Financial relief is on the way for millions of Australians, with key government payments set for an increase.

While these adjustments aim to ease cost-of-living pressures, not everyone will see the same boost in their payments.

Here’s what’s driving the changes and what it means for those relying on support.

More than five million Australians received a boost to their Centrelink payments, benefiting job seekers, carers, and people with disabilities.
Pensions and payments were adjusted through indexation, with increases taking effect from 20 March.

This included the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, Commonwealth Rent Assistance, JobSeeker, and Parenting Payment.

Centrelink payments rise for millions of Australians. Image source: Pexel/Andrea Piacquadio

These payments were indexed twice a year—in March and September—to ensure their value kept pace with inflation and helped recipients manage rising living costs.

The increases were determined by the highest rate of inflation from a selection of measures.

These included the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI), changes in weekly wages, and the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index for the Age Pension.

In September 2024, the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, and Carer Payment increased by $28.10 per fortnight for singles.

This brought the maximum rate to $1,144.40.

Each member of a couple received an additional $21.20, bringing their total payment to $1,725.20.

Commonwealth Rent Assistance rose by 10 per cent, with singles without children receiving an extra $23 per fortnight, couples an additional $21.80, and families with children an extra $27.02.

JobSeeker payments increased by $15.30 for singles without children and $16.30 for those with children, while recipients with a partial capacity to work received a higher increase of $71.20.

Future increases in the Age Pension depended on wage growth and inflation.

The March adjustment was determined after the Australian Bureau of Statistics released its average weekly ordinary time earnings data for November on 20 February.

The 2.5 per cent increase in the Age Pension in September was based on a 3 per cent rise in average male earnings in the year to May.

It was also influenced by a 2 per cent increase in inflation during the March and June quarters.

Unemployment benefits rose by 2 per cent in September due to CPI increases in the March and June quarters.

However, moderating inflation meant that the March adjustment for JobSeeker would be significantly smaller.

With the CPI rising by just 0.2 per cent in both the September and December quarters, JobSeeker payments were set to increase by only 0.4 per cent.

This equated to $3.11, bringing the maximum fortnightly payment to $781.11 unless an alternative benchmark was used.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth previously stated that indexation adjustments were essential in helping Australians manage their expenses.

‘Indexation, together with our budget measures, means maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance will have increased by around 45 per cent since the Albanese Government was elected,’ she said in September.

‘This indexation will deliver timely boosts to people receiving allowance payments and pensions, ensuring that these vulnerable cohorts have more money in their pockets for everyday expenses.’

In a previous story, we explored how small changes could make a big impact on your financial future.

If you’re looking to maximise your benefits and avoid missing out on crucial opportunities, this information is vital.

Be sure to check out the full details on valuable retirement boosts here.

Don’t miss out on the latest Centrelink updates!

• Millions of Aussies affected: How latest Centrelink changes could impact your payments
• 'Get a job': Centrelink beneficiary garners mixed reactions from fellow Aussies
• Customers warned about 'life-changing' Centrelink payments circulating online
• Centrelink offers up to $6,548 assistance for Aussies tiding through hard times

Key Takeaways

• Over five million Australians saw an increase in Centrelink payments from 20 March, including JobSeeker, Age Pension, and Commonwealth Rent Assistance.
• Payments were indexed biannually based on CPI, wage changes, and the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index.
• In September 2024, the Age Pension increased by $28.10 for singles, while JobSeeker rose by up to $71.20 for some recipients.
• Due to moderating inflation, JobSeeker’s March increase was smaller, rising by $3.11 to $781.11

With these changes to Centrelink payments, how do you think the adjustments will impact those relying on support? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

 

[gbaerken]

Some people just like to blame government for everything ,winge about not getting enough so why don`t they geta JOB .

I worked and paid taxes since I was 14, never received the dole and I like so many others are entitled to be looked after. The Government looks after itself. They all should be thrown out and let independents run the show like before the wars. More got done. Career politicians are only in it for the money full stop.

 

[mylittletibbies]

The 20th of march isn't here yet but this story sounds like we have passed it.

How much is pensions actually going up

I read a couple of weeks a g o something like $19.00 was the estimate. We just keep falling further and further behind.
How people who don't own their own home are managing I don't know.
The median rent for a 1 bedroom unit in Perth is currently $550/week, so pensioners have $44/ft plus the very generous rent assistance of less than $200/ft to survive on.
Our government should hang their heads in shame.

 

[BillyB]

Only shows up until 10th of March and then no change. What sort of pension are you on?

Single aged pension with rental assistance . My rental assistance was wrong , that is why my rise. i am 80 years old .

 

[mylittletibbies]

Some people just like to blame government for everything ,winge about not getting enough so why don`t they geta JOB .

How many people are going to hire 70 to 80 year old pensioners. Get real. What a stupid statement.

 

[mylittletibbies]

$1,000 a week is the going rate for private rent....

 

[tumoulin]

Not a boost at all, just a catch up payment to keep up with prices that have already risen up until December making it about four months out of date when the first higher payments are actually delivered in April. While indexation is a good thing, the way it is delivered is deceptive, too late, and below the real price rises on things most pensioners use.

 

[Packo]

NO GOOD THE REASON IS EVERYTHING KEEPS GOING UP FUEL FOOD RENTS BLOODY RATES.??
YOU GIVE PENSIONERS $10.00 THEY WANT $30 BACK WE DON'T WIN, sORRY ITS A JOKE

 

[Mika in the van]

Why hasn’t anyone realised if the Govt dropped some of the excise on fuel then transport of groceries and goods wouldn’t cost as much then prices might not continually rise. The pension increase of what…a pathetic $10 a week won’t even cover the increase in milk, bread, eggs, let alone council rate increases, water rate increases, power increases, fuel. Even our Aust post mailbox has gone up. Which we have to have as they don’t deliver mail outside Town limits in rural SA. $53 a year to get the occasional letter that can’t be emailed.

 

[mylittletibbies]

You are obviously an opposition voter who stuffed the economy in the first place by paying out multimillion $ to people and businesses during Covid that shouldn’t have got it plus robodebt of course just to name a couple of things. I could go on and on but what’s the point with people like you.

When will people just accept. Liberal or Labor, there's no damn difference.
They're all there to line their own pockets and don't give two hoots about the everyday Joe.
What would you have done in the COVID situation??? Any bright ideas.
Look at the mess up we are in now, as I said they're as bad as each other.

 

[Franka]

Inflation after Covid is a worldwide problem, if you think this government created the problem you are delusional. ANY government that was in would have had the same problem.
I saw this coming during Covid, it's common sense, the world closed down, it reopened and there was a pent-up demand for everything, people back at work, money flowing, companies who weren't selling things through Covid saw a chance to recoup their losses so increase their prices.
This is how an economy works, supply and demand, tight supply high prices.
And where do you get $1.55 from?? No mention of that OR the actual amount to be increased in March.

The amount for pensioners of $1.55 is mentioned in the spiel above, as is $3.11 for Job Seeker. It is overshadowed will all the guff about the September 2024 rise we all got which was around $30.00 but still didn't go far enough as our grocery bill had risen $30+ per fortnight. we buy a lot less meat now that what we used too as it is to expensive to buy on a pension.

 

[Daibhin]

The biggest problem with pay increases is it is done by percentages. A person on $500 per week getting a 10% rise gets $50 per week. The person on $1,000 gets $100, the person on $ 5,000 gets $500 per week, which is the first person's pay per week, and on it goes widening the gap of perhaps three people at the same workplace.

Many years ago wage rises were the same over the whole workplace : if the lowest person got $50 a week the top person also got $50 per week then some smartar$e realised the higher paid could get so much more if a percentage system was used.

Same nonsense with housing and payment system: it used to be that once the deal was signed that was the amount you paid until the mortgage was finalised. As you got older and wages rose there was less mortgage pain because the amount at the start was the same until the paid in full was reached, also because it was always the same amount people as they aged could afford to pay off more to own outright their home before the mortgage agreed years were reached. This nonsense of mortgages going up and down according to interest or cash rates is a killer. The sliding rate helps no one but the banks and finance companies.

Then there's the age pension: it used to be half the average mens' wage not CPI which fluctuates but never in the pensioners' favour. When Rudd became PM he gave a set amount not a CPI index amount. Of course the greedy real estate sods pushed the rents up so we were back to a pittance. There should have been a watch dog on real estate businesses to ensure they could not rob renting pensioners. It's happening now last September's rise was totally lost by a rent increase of $36 per fortnight in our block.

If there's a decent age pension increase in March without a hike in rent again, I shall be delighted. But if it is as stated $28.10 of but the rent is increased again by $36 of, we will have once again lost.

 

[Singomate]

I think it's important to point out that this article ISN'T about increases due to come in. It is mostly a recap of the increases we received in March 2024 LAST YEAR. The reason for that is that it implies that we MIGHT get another increase in the budget THIS year as well, but that is yet to be announced, and the amount is anybody's guess. However, it will most certainly be reasonable enough to 'buy' a few votes for the ALP as the Dutton camp certainly won't be making any counter offers. They are far more interested in CUTTING costs than making the cost of living more affordable. Plus the CPI adjustment is usually biennial, so not due until 2026. This would be a 'cost of living' adjustment (if it comes). Cheers.

I suggest that all you people blaming the current Government for all the prices going up, should cast your mind back to when the Previous Government was in power they predicted that this would happen because they had sold off so much of our product ie Gas , also banks steel product, most of which is owned by overseas interests

 

[IAN3005]

NO GOOD THE REASON IS EVERYTHING KEEPS GOING UP FUEL FOOD RENTS BLOODY RATES.??
YOU GIVE PENSIONERS $10.00 THEY WANT $30 BACK WE DON'T WIN, sORRY ITS A JOKE

A big fat JOKE..... They give me the shi**.

 

[mitchellowe]

I GUARANTEE THAT WHATEVER PENSION INCREASES IN MARCH ACCORDING TO THIS GOVT AND IN FACT ALL GOVTS THAT IT WILL BE LOWER THAN THE ACTUAL COST OF LIVING AND AS THE COST OF LIVING HAS GONE UP OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS THEN IT SHOULD BE BACKPAYED ESPECIALLY SINCE THE GOVT LET THE VIRUS INTO THE COUNTRY THEN ALL PENSIONERS SHOULD BF BACK PAYED THE DIFFERENCE THAT THE GOVT S SATS THE CPI WAS AND THE TRUE CPI

 

[mitchellowe]

A big fat JOKE..... They give me the shi**.

I THINK DUTTONS POLICIES ARE A SET UP SO PEOPLE VOTE FOR THE DEVIL U KNOW
WHAT BETTER WAY FOR A GOVT TO STAY IN POWER IF THEY MAKE U THINK THE ALTERNATIVE IS WORSE
ITS A SCAM

 

[arthur dagger]

What can I say. $1.55 per week will significantly help pensioners and the like. Wowee. Let’s drink some champagne. You people are deranged if you think this will ‘greatly boost or provide relief’ ( your stupid words) for these recipients. Your bias is unquestionable and you obviously are barracking for the ones who are in government( ALP) who have ruined the economy by allowing prices to run rampant and ensuring productivity collapses.

You are absolutely right if any one votes for labour Carn't see any further than there nose what they have done to this country

 

[Monty M]

What can I say. $1.55 per week will significantly help pensioners and the like. Wowee. Let’s drink some champagne. You people are deranged if you think this will ‘greatly boost or provide relief’ ( your stupid words) for these recipients. Your bias is unquestionable and you obviously are barracking for the ones who are in government( ALP) who have ruined the economy by allowing prices to run rampant and ensuring productivity collapses.

I listened to an explanation from a financially qualified person recently, as to why productivity impacts prices. It would seem that it is rising wages. This increases the cost of doing business as expenses, of which staffing costs is probably number one, means that the overall productivity drops. I used to think it was simply the expectation that workers produce significantly more that was the issue, in and of itself., but it isn't.

 

[Macarj]

Major payment boost hey I don't think so pension is based on CPI and that's not major

 

[Bambi123]

Because I am on disability pension and care for two I lose a lot of money my rent is double, so with the payment going up I lose more. Out of $362 I really only get about $80. I am not sure it is worth it. I wonder if the government would take my job on.

 

[Jest]

Jobseekers receiving $3.11 that wont even buy a loaf of bread or 2 litres of milk. What a joke.

the idea is get a job. No joke.