In a place often seen as thriving, it's easy to overlook the quiet challenges many continue to face.

For some, making ends meet remains a constant struggle, especially those depending on support systems to get by.

Ongoing discussions about financial assistance have left many feeling left out and unheard.

The current state of Centrelink payments is a pressing issue for many, especially older Australians who have spent their lives contributing to the nation's economy.

Marge, a retiree who voiced her concerns on the ABC program Q&A, encapsulates the sentiment of many when she questions how older Aussies are expected to get by on the current Age Pension.

'How can the government expect us to believe that they know everyone is doing it tough when the latest pension increase for a couple equates to 25 cents per day each?' she said.

Calls to raise Centrelink payments were rejected despite rising costs and community appeals. Credit: Facebook

'Every bill we pay has risen significantly... actions definitely speak louder than words in this situation.'

The disparity between their financial resources and the cost of living is growing wider for those on a fixed income.

Many people share Marge's frustration. They feel that after a lifetime of working and paying taxes, they should not have to pinch pennies in their twilight years.

JobSeeker, another critical Centrelink payment, has also been under scrutiny.

The recent increase of $3.10 per fortnight has been met with dismay, as it does little to alleviate recipients' financial strain.

Economist Nicki Hutley points out that investing in JobSeeker not only benefits the recipients but also the community at large.

According to recent modelling, every additional dollar invested in JobSeeker generates a $1.25 return through healthier individuals, reduced government payments, and improved productivity.

The government's Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has recommended increasing JobSeeker to 90 per cent of the Age Pension, raising the fortnightly payment from $781.10 to $942.39.

This suggestion, however, has been met with resistance from both major political parties.

Despite the clear benefits, politicians have reaffirmed their stance against increasing the payment, citing budget constraints and the challenge of raising taxes to fund social benefits.

The debate has brought to light the broader issue of prioritising government spending.

Richard Denniss from The Australia Institute offers a provocative perspective, highlighting the billions of dollars in fossil fuel subsidies and the colossal investment in the AUKUS submarine deal as areas where funds could be reallocated to support the country's most vulnerable.

As we navigate these challenging times, we must remember that behind the statistics and political debates are real people struggling to afford necessities.

The question remains: How can one of the wealthiest nations in the world justify not providing adequate support to those in need?

We at the Seniors Discount Club believe a society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable members.

It's time for a serious conversation about our national priorities and how we can ensure that every Australian has the means to live with dignity.

In other news, millions across the country received a boost to certain support payments from 20 March, affecting various forms of assistance.

These adjustments were part of a regular review tied to shifts in living costs and broader economic factors. You can read more about it here.

Key Takeaways

• Labour and the Coalition have rejected calls to increase Centrelink payments, despite rising cost of living pressures and community group pleas.
• Retirees and JobSeeker recipients have expressed frustration at the modest increases, which they claim are insufficient for meeting basic needs.
• Economist Nicki Hutley suggested that increasing JobSeeker could lead to positive community outcomes, with a good return on investment.
• Political debate continues regarding social security payment levels, with suggestions of reallocating funds from areas such as fossil fuel subsidies to support vulnerable Australians.

Have you or someone you know been affected by the lack of increase in Centrelink benefits? How has this impacted your daily life? Your stories are powerful and can help bring about change. Let's start the conversation in the comments below.

 

[marni]

It's about time the Federal Government paid back retirees the money they put into general revenue from the Age Pension fund that workers paid in from their wages. This Tax was separate from the general tax on wages! We are not Welfare Recipients!

How much per week would that have been? I bet it would not be as much as the pdndio. Us now

 

[Aussie all the Way]

Who voted for the little shit? nobody seems to want to own up,

I sure as hell didn't, but you are right, nobody wants to admit it and I can't believe that the idiot is probably going to get re elected, and you can guess who is voting for him, all the Dole bludgers and everyone else who has been able to sit on their arse and get paid fairly well for doing nothing.

 

[Wombat2u2004]

Those agencies which handle NDIS & have clients are definitely milking the Government cow because it is the Government! I am aware of one agency where clients were not receiving what they were entitled to but on paper they did. Many $'s were siphoned off for personal use.

Overcharging a Government Department for goods & services has been happening for eons.
I once worked for an aluminium window & door company writing up production paperwork. One day the manager gave me paperwork for a toilet window for the Navy which he quoted on & was accepted. This was a standard size for the company but the quoted & accepted price was considerably above the cost for that window because it was a Government Departmeiseen it allnt.

Yep.......that's exactly what happens.
In the early 1980's I worked as an estimator at a building and civil engineering company. We did a lot of work for SCRA (Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority) It was one of our well known State Premiers babies.
You should have seen the bucks change hands there, being staff, I was privy to how much money that was quoted for jobs, how much was won on tenders and where the money went. I will say no more.

 

[Z Di]

If they don’t support us in staying alive as they don’t have it in the budget, why does Albo keep giving away billions of our dollars to ridiculous deals to any overseas country he went to. Why did he get the highest pay rise in history while Aussies were losing their homes and security.. All pollies got the raise , and hiring thousands of useless more public servants to do their work, which no one did anyway. Give your money back Albo and Co. get rid of all those you hired , sell back the jets. Give back all the free meals and deals you grab (give back in $please) whilepensioners with no other income forego food to pay for rates water rates etc. their nothing left. No insurance no home maintenance — nothing. Now you too ,Dutton? Shame. Every politician frm now and forever should forego any monies they now get after retiring or leaving. No freebies for any. They have enough insuper and each have multiplinvestment homes to live off. Immediately ban any money to go to them. NOW, you can raise our pensions enough so we don’t lose our homes to the councils for nonpayment of rates. Which is what they want . Aged homeowners in arrears to them and when dead they get the home . Poor kids lose that too.disgusting you councils who are supposed to give AFFORDABLE? Rates

 

[Z Di]

If they don’t support us in staying alive as they don’t have it in the budget, why does Albo keep giving away billions of our dollars to ridiculous deals to any overseas country he went to. Why did he get the highest pay rise in history while Aussies were losing their homes and security.. All pollies got the raise , and hiring thousands of useless more public servants to do their work, which no one did anyway. Give your money back Albo and Co. get rid of all those you hired , sell back the jets. Give back all the free meals and deals you grab (give back in $please) whilepensioners with no other income forego food to pay

the recent pension increase is an insult to all of us who worked up until retirement, paid all our taxes, medicare, fuel tax etc. The pension is NOT a handout we worked for our pension. Most of the people on benefits these days have never done a days work in their lives, never paid medicare levey, income tax etc. Most job seekers will not take a job as their attitude is why should we go and work when we get all this money for staying at home. They should all be put in the forces and make them work for their money.
Very disappointed with the government and the way they are treating pensioners.

Look, now , Covid, enormous cost of living rents skyrocket these ‘jobseekers’ who are jobless find there ARENoJobs. They have no money to travel to any where to look for job. And public transport is just NOT THERE FOR MOST. They are too scared to move or they know they will be homeless if they move out of a stinky flat as all is too expensive so they try to absorb cost and pay more when rent rises(trying to beg a little first). This is humiliation for everyone forced into this situation by rich fat beaurocrats with pockets full of our money. They can take whatever they want and don’t ask!? And we pensioners have to do same with rent etc. even homeowners live alone ( let’s face it , most of us have turned into hermits , hardly talk or see anyone for weeks. Families all so busy as both parent work full time som7 days a week, all to give their kids a little of what the had in youth with no effort. So sorry for all of them. Yes and jobseekers and single living homeowners just about same as rates , insurance, upkeep of home makes it about equal. There is no help for anyone on their own we would rather just die than for anything as we have no voice left just a looming fear as these leaders just take all from us and don’t give a shit. They want us all dead and out of the way. That is the ONLY reason they don’t want to give us enough for survival. Look at the whole of Australia hundreds of thousands still with no home after the floods. The gov not care , leave it to charities . And Dutton too, now the same. Albo bleeds the coffers dry and still finds some hole where he finds a few million to give overseas to anyone who pretends to love him.

 

[KimJay]

just a thought get rid of the inflated public service and with that saving alone pensioners could get a greater increase than 25 cents

 

[BillyB]

Sadly there are many young people and yes we have one in the family who's attitude is why should I work when I can get money for free. This will be a huge drain on this country. We desperately need to build the defence forces, so why not an ultimatum up to 25 you work, study, or you are in the military. Now I am not saying send them off to conflicts overseas, but they can be the back up home support for regular troops who can be sent overseas. The military teaches discipline and respect, it can also teach a trade. There are many jobs that people on job seeker wont do, like picking fruit. It is the elderly who have worked all their lives who need a substantial increase in their pensions.

Discipline and respect should be taught at home not by anybody else.

 

[KimJay]

Government itself is too big. Australia with a population of around 27 million does not need 3 levels of government. That is where the waste is! But once people are in the government system (and I am not talking about ordinary public servants here) they are harder to eradicate than termites. They always protect their own jobs, conditions and perks first, above all else. The only time they care about the ordinary pensioner, is if they believed it would affect their vote at the election. Unfortunately, most older people are not swinging voters so the major parties believe they can count on our votes no matter how they treat us.

Totally agree, scrap Local Governments

 

[Jolliffe]

All these politicians are only worried about is themselves one wants to live on the beach the other just shows off his million dollar house and the pay he gets being the prime minister then comes out and give seniors a $2 rise what an insult to us all who built this country not the one’s who get everything handed to them today shame on the prime minister.

 

[tumoulin]

Pensioners need to show how disgusted we are with the recent insulting and unrealistic pension increase. Do this by putting the LNP and ALP last when you vote shortly. There are many Independent and Minor party candidates who have much fairer policies than Liberal and Labor who both put themselves and their rich mates first especially the LNP who should be put right at the bottom.

 

[Grannypants]

I am an aged pensioner and the latest increase wouldn't even buy a loaf of bread, I have worked all my life and paid taxes,and was quite satisfied with my age pension ,but the cost of living and all other price increases is making life very hard indeed for all.

 

[DaddyRon]

Politicians are against it because of budget restraints?
Seems like there is no restraint for them,and their overinflated pension and perks.
Make all ex politicians apply for the pension like everyone else, if they qualify, and see the millions, if not billions it would save.
Problem is they are all greedy career politicians, and only care about themselves.
Well past time to put a stop to the gravy train for these parasites!!

 

[Huxley]

Politicians if they had only the age Pension to survive on they would be the first in line to increase payments as they know dam well that they couldn't survive on it. My cat had to have a few teeth removed and the cost was $1,200. I didn't have thus money available so I had to pay on Afterpay. How do I service my car, buy a new fridge if mine breaks down, havr a holiday none is possible om the pension, sometimes just buying food is hard. It's a disgrace to older people that have paid taxes all their lives and now have to live on so little

 

[Phantom55]

the recent pension increase is an insult to all of us who worked up until retirement, paid all our taxes, medicare, fuel tax etc. The pension is NOT a handout we worked for our pension. Most of the people on benefits these days have never done a days work in their lives, never paid medicare levey, income tax etc. Most job seekers will not take a job as their attitude is why should we go and work when we get all this money for staying at home. They should all be put in the forces and make them work for their money.
Very disappointed with the government and the way they are treating pensioners.

the recent pension increase enabled me to purchase a Big Mac from macdonalds ....I shale be eternally grateful to our government for that, I was ALMOST tempted to not eat it but succumbed to my hunger and looked forward to the next fortnight to experience another macdonalds feast....just remember young ones that you may be asked to go to war for Aust one day and if you survive these polls (that dont go to war )may shout you Big Mac also

 

[Veggiepatch]

I think the government should give retiring MP’s the same pension as everyone else gets.No lurks and perks and they have to have a financial assessment as well.After all they feather their own nest all the time they are in office and most are rich in their own right Treat people equally no matter who they are.Millions of dollars could be saved and redirected to the needy and other worthy projects.Also stop giving criminals a life of luxury.They have done the crime make them pay for it.Bring back the road gangs.It would create more employment and our roads could use the attention

Road gangs?

It's not the Wild West!

 

[Phantom55]

Politicians if they had only the age Pension to survive on they would be the first in line to increase payments as they know dam well that they couldn't survive on it. My cat had to have a few teeth removed and the cost was $1,200. I didn't have thus money available so I had to pay on Afterpay. How do I service my car, buy a new fridge if mine breaks down, havr a holiday none is possible om the pension, sometimes just buying food is hard. It's a disgrace to older people that have paid taxes all their lives and now have to live on so little

who do you think you are? a cat?a fridge?a car?AND you expect to go on a holiday as well ? who do you think you are?didnt the govt give you a free uniform when you went to war ? and free medical for getting wounded at same? and the taxes you paid were mere pittance (compared to politicians taxes) and now you have the audacity to question your pension and you expect to live like those that didn't go to war? you dont appreciate the $4 they just allowed you to indulge in luxury to boost your already abundant pension? ..........boy. some people...

 

[Towing]

Sadly there are many young people and yes we have one in the family who's attitude is why should I work when I can get money for free. This will be a huge drain on this country. We desperately need to build the defence forces, so why not an ultimatum up to 25 you work, study, or you are in the military. Now I am not saying send them off to conflicts overseas, but they can be the back up home support for regular troops who can be sent overseas. The military teaches discipline and respect, it can also teach a trade. There are many jobs that people on job seeker wont do, like picking fruit. It is the elderly who have worked all their lives who need a substantial increase in their pensions.

I understand what you mean by picking fruit, but it's not suitable for some people with disabilities or injuries. I'm sure there are other jobs around thar aren't quite as "body breaking" as that. The military does teach a lot of different trades. The military sometimes help clean up with natural disaster rescues, taking in supplies including food and medications. Clean-ups, especially big areas sometimes take a few months.

 

[vivray]

I am like most aged pensioners and agree we have worked hard all our life to deserve a pension is a no brainer. The un employed are that because they get paid to stay at home and live off our hard earned legacy. Some maybe genuine but most are dole bludgers and young girls falling pregnant and dragging the children up on the govt. funding.

 

[Phantom55]

Road gangs?

It's not the Wild West!

Why dont polls have a means test and how come they can access the funds immediately .....are they royalty?special ?...the only job where one can retire on full pay after 8 yrs service.....how terribly Australian our pm earns more than the president of USA and he has 350 million citizens we have 25 million...seems fair enough...I dont think

 

[Towing]

Road gangs?

It's not the Wild West!

Depending how many terms they do MPs get very good superannuation, not just good wages. When they leave they should not get any perks at all............. regarldless of who they are people sometimes you can be classed as over-qualified and not given a job you apply for.