to the community.

Is the expectation of a decent pension in old age unreasonable?

Not all of us were able to save and access a million dollar Super.

I don’t have the skill set to determine what is reasonable but the current rates don’t ‘feel’ anywhere near fair.

I note that many aged pensioners are having considerable trouble balancing the budget when unplanned contingencies arise such as serious dental work.
Yes I have major dental work, my teeth are falling out, but the roots are still there & have to be surgically removed. No way can I afford a private dentist, so have to rely on Centrelink. My appt. is in Sept. a joke as I am sure a lot of other people are in the same position. I just don’t want to get up of a morning & hopefully with any luck I just won’t wake up.
 
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What a cruel comment. Not everyone is able to work. Your lack of empathy is staggering. The amount they get hardly keeps them in food and rent. Many would work if they were able. Do you know this man's circumstances? Don't make such a vile comment until you know tha facts.
I agree that not everyone is able to work and that those that do sometimes cannot find work. However, Damien himself stated that he gave his job up because there was nothing in it for him. He was getting more money (they lessened his benefits because of the money he was earning) and paying less in rent while he was solely on Job Starter, SO HE QUIT. Unemployment has always been a stop gap for people out of work. It was never meant to be what it has evolved into - generations of people not even bothering to look for work.
 
Yes I have major dental work, my teeth are falling out, but the roots are still there & have to be surgically removed. No way can I afford a private dentist, so have to rely on Centrelink. My appt. is in Sept. a joke as I am sure a lot of other people are in the same position. I just don’t want to get up of a morning & hopefully with any luck I just won’t wake up.
Please reach out to someone Judith A. No-one should feel the way you do. Do you have any family or friends near by? If not, please call your doctor or a help line.
 

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