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!

 

[Veggiepatch]

Haha. This is laughable. Anyone who has been through this site can see you for what you are and you are as I described you. That is the proof. You even resorted to threatening to kill me. I should have also said you are a coward and I might have said it elsewhere. Even in your reply you are accusing many on SDC of being idiots simply because they disagree with your views. That is what people of little substance resort to when their views are challenged. I cannot believe that SDC allows you to pour forth your hate and threats on this website. You should have been banned when you threatened to kill me. Another good SDC suggested that I block you but I decided that you need to be held accountable for your aggression.

I hope you have blisters on your fingers in typing a diatribe of derogatory dogshit.

My reaction to your dribblings are nothing more than a grin. You are not worthy of my thirty odd words of reply.

 

[Leenie]

i agree with you as one nation or independant are looking very good next federal election

With Pauline Hanson you have someone who puts Australia first ,and not the b/s you get from the other parties bowing to the despots in WEF,UN etc , we need to get rid of them and get our sovereignty back , Australia was a great country until we were sold out to them.

 

[Leenie]

I hope you have blisters on your fingers in typing a diatribe of derogatory dogshit.

My reaction to your dribblings are nothing more than a grin. You are not worthy of my thirty odd words of reply.

Is it time to bring out the Boxing Gloves ,

 

[Veggiepatch]

Is it time to bring out the Boxing Gloves ,

Yes!

 

[AmieCoff]

It won't pay for even a loaf of bread a fortnight !

Why do pensioners need to update their information to get this ? It's automatic, this might confuse some people

I thought that as well. Stating we need to update makes it sound like a scam

 

[Leenie]

Is it time to bring out the Boxing Gloves ,

I volunteer to be referee, if acceptable

 

[Parrot]

FOLKS
Forgive me but..
What is the point in having a go unfortunately it’s not going to increase the Pension .. BUT your
BP.
All we say just falls on deaf EARS.
The Government are well aware of the cost of living..

 

[Leenie]

FOLKS
Forgive me but..
What is the point in having a go unfortunately it’s not going to increase the Pension .. BUT your
BP.
All we say just falls on deaf EARS.
The Government are well aware of the cost of living..

I have said the same, they are too busy living in their own little world to worry about us , the tax payers who have funded their lifestyle .

 

[Leenie]

Oh! and yes don’t even get me started on Health Cover…I’m not able to afford private Health so once again whatever I need has to come from my pension plus the small amount I earn each week….over the last 2yrs I’ve had to SAVE for cataract surgery, blocked tear duct and a trigger finger to be done…I waited for over 3yrs on the public system to get my cataracts done and nothing! I HAD to get them done eventually as I was close to having my license taken away…as I live on my own that would have been disastrous…my general health is very good, which I’m thankful for, however I have friends who are in desperate need of a knee replacement and have been waiting for 3yrs!!! this is a joke…and to be honest I don’t believe the liberal party to be any better, they’re 2 wings of the same bird! we need to vote for the smaller independents that actually care about people so they can have their say in the House of Represenhtatives….keep who ever is in Liberal or Labour, honest!!!

With what it’s costing you to pay for surgery ,maybe you could have saved that by being in a health fund , I am on a single pension and manage to pay for top cover with an excess of $250 , which is a one off a year. If being taken to ED ,andyou sign over they pay your excess ,so any further surgery is covered and you

Oh! and yes don’t even get me started on Health Cover…I’m not able to afford private Health so once again whatever I need has to come from my pension plus the small amount I earn each week….over the last 2yrs I’ve had to SAVE for cataract surgery, blocked tear duct and a trigger finger to be done…I waited for over 3yrs on the public system to get my cataracts done and nothing! I HAD to get them done eventually as I was close to having my license taken away…as I live on my own that would have been disastrous…my general health is very good, which I’m thankful for, however I have friends who are in desperate need of a knee replacement and have been waiting for 3yrs!!! this is a joke…and to be honest I don’t believe the liberal party to be any better, they’re 2 wings of the same bird! we need to vote for the smaller independents that actually care about people so they can have their say in the House of Representatives….keep who ever is in Liberal or Labour, honest!!!

 

[Clancieblue]

Danielle f your write up is a disgrace and you are quite pathetic you obviously are a full on labor government voter trying to promote their rubbish peanut payment how about dropping your favorite party promotion it stands out like a light house you are probably paid by labor to promote them

Danielle f your write up is a disgrace and you are quite pathetic you obviously are a full on labor government voter trying to promote their rubbish peanut payment how about dropping your favorite party promotion it stands out like a light house you are probably paid by labor to promote them

What a disgusting attack on a member of SDC team. If you are upset by the labor government direct your anger at them. Personally, I think you should be banned from the site.

 

[Leenie]

With what it’s costing you to pay for surgery ,maybe you could have saved that by being in a health fund , I am on a single pension and manage to pay for top cover with an excess of $250 , which is a one off a year. If being taken to ED ,andyou sign over they pay your excess ,so any further surgery and you Aren’t out of pocket for the excess, only what your Surgeries cost .

 

[Leenie]

Correction on first reply you only pay for the surgery costs. As the excess has been paid.

 

[Greentrees]

It is an absolute insult to aged pensioners

It is an adjustment made very six months - it is not necessarily an increase, it could be reduced. It depends on the formula used. Previously the formula was different & the pension was higher. The previous government changed the formula & the payment was less. Just remember it does not automatically increase.

 

[Greentrees]

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

It has nothing to do with who is in power.

 

[IAN3005]

THANKS! for the extra 'HALf A CUP OF COFFEE a fortnight!! Centrelink'

Sorry.... no half a cup of coffee... taken up by the increase in electricity costs.

 

[Linda24]

"Starting Thursday, 20 March, singleJobSeeker recipients should receive an extra $3.10 fortnightly, while Age Pensioners will see more significant increases."

I didn't see any significant increase mentioned! $4.60 a fortnight is far from significant!
My rent is due to go up at least an additional $120 per week. I relocated over 100kms last year in search of lower rent, leaving my family and friends behind, only to be hit with a huge increase "in accordance with market rates"10 months later. I refuse to hand over my entire pension to a greedy landlord just to have a roof over my head. Australia has sank to new lows. The government does not care, if they did they wouldn't give us an increase of $4.60 per fortnight and expect us to be grateful.

 

[Aussie100]

This is a joke. The PM gets a 25% payrise and pensioners get $2.00 a week.. how is this fair??

 

[DLHM]

Haha. This is laughable. Anyone who has been through this site can see you for what you are and you are as I described you. That is the proof. You even resorted to threatening to kill me. I should have also said you are a coward and I might have said it elsewhere. Even in your reply you are accusing many on SDC of being idiots simply because they disagree with your views. That is what people of little substance resort to when their views are challenged. I cannot believe that SDC allows you to pour forth your hate and threats on this website. You should have been banned when you threatened to kill me. Another good SDC suggested that I block you but I decided that you need to be held accountable for your aggression.

@Anthony Ellul, please show the evidence that @Veggiepatch has threatened to kill you as you claim. I have searched through past posts from both of you to each other, and I can’t find any threats to kill you.

I’ve decided you need to be held accountable for your accusations. I’ve read through your past posts and you are truly a nasty person who spews verbal abuse to anyone that disagrees with you.

 

[Veggiepatch]

This is a joke. The PM gets a 25% payrise and pensioners get $2.00 a week.. how is this fair??

Care to quote a source where the Australian Prime Minister received a 25% pay rise?

Dream on, pal!

 

[Mr Universe]

An increase of $4.60 represents a percentage increase of just 0.4% per annum of the disability / age pension.
Google CPI: News Releases. In February, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers rose 2.8 percent over the last 12 months. 2.8 percent of the disability / age pension is $32.05 per fortnight. Where is the other $27.45 per fortnight of the CPI increase - the economists estimated cost of essential goods and services? Pensioners pay taxes for up to 50 years and their pensions are decreasing at a rate of $27.45 per fortnight after being adjusted for inflation. Thanks for you service worker. You are now a pensioner and no longer considered a useful member of society, just a burden on the hard-working taxpayer. The Government.