‘$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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One word to that Question "No" . The increase that pensioners and job seeker receptions get every 6 months would not even cover the living cost of the 6 months prior. We are playing "Catchup". We get increase payments and then the cost of living goes up even more. Stop treating us like 3rd rated citizens and give us at lease our dignity back.
 
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I just don't understand how some survive on Centrelink. We are aged pensioners and have modest assets according to Centrelink so only receive a part pension. On the week prior to each small inflation increase we have received a letter stating our assets had increased therefore our pension will be reduced. In fact our assets have decreased by an amount due to depreciation yet Centrelink calculated they had increased. This reduction is $30 a fortnight yet we can't see nor them explain where the increase has occured. Last time we complained we got suspended then received a letter about a miscalculation and had our pension was reinstated. Can't work them out.
 
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Hi. These people except old age pension n disabled should be grateful they live in the Land of Plenty and get assistance...l am still working very hard and get NOTHING from the govt to assist me and l too like the rest of the working are struggling....be grateful and work if able.....
 
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I think increases should have been more for all Penions, as well as youth allowance for those studying full-time and jobseeker if you have been on it for less than 12 months or on it due to illness.

The guy Damien 62 is a perfect example of someone who shouldn't be on it. He has been on jobseeker since 2019 and worked for a short time during this time but left that job because he loss part of his payment and his public housing went up due to him working.

There is a thing as self worth which is what working does.
Having 13 kids I could have got so much more by being on centrelink but I chose to work and support my family and when hubby became ill and couldn't work my wage was still OK.

I agree with a few comments with Damien getting off his backside and getting a job

DAMIEN STATED HE LEFT THE JOB BECAUSE HIS PAYMENT WENT DOWN AND RENT WENT UP
 
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I just don't understand how some survive on Centrelink. We are aged pensioners and have modest assets according to Centrelink so only receive a part pension. On the week prior to each small inflation increase we have received a letter stating our assets had increased therefore our pension will be reduced. In fact our assets have decreased by an amount due to depreciation yet Centrelink calculated they had increased. This reduction is $30 a fortnight yet we can't see nor them explain where the increase has occured. Last time we complained we got suspended then received a letter about a miscalculation and had our pension was reinstated. Can't work them out.
Can I ask how your assets have increased !! Was it interest in the bank.
If your assets haven't increased then you need to call centrelink.
 
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Consensus shows these CPI increases are no longer effective. We are in troubled financial times which seem to have spiralled since COVID. Residential Property shortage, a monopoly supermarket hold, lack of wage increases by the last government for 10 years, fuel and energy cost blow outs, medical expenses thru the roof partly due to Govt budgets ignoring the warning signs on investing in facilities and trained medical professionals, and now lack of keeping up with minimum standards of financial support for those affected by all the above.
Collectively, who could have forecast all of this 5 or 6 years ago??...Politics has played a major role so maybe by getting back to basics is the way to go with whomever gets into Govt. Have a good look at the fellow in the U S...maybe some of his budgeting is not that ridiculous.
 
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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 !
Have you looked at community housing. It's prive rent but based on your income is what you pay rent eg My daughter was on one income for awhile and she was paying $300 . Then when her baby was 1 year old she went back to work part-time the rent stayed the same.
Then she went full-time and their rent went up to the normal rent of $550
 
Inflation is currently running at about 2.5%, while the pension increase of $4.60 per fortnight is 0.4%. Tell me how that is fair. Not to mention as someone already has, the huge increases in insurances in particular and other costs of living, how can we possibly keep up?
 
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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 we should vote for Dutton instead and really send power prices through the roof which is what the LNP policy would do. The reason for these high power prices is price gouging by the private sector generators made possible by LNP governments selling our public generators.
 
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!
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.
 
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This miniscule increase is an insult when sold as keeping pensioners up with inflation because it does no such thing. Is anybody other than those in government going to claim that their living costs have risen by about $2 a week over the past six months. I doubt it because we all know our costs have risen way way way more than that.
This election try to vote for a candidate who cares and lives in the real world. That means putting the LNP and ALP candidates last on your ballot paper.
 
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The Age Pension used to be a third of an average man's wage - then some smart a#$e decided to adapt it to inflation, which I recall meant it was cents per fortnight two years in a row, a move I believe was started by Howard, who then used what had not been spent on welfare as bribes of a one off $1,000 payment just before elections. One little pensioner told him to his face to, ' Keep your bribe, I won't be voting for you.' Howard, of course, didn't respond, just laughed at her because he knew so many would fall for it. Others complained that welfare recipients shouldn't be given that money because they would just spend it on rubbish, or flat screen TVs????

They did the same with pay rises by using percentages to ensure the top dogs got larger rises than those on a lower amount. It has all been done to ensure we always have people who can be kicked or put forward as ungrateful, the underdogs.

If you don't believe me, work it out for yourselves what the differences are between some on the lowest wage to someone on a truly high salary. And forget the saying "That's why the pay me the big bucks" the big bucks go to the guys who spend most of their days at long lunches.
 
The Age Pension used to be a third of an average man's wage - then some smart a#$e decided to adapt it to inflation, which I recall meant it was cents per fortnight two years in a row, a move I believe was started by Howard, who then used what had not been spent on welfare as bribes of a one off $1,000 payment just before elections. One little pensioner told him to his face to, ' Keep your bribe, I won't be voting for you.' Howard, of course, didn't respond, just laughed at her because he knew so many would fall for it. Others complained that welfare recipients shouldn't be given that money because they would just spend it on rubbish, or flat screen TVs????

They did the same with pay rises by using percentages to ensure the top dogs got larger rises than those on a lower amount. It has all been done to ensure we always have people who can be kicked or put forward as ungrateful, the underdogs.

If you don't believe me, work it out for yourselves what the differences are between some on the lowest wage to someone on a truly high salary. And forget the saying "That's why the pay me the big bucks" the big bucks go to the guys who spend most of their days at long lunches.
That is all true. Increases need to be flat increases not percentage increases because percentage increases make the gap between the haves and have nots grow larger.
 
Rishworth stated that this paltry $2.30 a week rise for singles will help ease the financial burden...what an insulting and stupid comment to make.
 
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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.
thank you for common sense. tomorrow night will have them gurgling lies. if labour voters agree with the billions of dollars albo is about to set to spend and cripple australia go for it but stop your whinging.
 
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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.
Yeah I agree however be careful what you wish for. A "liveable pension" is on the way. And it won't be anything like what we get now. Canada did a trial of the basic liveable income a few years ago. They ditched it but it's coming back. It's what they want. Also I think there has been a concerted effort to "dumb down" the population so they accept that the junk sold in the supermarket is food and therefore should be bought and eaten. That and health are the two things we have some control over. Unfortunately us oldies didn't realise what was coming re health and the connection to the food chain. But with the internet and such the younger ones should be a lot more savvy about what food to buy and how to stay healthy. But, alas they just follow the medical and government narrative. I know what you mean about insurance. We have had to replace our roof twice in 5 years from storm damage. Our insurance just goes up and up and on a part pension (Hubby's defence pension is classed as income) is buying less and less
 
It's ridiculous. $3-10 and my rent will probably go up by $4 so I won't even have had an increase. Considering how little maintenace is done on social housing unless you request it and then have to wait months for it to happen, I can't see why our rent has to constantly go up every time we have the smallest pay increase.
Rent up by only $4.00 try up $250.00 which was my last rent increase
 
I think Centrelink picked the day when shares were at their highest back in February to work out your assets. I did it ready for the ‘pension increase’ and thought our pension wouldn’t change much. Silly me. My husband and I both get $35 each LESS a fortnight now and we didn’t get that much to start with. Since we retired our grocery bill has doubled in price alone. If it wasn’t such a hassle I’d go in and query it.
 
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I don't know if the government would take any notice but I like you to set up a petition to let us voice our disapproval at the pathetic increase of our deserved hard earned pension Michael Barber
 
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