In a world where the cost of living seems to be perpetually on the rise, it's a relief to hear that the Australian government is trying to ease everyone's financial burden.

For seniors who rely on social security payments, there's some good news on the horizon amidst the rising costs.

Centrelink, the government's main social welfare program, announced an upcoming increase in payments to help recipients keep up with inflation.

This adjustment was a part of the biannual indexation process happening every March and September.

These adjustments provide a much-needed financial boost for Australians' Centrelink benefits, including the Age Pension and JobSeeker.

Australians under Centrelink payments should see this payment increase soon. Image Credit: Freepik/Kraken Images

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth emphasised the importance of this indexation.

'Indexation is a critical part of our social security safety net,' Minister Rishworth shared in a statement.

'For pensioners and other payment recipients receiving this financial boost, this will help ease some pressure.'

So, what does this mean for you or your loved ones who may be receiving these payments?

More than 850,000 Australians on JobSeeker should see a modest increase in their payment while searching for employment.

Starting Thursday, 20 March, a single person will see their fortnightly payments rise by $3.10.

Meanwhile, couples will receive an additional $2.80 each.

This increase could bring the total fortnightly payments to $781.10 for singles and $715.10 for couples, amounting to an annual increase of $80.60 and $72.80, respectively.

Over 2.64 million recipients under Age Pension should see a more significant bump in their payments soon.

Recipients on the maximum single rate should expect an extra $4.60 per fortnight, while couples will get an additional $3.50 each.

Consequently, fortnightly payments should increase to $1,149 for single beneficiaries and $866.10 for couples.

This same $4.60 increase should also apply to individuals on the Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment.

Other Centrelink payments should also see small bumps on their payments.

ABSTUDY recipients should expect a rise of between $2.80 to $3.30 per fortnight, while those on Parenting Payment will see an increase of between $2.80 to $4.30.

Rent Assistance payments should also go up slightly, with an increase of between $0.50 to $1.12.

Minister Rishworth highlighted the government's commitment to strengthening the social security system over the past three years, ensuring it provides support 'at whatever age or stage they're at in life'.

In addition to the payment increases, JobSeeker recipients should also receive news regarding compliance.

Starting this month, job seekers who just registered with Workforce Australia or Disability Employment Services should not face compliance action if they fail to meet a requirement for the first time.

While these changes may not represent a windfall, every little bit could help when it comes to managing household budgets.

Managing finances could be a challenge, especially for seniors on a fixed income.

To enjoy these benefits and more, make sure to update your Centrelink information as soon as possible.

Key Takeaways

• Centrelink payments in Australia, such as JobSeeker and the Age Pension, should increase soon due to indexation.
• Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth highlighted that the increase was a critical part of the social security system as it provides financial relief to pensioners and recipients.
• Starting Thursday, 20 March, singleJobSeeker recipients should receive an extra $3.10 fortnightly, while Age Pensioners will see more significant increases.
• Other payments such as the Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, ABSTUDY, Parenting Payment, and Rent Assistance are also due to rise. Fewer JobSeeker recipients will face cut-offs due to new changes in compliance measures.

How will these changes impact your budget? Do you have any tips for stretching your Centrelink payments further? Sharing your experiences can help others make the most of their benefits. We would love to hear from you in the comments below!

 

[ECassidy]

$ 3.10 won't buy a cup of coffee

Doesn't even pay for a small pack of toilet paper

 

[Bill MacL]

WE HAVE A WINNER.....AND THE JOKE OF THE YEAR GOES TOO!!!

 

[Huxley]

It is an absolute insult to aged pensioners

I

 

[Anthony Ellul]

Maybe I'm a bit thick (ask my wife) but I don't understand what this payment is all about.
A month or so ago, we were told all about a rise in Aged Pensions from March 20 2025 - Haven't got the exact figures, but from memory it worked out at around $21. (something) per member of a married couple. This site and my wife's mobile phone FACEBOOK had all the info. and amounts.
So, what is this 'chickenfeed' amount all about ? Is it IN ADDITION to the $21.xx OR is it INSTEAD of the $21.xx ???
Could someone who does understand it all, please enlighten me ??? Thanx.
Needless to say, If it's INSTEAD OF, I won't be VERY HAPPY !!!

It is instead of. Who said $21?

 

[darylfoxcroft]

$3.10? Is that meant to be an early April Fools joke? Pathetic. Rents etc, are rising by ridiculous amounts. Homelessness is rising because people can not afford rent. Meanwhile the government gives pensioners who spent their lives working to support others get a "generous" $3.10 increase.

 

[Leenie]

That is expensive bread. We are paying $2.50 for our wholegrain bread and no it is not supermarket bread.

You are lucky then, our baker charges $3-50 .

 

[ldc823]

Where do the Government or the Opposition get the thought that they can control how we spend our money it is not “Their money” to dictate how we use it with the Indue card. Talk about discrimination and equal opportunity they are treating anyone on Centrelink benefits (I am on an age Pension) I retired from full time work at 70yrs having worked and paid my income taxes for 56yrs then because we weren’t able to put away much into super as it was made compulsory too late for some of us to benefit from this “initiative” now we are treated like third world citizens if the Polititions were offered a $3.50 wage rise they wouldn’t accept this yet we have no way of voicing our disapproval of this even when other say do it at the ballot box none of the parties including greens and independent give a toss for us “bloodsucking parasites” yet they weren’t shy in sending us to war to “fight for our country and our freedom” we are just like sheep have to accept decision without question it just reeks of the rich get richer stuff the rest

 

[Anthony Ellul]

Maybe ask several people, one who shattered his wrist on my noggin.

I did suffer a fractured cheekbone in 1983 when attacked by three idiots in the carpark of St George Sailing Club. Too bad I remembered the number plate of the car, got the owner's address in Lakemba and no more car. Goodbye blue VC Commodore LMU-157! Up in a puff of smoke.

Wanna try my hard head?

I am with you Ingot. VeggiePatch is despicable in every way. A bully, a racist, mentally unbalanced but worst of all he is an ALP commo.

 

[Leenie]

show me where Lnp have brought in GST? time labour voters spoke the truth and not be liars as their leader is. not our fault you are poor or should I say a moaner.

Howard bought in the GST.

 

[Trina G]

It's not April 1st.
So this announcement should be placed in the Jokes and Funny Stories section of SDC.

It's an embarrassment to not only the Labor people in charge of the economy, but to the so-called Opposition who think this can pass to the keeper.
The Opposition should be ashamed to take their pay too - not a whimper out of them while they will be expecting pensioners to also vo0te for them.

So glad it is an election year.
Finally we get another opportunity to boot both of the major parties - neither of whom are truly representing the people .

My vote will not be wasted.
I am supporting either Libertarians or One nation or Family First in the Senate, and where they field candidates, I will be supporting them in the Lower House too.

If I don't change how I vote, I cannot change how I am governed - it is as simple and as easy as that.

A vote for the people you suggest is a vote for the LNP. I’d think carefully about who you vote for. Under the Noalition the likes of pensions, Medicare, NDIS and other govt services will stagnate. The cost of living is a world wide problem so if you can let us know how to solve it please enlighten us all. Also a vote for Dutton is supporting Trump and his cohorts which we already are seeing the damage they are doing around the world including us.

 

[Trina G]

I am with you Ingot. VeggiePatch is despicable in every way. A bully, a racist, mentally unbalanced but worst of all he is an ALP commo.

You are just a dumb Libiot who can’t even think for himself.

 

[Kahlan28]

We need to vote shortly so put Labor & Greens last! We got bigger increases under Liberal! This is an absolute joke!

Dutton wants to put all Centrelink payments on a card to monitor our spending because he thinks we are incapable of doing this ourselves. Dutton also wants nuclear power stations built in Australia and he also thinks Donald Trump is fantastic with the way he his bulldozing his way through policies in America and wants to copy some of his policies if he is elected. Dutton is a joke and Albanese is a wimp, what hope have we got?

 

[Anthony Ellul]

Howard bought in the GST.

That is correct. However he went to 3 elections with that policy and the people voted him in. The ALP ran strongly against it for those elections. Remember too that there were significant tax rate changes to MORE than compensate and there were exemptions for raw( unprocessed) food items.

 

[Veggiepatch]

I am with you Ingot. VeggiePatch is despicable in every way. A bully, a racist, mentally unbalanced but worst of all he is an ALP commo.

You are a worm of lowest order.

A bully - no.

A racist - yes, only to to ethnicities who exhibit racism and violence towards me, both verbal and physical.

Mentally unbalanced - what would you know? Like many people on SDC, you are a proponent of assumption. A person who "thinks he/she knows but does not have a clue". You make shit up as you go, without any proof.

Come and look me up one day. You will be surprised.

 

[tumoulin]

Oh please Seniors Discount Club why did you run this story with a pic of a hand holding a fistful of cash notes when all pensioners are getting is a couple of coins.
It looks like your publication is supporting the ALP government and LNP oppositions assertion that living costs have risen by about $4 a fortnight over the past six months.
Such a claim is a sick joke and saying this rise keeps up with the real price increases is an insult to people's intelligence.

 

[tomtom]

Just imagine of the Libs get in..they have stated the INDUE Card will be implemented for ALL Centrelink recipients Australia wide! Including Pensioners.
Msm and the Libs are VERY quiet about it, but Dutton and others this year have reinterated this.
NO thankyou very much!

What the hell are you talking about, please explain yourself in the English language.

 

[Daibhin]

Where do these idiots get the idea of a "cash boost"? Cost of living under this Albo Sleazy has skyrocketed so just give everybody a $1000 cash boost which could come out off your and your parties massive totally unwarranted paycheck that you take for stuffing this country up, and the same goes for nude nut Dutton, the multi millionaire.

Sorry for laughing but your "nude nut Dutton" is pure gold, and after this supposed increase we needed a laugh. In our block the rent has gone up by $18 per week, so this HUGE amount of $2.30 a week does nothing.

 

[Clancieblue]

$4.60 doesn't cover the cost of my loaf of bread as it went up in price to over $5 last week.

My bread cost $3.70 at the local bakery. Maybe don't buy brand names.

 

[Clancieblue]

“Critical” cash boost. I hope that Danielle F is ashamed of herself for this ridiculous heading.

The cash boost is critical to many, it's not Danielle's fault that the government gives so little.
This is the line that could be reworded
it's a relief to hear that the Australian government is trying to ease everyone's financial burden.
Perhaps with

It's a disappointment that the Australian Government isn't doing enough to ease Pensioners burdens.

 

[Beezzzy]

Grateful for the crumbs but come on, a decent loaf of bread can cost $5. Not that I've been able to afford one. Last winter I saw oldies wrapped in blankets sitting in the dark, too worried about the power bill to turn on a light. Where do we live again?????
Something has to change,