‘$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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I'm in the same boat as you, worked hard to pay for a home, raised my two kids on my own after a divorce and took any job I could so I could save for the future. Because I didn't squander my money on rent and having a good time I too am comfortable and travel for overseas holidays. Yes there are people who through no fault of their own are struggling now but there are also the ones who are screaming the loudest because they expect the government owes them. Enjoy you autumn years as am I.
How rude to flaunt it in other pples faces, (granted you say you worked hard-you had your health then to be able to do this) when in the next moment anything could happen to any of us! And how would you know if pple squandered their monies, and on rent! rent or a mortgage is a roof over ones head - some pple have never been able to work in their lives due to many different health issues - they are the ones left struggling, the gov't does owe to everybody what they claim they will do once in power, you know the pple who elected them into this position of
power and responsibility of doing what is best for this country and it's pple - this includes looking after the ones that cannot work, marginalised, unwell and the elderly! When a politician retires the pension they receive is lifelong and not the amount the layman receives per fortnite!
 
Never judge a person unless you've walked in his shoes. You don't know his circumstances, you don't know what his been through so keep your negative judgemental comments to yourself.
He did work for awhile but as he lost some of his payment and his rent went up as public housing is based on income ge said it wasn't worth him working.
So he is basically saying why work when he is better off on Centrelink
I think everyone needs to read the whole article

I usually never agree with Bruce but this time I do
 
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.
A lot of so called job seekers do not have any intention of actually getting a job they have been on welfare for ever. After all why would they ? If they have a few kids they get a concession for Dr’s and medication rent assistance etc. they are better off staying on the dole. It’s people like these that need not to do so well on welfare. Also the younger people should to be encouraged to work for what they want not just handed welfare. Drop their money a bit so it’s worth getting a job ! People who really can’t work for health reasons need all the help they can get but they are all treated the same as far as I can see !
 
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.
If you tell them you are in pain you will get in quicker.
What state are you in ? There is definitely help out there.
If you called and just made an appointment you will be put on a waiting list. If you call and tell them it's urgent they will access you and get you in quicker
 
Has there been a root-and-branch investigation across a broad sampling of those on welfare to truly determine the adequacy of supporting benefits.

The one factor that is not indexed seems to be the one causing the most pain - RENT.

With 1 in every 2 politicians being Landlords, there is not the incentive to make renting affordable.
By the government's own reckoning, the poverty line is breached when housing costs account for >30% of income.

My own rent jumped to 66.5% of my income, yet I am required to pay tax on the same income as before. That means that Income tax and rent account for even more of my outgoings before food and energy costs can be met. The income tax is not much, but is still a factor.

My feeling is that the government is incapable of assessing the need.
The Opposition also is not committing to improvement.
 

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Over the course of 40 something years, I loaned the government around $400000.

Now I'm getting repaid very slowly through Jobseeker payments.

I will never recoup the losses incurred over the years through income tax.
 
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!
No.
This NOT Capitalism.
This Fascism. And it is out of control.
The government is captive to theCorporations, and the Corporations feed the membvers of the government - BOTH major Parties.
 
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.
* The numbers actually show 1.3 million immigrants in 2 years.
 
I agree, the increase isn’t enough. I’m fortunate, I don’t have maintenance for my health. My husband spends a lot for his medication . The government is killing the pensioners softly. Centrelink should stop giving welfare to those jobless who can still work.
 
How about developing a sense of gratitude for what the government gives you? In another country, the money and freedoms you enjoy here would not be offered. Just look at what Musk is doing in the US. Welfare slashed and recipients left to fend for themselves. Be very grateful that you are here!
 
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The increase to my disability support pension doesn't even cover my health insurance increase. So I'm worst off to start with and that not covering when public housing increases, so it will make it worst
 
Even thought I have the ability of being grateful, of recognise beneficial moves, that some raise, even a little, is better than "not a thing" at all, and that I still can memorise the past ... and that I can see that lately the pension raises every 6 monhts, that at tfhis present time is not like in other times in the past, when pensioners in Australia had only once a raise on the pension during 11 long years (1996-2007), from tied hands and careless decisions of the same government at that time... still, today, the way things are, this $2 raise a week sounds like a bad joke...
 
How about developing a sense of gratitude for what the government gives you? In another country, the money and freedoms you enjoy here would not be offered. Just look at what Musk is doing in the US. Welfare slashed and recipients left to fend for themselves. Be very grateful that you are here!
Even thought I have the ability of being grateful, of recognise beneficial moves, that some raise, even a little, is better than "not a thing" at all, and that I still can memorise the past ... and that I can see that lately the pension raises every 6 monhts, that at this present time is not like in other times in the past, when pensioners in Australia had only once a raise on the pension during 11 long years (1996-2007), from tied hands and careless decisions of the same government at that time... still, today, the way things are, this $2 raise a week sounds like a bad joke...
 
The Labour Party of today has no bearing on its original intention of the betterment of the conditions the worker worked under. The original members come from the shop floor, todays shower of shit come straight from uni and think they have all the answers when the arseholes don't even know the bastard questions.
 
Just thinking... Seniors card is pretty useless in rural areas from my expirience . Why cant every Woolies and Coles give a 5% discount on groceries ,fruit and veggies on a certain day, to holders of a senior card. They both are making millions of $$$s in profit , Some stores do in the city , I think Foodland do. If Woolies and Coles do it, its unknown to me. Please enlighten me. jay2
 
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.
There is much worse to come folks... the hordes of Baby Boomers are just hitting retirement & pension ages, no govt. has a hope of keeping up.. tighten your belts one & all.
 
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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.
Who can afford to buy a cup of coffee nowadays?.. Make your own it's much cheaper!
 
it's never enough with inflation and rise in prices it is very hard on the age pension. I need surgery for hip replacement I have being told I won't be able have surgery for around 2-5 years on top of my waiting time of 3 years so my only option was to join a health cover now that's another cost I can't afford but on top of that I have to pay 70% to Medicare so that takes it up to $298/month.
 
Simple tell Ur federal member of parliament and Vote Labor and Tanya Plibesek has to go for the good of Australia!! To bring down cost of living expenses! Watch the following
htpps://www.facebook.com/reel/2061094531063724
 

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