[April Bradford]

How much do YOU think the Age Pension should be?​

Members,

The recent news of an increase to the aged pension and the ensuing reaction has us wondering, what do you think a fair fortnightly (single) pension would be?

Currently, the (single) aged pension payment is $1026.50 per fortnight.

Meanwhile, the minimum wage in Australia is currently $812.60 per week or $1,625.20 per fortnight.

We would love to hear from you.

 

[Monks]

We are not greedy but I do think we should be able to turn the light on to see at night and to have the heater running to keep warm not go to bed at 7:30 pm so we can keep warm at night or sit rugged up in blankets during the day to keep warm ,
In the warmer weather we should not have to go to the local shopping center to be comfortable we are not second rate citizens and we donot live in a backward country so why dose our governments think we are a pain on the system but they where only to happy to take our money in taxes and now we get treated like second rate not good enough

 

[Ian Crane-Luff]

How much do YOU think the Age Pension should be?​

Members,

The recent news of an increase to the aged pension and the ensuing reaction has us wondering, what do you think a fair fortnightly (single) pension would be?

Currently, the (single) aged pension payment is $1026.50 per fortnight.

Meanwhile, the minimum wage in Australia is currently $812.60 per week or $1,625.20 per fortnight.

We would love to hear from you.

At least the minimum wage

 

[kiwidi29]

Living on just the pension - no Super, is almost impossible with a house to maintain. I’ve had to keep cutting back as prices have increased, especially council rates and utilities and food and petrol.

 

[Januvia1952]

I have paid taxes for 56 years. I only get HALF the married pension as I am married!!
Unfair. I should get the married pension.

 

[Lochiedog]

The increase in pension does not cover the increase in my HBF premiums. Maybe if HBF weren't so greedy. Can't change funds due to pre-existing and not going to give them the $$ waiting to cover future costs.

 

[Crazy Cat Lady]

The increase in pension does not cover the increase in my HBF premiums. Maybe if HBF weren't so greedy. Can't change funds due to pre-existing and not going to give them the $$ waiting to cover future costs.

I think this is why so many older people cancel their health insurance, we manage to pay ours but wish it wasn't quite so expensive, I have had a knee and hip replacement so have had approx. $80,000 paid back so can't complain really

 

[BabsL]

How much do YOU think the Age Pension should be?​

Members,

The recent news of an increase to the aged pension and the ensuing reaction has us wondering, what do you think a fair fortnightly (single) pension would be?

Currently, the (single) aged pension payment is $1026.50 per fortnight.

Meanwhile, the minimum wage in Australia is currently $812.60 per week or $1,625.20 per fortnight.

We would love to hear from you.

It is unfair that a single pensioner gets less than a couple. Two ppl using one light or heater is the same as One person using one light or heater but singles are penalised for being single!
Couples can buy Supermarket specials where buying 2 items is cheaper than buying one. Singles cannot use the two items to get the special price and only want or need one item therefore dingles pay more - penalised again.
Two ppl in one car use one tank of petrol, but one person used one tank of petrol.
One single pensioner pays full rent by oneself, but two ppl works out cheaper.
Same w Rates, Gas, Elect, sewer & fire costs - singles carry it all.

 

[Gerredina]

Somewhere along the line my review must have gone wrong because instead of getting an increase it actually went down by almost $10 per fortnight.

 

[perla]

I understand, pensioners have the health care card and other concessions, however I believe the pension should be equal to the minimum wage.
Now, if the government would like the pensioners to have private health insurance -not to clog emergency departments in hospital or deal with the consequences of untreated teeth for example- should be close to $48,000 per year.
Another point, the government should let us work and tax us accordingly, the New Zealand model.
thanks,

 

[termon]

I am sympathetic to anyone who has difficulty making ends meet. However, I paid tax from when I was 15 to 65 years of age and receive no Age Pension. Do I need it? No. But I wish I did get something for the money I put in over 50 years. However, if it helps others, I am pleased for them to receive it.

 

[Claresy]

I received my 2nd pension payment yesterday and I am grateful for it, at this stage. I also receive $200 per f/night from my Super.

I am lucky enough to have my house paid off so, with my new budget in hand, I have commenced my new financial life.

I guess time will tell if I can save any money for the future.

 

[Anoush]

a married couple usually have the same expenses as a single person unless you own your home,,so I don't see why letters writers are saying single pensioners are at a disadvantage with the pathetic rise,,,,we both worked for 50 years and paying taxes with one of us doing two jobs,,,do the daytime job,come home eat shower and on to the next job until late at night,,hard work at the time,,,,we alternate weekly for buying the groceries with cutting out loved items because they have become to expensive,,I bake weekly,,,only one of us has medical insurance,,that has gone up to $237 ,,rates,power,,water,,phones,,internet,,fuel,,medical scripts and Dr visits including a Specialist , Optometrist for 2 plus more but won't bore you with those,,,so I seriously don't get that equation as stated

 

[Milica]

How much do YOU think the Age Pension should be?​

Members,

The recent news of an increase to the aged pension and the ensuing reaction has us wondering, what do you think a fair fortnightly (single) pension would be?

Currently, the (single) aged pension payment is $1026.50 per fortnight.

Meanwhile, the minimum wage in Australia is currently $812.60 per week or $1,625.20 per fortnight.

We would love to hear from you.

If a person or couple are still paying rent or a mortgage - (thankfully we do receive a rental assistance subsidy that goes with the pension) - but this increase is not enough to cover all living expenses. Rent, Food, power & gas, phone & computer? if a person has one, fuel, car rego & car insurance, car repairs, clothing, medicines and any other expenses that may be coming out on
a fortnightly basis.
For the pensioners that can and would like to still work P/T, 2 or 3 days
per week, this would definitely help with all the bills above - pensioners should be allowed to
work without losing any of there pension (they deserve this opportunity) - because they would then still be contributing to themselves and society, improving there health & would still be paying taxes. It just seems unless you a directly experiencing a certain way of living - you cannot truly know what it feels like. But we look to the Gov't to help us in this respect - so that we do not suffer from financial stress & worry in the later years of our lives, which leads to poor health outcomes and feelings of non-inclusion. Understanding, compassion, common sense, reason, it does not take much to do the sums to see how far a centrelink income stretches.

 

[drwatson]

How much do YOU think the Age Pension should be?​

Members,

The recent news of an increase to the aged pension and the ensuing reaction has us wondering, what do you think a fair fortnightly (single) pension would be?

Currently, the (single) aged pension payment is $1026.50 per fortnight.

Meanwhile, the minimum wage in Australia is currently $812.60 per week or $1,625.20 per fortnight.

We would love to hear from you.

The comments suggesting that a single pensioner is worse of than a married couple are a bit unfair. While some costs are the same a couple will have double , eg a couple will use twice as much hot water hence both the water and electricity costs will be double just on that one thing, medical costs can be double and increase with age, travel expenses (if they can afford to go anywhere), some daily food items can be used twice as much, eg milk, bread, butter, cereal etc as a single person.
As for housing, a single person can often only need smaller accomodation than a couple whose rent will be dearer. At current rates our rent takes all of my wife's pension so we have only my pension to cover all our other expenses.
Seniors Discount Club advertises "low" health care, enquire about it and you will soon find out that it is totally unaffordable so most pensioners can only receive hospital treatment as a public patient, if you can wait up to two years for some procedures that is.
I would hazard a guess also that most, if not all, the people who have commented live in a metropolitan area. For those living in a rural location the cost of living will be much higher, access to medical treatment either non-existent or requiring hours of travel to see a specialist, so travel expenses are increased.
There also seems to be an inequality in the way extra income is treated before it affects the pension rate. It seems you are able to earn money and receive super payments without your pension being reduced. If you receive any money from an overseas pension however your pension here is reduced. Is that fair and equitable ? Like most things to do with pensions, decidedly not.

 

[Ezzy]

The increase in pension does not cover the increase in my HBF premiums. Maybe if HBF weren't so greedy. Can't change funds due to pre-existing and not going to give them the $$ waiting to cover future costs.

Aren't HBF just one of five big Health Benefit Funds who will increase their rates on April 1st? Why April 1st anyway, April Fool's Day?

 

[Ezzy]

I received my 2nd pension payment yesterday and I am grateful for it, at this stage. I also receive $200 per f/night from my Super.

I am lucky enough to have my house paid off so, with my new budget in hand, I have commenced my new financial life.

I guess time will tell if I can save any money for the future.

l wish to congratulate you on receipt of a small sum from your Super to supplement your Pension payments.

I believe our Federal Government do not understand or do not care about the fact that many Pensioners, like myself, possibly started working before Super was part of their employment & did not have this &/ or could not afford to put money away for Retirement. The result is we must rely totally on the Pension to survive. We are always ten steps behind the 'eight ball'.

 

[ChrisTasmania]

At 66.5+ years of age, if we live long enough, it's not going to be a surprise that we end up as old age pensioners. We have had a lifetime to prepare for this eventuality. Super wasn't a thing when I was younger and working but being frugal, saving what I could and managing my finances towards the eventual outcome was. My life is very, very modest, no big, beautiful house in a sought-after area or expensive appliances, furniture and fixtures. Granted not everyone wants to live like this but no mortgage and the ability to pay all bills does count for something.

 

[drwatson]

It is unfair that a single pensioner gets less than a couple. Two ppl using one light or heater is the same as One person using one light or heater but singles are penalised for being single!
Couples can buy Supermarket specials where buying 2 items is cheaper than buying one. Singles cannot use the two items to get the special price and only want or need one item therefore dingles pay more - penalised again.
Two ppl in one car use one tank of petrol, but one person used one tank of petrol.
One single pensioner pays full rent by oneself, but two ppl works out cheaper.
Same w Rates, Gas, Elect, sewer & fire costs - singles carry it all.

But two people eat more, have more expenses like clothing, medical, pharmacy, travel, use more water, electricity and so on. Just about anything you can think of costs more for two than one. Even consider some of the subsidies like rent assistance, a single gets the same as a couple so you could argue that each member only gets half that of a single. Same with electricity assistance, single and couple get the same, but couple can use twice as much or even more than a single.

 

[happymale]

maybe if Albo spent less time on all these jaunts around the world and sorted out these probs back home in Australia, housing , rentals, rising prices etc ????