Last Thursday, we shared the news of Centrelink’s September 20 indexation. It was confirmed that recipients of the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payments can expect an increase of $32.70 a fortnight for single pensioners and $49.40 for couples ($24.70 each) to go into effect later this month.

The increase comes as part of the twice-yearly indexation and provides an additional $2.34 per day.

Missed the news? You can catch up on the full article here.

But what did SDC members have to say? We’ve compiled a selection of comments below.

Of the increase, member @TessM had this to say: ‘Not really that much for the Age Pension, but better than nothing, I guess.’

What will you spend your $2.34 per day on? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Member @Rob44 said: ‘Wow. Amazing! The utter generosity! Just over $26,000 per year for the single bloke's pension! It might even be $27,000 a year! That was the poverty level for a family back in 1989. What are our politicians getting, just as allowances? Well, the Mayor of Melbourne City gets a pittance of a wee bit more than $250,000pa, and even our long-suffering Melbourne City Councillors get $57,000pa. Thank goodness the LNP Premier of Tasmania has just had a pay rise of $161 000 pa.; otherwise, the poor dear might starve and not be able to afford heating.’

‘The generosity of Australia to its elderly is stunningly amazing!’ they continued.

Member @Glo72 said: ‘I am glad that I will get a rise. Every dollar is a help.’

Member @ChristyMahon said: ‘This is bull****. 3L of milk at local supermarkets in this 2799 region is now $6.50 (price increase since last pension increase: 50%), and diesel is now $2.10 (increase since last pension increase: 10.5%. I could go on to demonstrate the CPI figures used by the government are purposefully fraudulent. The actual CPI increase since March is in the region of 40% for staple commodities. The actual pension increase: 3%.’

Member @PeeBo added: ‘What a bl**** joke this interval payment is. It is a joke that the single and couple payments are so vastly different when both have the exact costs for electricity, rates, mortgage, and transport. The only things that come slightly cheaper for a single are clothes and food.’

‘The cost of living has risen so much that this rise is lost on the first shop of the year, not to mention the increase in rates and electricity. I am a single pensioner and have been monitoring costs. My food bill is about the same every fortnight, with no luxuries, just the bare basics. Just before COVID, the shopping bill averaged $5.70 an item; last week, an almost identical shop was $8.67 per item. And it is still increasing.’

‘I don't have the ability because of health to go and earn extra. If I could, I would. The job I did have was when Centrelink had the robot fiasco, and I had to pay back just $ 8,000 initially. They said it was $24000 until I questioned, but I still got stung for an overpayment, which should have been about maybe $600, an error on my part on declaring.’

‘The government does not care about pensioners and just needs to be seen doing, while they hand out millions of extras on badly organised infrastructure contracts and handing out handouts to overseas countries whose people hardly see the benefit of such charity.’

Member @Janmf said: ‘I’m very grateful for the rise, but the way that everything has risen, it won’t make much difference. My friend and I were saying that this is the first time that we have ever had to really watch what we spend on food. The little chocolate or bikkie no longer exists. She is on JobSeeker and is very lucky to own her own home. I’m still paying a mortgage, but we are both better off than having to rent.’

Member ‘IAN3005’ said: ‘An insult to the intelligence... enough for 1/2 tank of petrol. We need an increase of $628.29 a month as rent has increased by that much. Give me a break.’

As member@granmacub aptly put, the increase ‘barely scratches the surface for 99% of pensioners’.

The reactions to this announcement highlight the complex and varied experiences of those who rely on the age pension to make ends meet.

So how do you feel? What is $2.34 per day going to do for you? We want to hear from you, so have your say in the comments below.

We hope that by amplifying the voices and perspectives of Centrelink pensioners and SDC members, we can foster greater empathy, understanding, and advocacy. The more our voices are heard, the greater the chance of change.

If this situation has brought up unpleasant emotions, please consider contacting one of the many mental health hotlines listed here for support. And remember, you’re never alone.

 

[Caron]

Last Thursday, we shared the news of Centrelink’s September 20 indexation. It was confirmed that recipients of the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payments can expect an increase of $32.70 a fortnight for single pensioners and $49.40 for couples ($24.70 each) to go into effect later this month.

The increase comes as part of the twice-yearly indexation and provides an additional $2.34 per day.

Missed the news? You can catch up on the full article here.

But what did SDC members have to say? We’ve compiled a selection of comments below.

Of the increase, member @TessM had this to say: ‘Not really that much for the Age Pension, but better than nothing, I guess.’

View attachment 29616

What will you spend your $2.34 per day on? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Member @Rob44 said: ‘Wow. Amazing! The utter generosity! Just over $26,000 per year for the single bloke's pension! It might even be $27,000 a year! That was the poverty level for a family back in 1989. What are our politicians getting, just as allowances? Well, the Mayor of Melbourne City gets a pittance of a wee bit more than $250,000pa, and even our long-suffering Melbourne City Councillors get $57,000pa. Thank goodness the LNP Premier of Tasmania has just had a pay rise of $161 000 pa.; otherwise, the poor dear might starve and not be able to afford heating.’

‘The generosity of Australia to its elderly is stunningly amazing!’ they continued.

Member @Glo72 said: ‘I am glad that I will get a rise. Every dollar is a help.’

Member @ChristyMahon said: ‘This is bull****. 3L of milk at local supermarkets in this 2799 region is now $6.50 (price increase since last pension increase: 50%), and diesel is now $2.10 (increase since last pension increase: 10.5%. I could go on to demonstrate the CPI figures used by the government are purposefully fraudulent. The actual CPI increase since March is in the region of 40% for staple commodities. The actual pension increase: 3%.’

Member @PeeBo added: ‘What a bl**** joke this interval payment is. It is a joke that the single and couple payments are so vastly different when both have the exact costs for electricity, rates, mortgage, and transport. The only things that come slightly cheaper for a single are clothes and food.’

‘The cost of living has risen so much that this rise is lost on the first shop of the year, not to mention the increase in rates and electricity. I am a single pensioner and have been monitoring costs. My food bill is about the same every fortnight, with no luxuries, just the bare basics. Just before COVID, the shopping bill averaged $5.70 an item; last week, an almost identical shop was $8.67 per item. And it is still increasing.’

‘I don't have the ability because of health to go and earn extra. If I could, I would. The job I did have was when Centrelink had the robot fiasco, and I had to pay back just $ 8,000 initially. They said it was $24000 until I questioned, but I still got stung for an overpayment, which should have been about maybe $600, an error on my part on declaring.’

‘The government does not care about pensioners and just needs to be seen doing, while they hand out millions of extras on badly organised infrastructure contracts and handing out handouts to overseas countries whose people hardly see the benefit of such charity.’

Member @Janmf said: ‘I’m very grateful for the rise, but the way that everything has risen, it won’t make much difference. My friend and I were saying that this is the first time that we have ever had to really watch what we spend on food. The little chocolate or bikkie no longer exists. She is on JobSeeker and is very lucky to own her own home. I’m still paying a mortgage, but we are both better off than having to rent.’

Member ‘IAN3005’ said: ‘An insult to the intelligence... enough for 1/2 tank of petrol. We need an increase of $628.29 a month as rent has increased by that much. Give me a break.’

As member@granmacub aptly put, the increase ‘barely scratches the surface for 99% of pensioners’.

The reactions to this announcement highlight the complex and varied experiences of those who rely on the age pension to make ends meet.

So how do you feel? What is $2.34 per day going to do for you? We want to hear from you, so have your say in the comments below.

We hope that by amplifying the voices and perspectives of Centrelink pensioners and SDC members, we can foster greater empathy, understanding, and advocacy. The more our voices are heard, the greater the chance of change.

If this situation has brought up unpleasant emotions, please consider contacting one of the many mental health hotlines listed here for support. And remember, you’re never alone.

The pay increase is not for disability or carers as said in this report. It is getting harder to care for my son with limited funds available and no chance of an increase.

 

[Singomate]

Age pensioners should send all their utility bills council rates etc to the government and ask how on earth are we expected to pay this with the lousy paltry pension you pay us. No doubt, pensioners have to dip into their savings to make ends meet, accounts are fast depleting. Therefore, I pay all these greedy utility late, and I mean late - only when the final notice arrives in the mail. Age pensioners have done their bit for the country, we have paid taxes over many years to build the infrastructure the younger ones enjoy today. We should not be treated like this. The government must increase the age pension to allow us to live above the poverty line.

Why don't we all do exactly what you said and all send our bills Imean a copy to them
WHAT SAY ALL OF US ,them being our elected members

 

[Inot54]

Last Thursday, we shared the news of Centrelink’s September 20 indexation. It was confirmed that recipients of the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payments can expect an increase of $32.70 a fortnight for single pensioners and $49.40 for couples ($24.70 each) to go into effect later this month.

The increase comes as part of the twice-yearly indexation and provides an additional $2.34 per day.

Missed the news? You can catch up on the full article here.

But what did SDC members have to say? We’ve compiled a selection of comments below.

Of the increase, member @TessM had this to say: ‘Not really that much for the Age Pension, but better than nothing, I guess.’

View attachment 29616

What will you spend your $2.34 per day on? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Member @Rob44 said: ‘Wow. Amazing! The utter generosity! Just over $26,000 per year for the single bloke's pension! It might even be $27,000 a year! That was the poverty level for a family back in 1989. What are our politicians getting, just as allowances? Well, the Mayor of Melbourne City gets a pittance of a wee bit more than $250,000pa, and even our long-suffering Melbourne City Councillors get $57,000pa. Thank goodness the LNP Premier of Tasmania has just had a pay rise of $161 000 pa.; otherwise, the poor dear might starve and not be able to afford heating.’

‘The generosity of Australia to its elderly is stunningly amazing!’ they continued.

Member @Glo72 said: ‘I am glad that I will get a rise. Every dollar is a help.’

Member @ChristyMahon said: ‘This is bull****. 3L of milk at local supermarkets in this 2799 region is now $6.50 (price increase since last pension increase: 50%), and diesel is now $2.10 (increase since last pension increase: 10.5%. I could go on to demonstrate the CPI figures used by the government are purposefully fraudulent. The actual CPI increase since March is in the region of 40% for staple commodities. The actual pension increase: 3%.’

Member @PeeBo added: ‘What a bl**** joke this interval payment is. It is a joke that the single and couple payments are so vastly different when both have the exact costs for electricity, rates, mortgage, and transport. The only things that come slightly cheaper for a single are clothes and food.’

‘The cost of living has risen so much that this rise is lost on the first shop of the year, not to mention the increase in rates and electricity. I am a single pensioner and have been monitoring costs. My food bill is about the same every fortnight, with no luxuries, just the bare basics. Just before COVID, the shopping bill averaged $5.70 an item; last week, an almost identical shop was $8.67 per item. And it is still increasing.’

‘I don't have the ability because of health to go and earn extra. If I could, I would. The job I did have was when Centrelink had the robot fiasco, and I had to pay back just $ 8,000 initially. They said it was $24000 until I questioned, but I still got stung for an overpayment, which should have been about maybe $600, an error on my part on declaring.’

‘The government does not care about pensioners and just needs to be seen doing, while they hand out millions of extras on badly organised infrastructure contracts and handing out handouts to overseas countries whose people hardly see the benefit of such charity.’

Member @Janmf said: ‘I’m very grateful for the rise, but the way that everything has risen, it won’t make much difference. My friend and I were saying that this is the first time that we have ever had to really watch what we spend on food. The little chocolate or bikkie no longer exists. She is on JobSeeker and is very lucky to own her own home. I’m still paying a mortgage, but we are both better off than having to rent.’

Member ‘IAN3005’ said: ‘An insult to the intelligence... enough for 1/2 tank of petrol. We need an increase of $628.29 a month as rent has increased by that much. Give me a break.’

As member@granmacub aptly put, the increase ‘barely scratches the surface for 99% of pensioners’.

The reactions to this announcement highlight the complex and varied experiences of those who rely on the age pension to make ends meet.

So how do you feel? What is $2.34 per day going to do for you? We want to hear from you, so have your say in the comments below.

We hope that by amplifying the voices and perspectives of Centrelink pensioners and SDC members, we can foster greater empathy, understanding, and advocacy. The more our voices are heard, the greater the chance of change.

If this situation has brought up unpleasant emotions, please consider contacting one of the many mental health hotlines listed here for support. And remember, you’re never alone.

I don’t understand why people insist on comparing payments here to other countries. It really has no bearing on our living expenses, etc. Why don’t they also compare us to countries that receive so much more than us in all aspects of costs. Countries where petrol and food staples are so much cheaper, where aged pensions are better. If you only want to compare us to others who get no pension at all and forget about those that get more than us, then I think your argument is slightly biased. That is apart from the fact that if we’re honest we are all only worried about what effects us in our way of life in our country.

 

[Caron]

The rise is for aged pension people on carers and disability get nothing.

 

[Janice McKay]

Last Thursday, we shared the news of Centrelink’s September 20 indexation. It was confirmed that recipients of the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payments can expect an increase of $32.70 a fortnight for single pensioners and $49.40 for couples ($24.70 each) to go into effect later this month.

The increase comes as part of the twice-yearly indexation and provides an additional $2.34 per day.

Missed the news? You can catch up on the full article here.

But what did SDC members have to say? We’ve compiled a selection of comments below.

Of the increase, member @TessM had this to say: ‘Not really that much for the Age Pension, but better than nothing, I guess.’

View attachment 29616

What will you spend your $2.34 per day on? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Member @Rob44 said: ‘Wow. Amazing! The utter generosity! Just over $26,000 per year for the single bloke's pension! It might even be $27,000 a year! That was the poverty level for a family back in 1989. What are our politicians getting, just as allowances? Well, the Mayor of Melbourne City gets a pittance of a wee bit more than $250,000pa, and even our long-suffering Melbourne City Councillors get $57,000pa. Thank goodness the LNP Premier of Tasmania has just had a pay rise of $161 000 pa.; otherwise, the poor dear might starve and not be able to afford heating.’

‘The generosity of Australia to its elderly is stunningly amazing!’ they continued.

Member @Glo72 said: ‘I am glad that I will get a rise. Every dollar is a help.’

Member @ChristyMahon said: ‘This is bull****. 3L of milk at local supermarkets in this 2799 region is now $6.50 (price increase since last pension increase: 50%), and diesel is now $2.10 (increase since last pension increase: 10.5%. I could go on to demonstrate the CPI figures used by the government are purposefully fraudulent. The actual CPI increase since March is in the region of 40% for staple commodities. The actual pension increase: 3%.’

Member @PeeBo added: ‘What a bl**** joke this interval payment is. It is a joke that the single and couple payments are so vastly different when both have the exact costs for electricity, rates, mortgage, and transport. The only things that come slightly cheaper for a single are clothes and food.’

‘The cost of living has risen so much that this rise is lost on the first shop of the year, not to mention the increase in rates and electricity. I am a single pensioner and have been monitoring costs. My food bill is about the same every fortnight, with no luxuries, just the bare basics. Just before COVID, the shopping bill averaged $5.70 an item; last week, an almost identical shop was $8.67 per item. And it is still increasing.’

‘I don't have the ability because of health to go and earn extra. If I could, I would. The job I did have was when Centrelink had the robot fiasco, and I had to pay back just $ 8,000 initially. They said it was $24000 until I questioned, but I still got stung for an overpayment, which should have been about maybe $600, an error on my part on declaring.’

‘The government does not care about pensioners and just needs to be seen doing, while they hand out millions of extras on badly organised infrastructure contracts and handing out handouts to overseas countries whose people hardly see the benefit of such charity.’

Member @Janmf said: ‘I’m very grateful for the rise, but the way that everything has risen, it won’t make much difference. My friend and I were saying that this is the first time that we have ever had to really watch what we spend on food. The little chocolate or bikkie no longer exists. She is on JobSeeker and is very lucky to own her own home. I’m still paying a mortgage, but we are both better off than having to rent.’

Member ‘IAN3005’ said: ‘An insult to the intelligence... enough for 1/2 tank of petrol. We need an increase of $628.29 a month as rent has increased by that much. Give me a break.’

As member@granmacub aptly put, the increase ‘barely scratches the surface for 99% of pensioners’.

The reactions to this announcement highlight the complex and varied experiences of those who rely on the age pension to make ends meet.

So how do you feel? What is $2.34 per day going to do for you? We want to hear from you, so have your say in the comments below.

We hope that by amplifying the voices and perspectives of Centrelink pensioners and SDC members, we can foster greater empathy, understanding, and advocacy. The more our voices are heard, the greater the chance of change.

If this situation has brought up unpleasant emotions, please consider contacting one of the many mental health hotlines listed here for support. And remember, you’re never alone.

I can understand the increase in our pensions as being well under the cost of living, but why then do our Politicians receive such big increases in their pay packets if it is so dire to at least give us a pension we can survive on. After all, it's our taxes that pay for you lot. So share to wealth

 

[Isis]

Last Thursday, we shared the news of Centrelink’s September 20 indexation. It was confirmed that recipients of the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payments can expect an increase of $32.70 a fortnight for single pensioners and $49.40 for couples ($24.70 each) to go into effect later this month.

The increase comes as part of the twice-yearly indexation and provides an additional $2.34 per day.

Missed the news? You can catch up on the full article here.

But what did SDC members have to say? We’ve compiled a selection of comments below.

Of the increase, member @TessM had this to say: ‘Not really that much for the Age Pension, but better than nothing, I guess.’

View attachment 29616

What will you spend your $2.34 per day on? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Member @Rob44 said: ‘Wow. Amazing! The utter generosity! Just over $26,000 per year for the single bloke's pension! It might even be $27,000 a year! That was the poverty level for a family back in 1989. What are our politicians getting, just as allowances? Well, the Mayor of Melbourne City gets a pittance of a wee bit more than $250,000pa, and even our long-suffering Melbourne City Councillors get $57,000pa. Thank goodness the LNP Premier of Tasmania has just had a pay rise of $161 000 pa.; otherwise, the poor dear might starve and not be able to afford heating.’

‘The generosity of Australia to its elderly is stunningly amazing!’ they continued.

Member @Glo72 said: ‘I am glad that I will get a rise. Every dollar is a help.’

Member @ChristyMahon said: ‘This is bull****. 3L of milk at local supermarkets in this 2799 region is now $6.50 (price increase since last pension increase: 50%), and diesel is now $2.10 (increase since last pension increase: 10.5%. I could go on to demonstrate the CPI figures used by the government are purposefully fraudulent. The actual CPI increase since March is in the region of 40% for staple commodities. The actual pension increase: 3%.’

Member @PeeBo added: ‘What a bl**** joke this interval payment is. It is a joke that the single and couple payments are so vastly different when both have the exact costs for electricity, rates, mortgage, and transport. The only things that come slightly cheaper for a single are clothes and food.’

‘The cost of living has risen so much that this rise is lost on the first shop of the year, not to mention the increase in rates and electricity. I am a single pensioner and have been monitoring costs. My food bill is about the same every fortnight, with no luxuries, just the bare basics. Just before COVID, the shopping bill averaged $5.70 an item; last week, an almost identical shop was $8.67 per item. And it is still increasing.’

‘I don't have the ability because of health to go and earn extra. If I could, I would. The job I did have was when Centrelink had the robot fiasco, and I had to pay back just $ 8,000 initially. They said it was $24000 until I questioned, but I still got stung for an overpayment, which should have been about maybe $600, an error on my part on declaring.’

‘The government does not care about pensioners and just needs to be seen doing, while they hand out millions of extras on badly organised infrastructure contracts and handing out handouts to overseas countries whose people hardly see the benefit of such charity.’

Member @Janmf said: ‘I’m very grateful for the rise, but the way that everything has risen, it won’t make much difference. My friend and I were saying that this is the first time that we have ever had to really watch what we spend on food. The little chocolate or bikkie no longer exists. She is on JobSeeker and is very lucky to own her own home. I’m still paying a mortgage, but we are both better off than having to rent.’

Member ‘IAN3005’ said: ‘An insult to the intelligence... enough for 1/2 tank of petrol. We need an increase of $628.29 a month as rent has increased by that much. Give me a break.’

As member@granmacub aptly put, the increase ‘barely scratches the surface for 99% of pensioners’.

The reactions to this announcement highlight the complex and varied experiences of those who rely on the age pension to make ends meet.

So how do you feel? What is $2.34 per day going to do for you? We want to hear from you, so have your say in the comments below.

We hope that by amplifying the voices and perspectives of Centrelink pensioners and SDC members, we can foster greater empathy, understanding, and advocacy. The more our voices are heard, the greater the chance of change.

If this situation has brought up unpleasant emotions, please consider contacting one of the many mental health hotlines listed here for support. And remember, you’re never alone.

Of course not enough, however it is something and I have to be grateful for the breadcrumbs

 

[Rob44]

It's an insult we work all our lives and this is how we're treated....My rent just went up $75 a week and I have to pay it no choice as there is no where to go so this raise means zilch to me and probably many others.... We need either larger rent assistance or a decent pension rise it's so hard I have nothing left after $320 a week rent and bills absolutely nothing till my next Pay.

Please, where is your sense of gratitude? A rise of $2.34c per day is almost the cost of half a cup of coffee at the coffee shop! Australia is SO SO generous to its elderly! Please forgive my irony.

 

[Observer]

It will never be enough LOL

 

[Littleboy8]

The Aged Pension increase is an absolute joke and the Goverrnment should be totally ashamed. I have just received my council rates notice for 2023/4 and they have increased by $200 a quarter as a widowed pensioner I really don't' know how I'm going to be able to pay this increase and I'm terrified thinking of my electricity bill that is due. Living below the poverty line? Most definitely. Bills have to be paid first and IF there's anything left I can eat. Christmas presents for the family? Not this year!

I’m sure your family will understandmaybe they can help you out with food etc my family do.

 

[Nana Zorak]

I won’t see a cent of that as they’ll put my Rent up by that so it’s no joy for me.

We are having to move in the next month & so far the only suitable candidate is $550.00 a week up from the $500.00 we are now paying.

 

[Gsr]

As the saying goes, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, well the people on Centrelink payments are so poor they can’t live any sort of life beyond struggling and worrying how to pay their bills. A lot can’t afford to eat, there is not much to look forward to in life when you are so financially insecure. Meanwhile the increase in the cost to the government for skyrocketing mental, physical, ill health of all descriptions could be somewhat lessened if they paid people enough to live comfortably on. I’m sure one would help balance out the other. I had a frantic call from my sister on jobseeker yesterday, she has run out of money 4 days after her payment, she had to see an orthopaedic specialist about her knee, which cost her $180 out of pocket, so she could get a free MRI on her knee. The alternative was to pay over $300 for the MRI as unless a specialist orders them you get no Medicare benefits. She had to travel almost 120 Klm each way to the specialist, which cost her a lot in fuel. On top of that it costs her over $20 a day for fuel to run a generator to power the shed she lives in and that doesn’t run it all day, she has no power from about midnight to 7am. She is still supporting her 18 year old son, has been trying to get him on youth allowance since February when her single mother benefit was ended, every time they supply everything Centrelink want another obstacle is thrown up at them, now they want to talk to her son again, in person, so another trip of 80 klm each way to nearest office. They have contacted their local council member, state member and federal member, so far none of them have been any help at all. The payment she gets at present is just over $700 a fortnight, her rent for shed to live in rather than be homeless, is $200 per fortnight, which she hasn’t paid for about two months at this stage. I have serious concerns for her mental and physical health, she has reached the stage where the only reason she hasn’t committed suicide is her son, hopefully he will be enough to stop her from taking her own life. We help her financially every fortnight but this is now starting to impact our finances as we are part pensioners and I still work part time just to keep our heads above water. We are lucky to own our home otherwise we could not even afford to help her. Then last night hank jongen, head of Centrelink gets on tv and apologises for blown out waiting times for benefits, staff shortages he said, can’t recruit enough new staff due to competition from other sectors. My answer to that, don’t be so picky, there are a lot of people looking for work who would be easily trained to tick a few boxes and approve payments, simplify the application process, you don’t need to know to the last cent how much people have, they wouldn’t be applying for benefits if they weren’t so desperate, bring back the humanity and start paying people before they reach the point of no return and think the only way out of their predicament is suicide. It would be an interesting study to find out how many people were driven to suicide from their dealings with Centrelink.

 

[petal]

Last Thursday, we shared the news of Centrelink’s September 20 indexation. It was confirmed that recipients of the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payments can expect an increase of $32.70 a fortnight for single pensioners and $49.40 for couples ($24.70 each) to go into effect later this month.

The increase comes as part of the twice-yearly indexation and provides an additional $2.34 per day.

Missed the news? You can catch up on the full article here.

But what did SDC members have to say? We’ve compiled a selection of comments below.

Of the increase, member @TessM had this to say: ‘Not really that much for the Age Pension, but better than nothing, I guess.’

View attachment 29616

What will you spend your $2.34 per day on? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Member @Rob44 said: ‘Wow. Amazing! The utter generosity! Just over $26,000 per year for the single bloke's pension! It might even be $27,000 a year! That was the poverty level for a family back in 1989. What are our politicians getting, just as allowances? Well, the Mayor of Melbourne City gets a pittance of a wee bit more than $250,000pa, and even our long-suffering Melbourne City Councillors get $57,000pa. Thank goodness the LNP Premier of Tasmania has just had a pay rise of $161 000 pa.; otherwise, the poor dear might starve and not be able to afford heating.’

‘The generosity of Australia to its elderly is stunningly amazing!’ they continued.

Member @Glo72 said: ‘I am glad that I will get a rise. Every dollar is a help.’

Member @ChristyMahon said: ‘This is bull****. 3L of milk at local supermarkets in this 2799 region is now $6.50 (price increase since last pension increase: 50%), and diesel is now $2.10 (increase since last pension increase: 10.5%. I could go on to demonstrate the CPI figures used by the government are purposefully fraudulent. The actual CPI increase since March is in the region of 40% for staple commodities. The actual pension increase: 3%.’

Member @PeeBo added: ‘What a bl**** joke this interval payment is. It is a joke that the single and couple payments are so vastly different when both have the exact costs for electricity, rates, mortgage, and transport. The only things that come slightly cheaper for a single are clothes and food.’

‘The cost of living has risen so much that this rise is lost on the first shop of the year, not to mention the increase in rates and electricity. I am a single pensioner and have been monitoring costs. My food bill is about the same every fortnight, with no luxuries, just the bare basics. Just before COVID, the shopping bill averaged $5.70 an item; last week, an almost identical shop was $8.67 per item. And it is still increasing.’

‘I don't have the ability because of health to go and earn extra. If I could, I would. The job I did have was when Centrelink had the robot fiasco, and I had to pay back just $ 8,000 initially. They said it was $24000 until I questioned, but I still got stung for an overpayment, which should have been about maybe $600, an error on my part on declaring.’

‘The government does not care about pensioners and just needs to be seen doing, while they hand out millions of extras on badly organised infrastructure contracts and handing out handouts to overseas countries whose people hardly see the benefit of such charity.’

Member @Janmf said: ‘I’m very grateful for the rise, but the way that everything has risen, it won’t make much difference. My friend and I were saying that this is the first time that we have ever had to really watch what we spend on food. The little chocolate or bikkie no longer exists. She is on JobSeeker and is very lucky to own her own home. I’m still paying a mortgage, but we are both better off than having to rent.’

Member ‘IAN3005’ said: ‘An insult to the intelligence... enough for 1/2 tank of petrol. We need an increase of $628.29 a month as rent has increased by that much. Give me a break.’

As member@granmacub aptly put, the increase ‘barely scratches the surface for 99% of pensioners’.

The reactions to this announcement highlight the complex and varied experiences of those who rely on the age pension to make ends meet.

So how do you feel? What is $2.34 per day going to do for you? We want to hear from you, so have your say in the comments below.

We hope that by amplifying the voices and perspectives of Centrelink pensioners and SDC members, we can foster greater empathy, understanding, and advocacy. The more our voices are heard, the greater the chance of change.

If this situation has brought up unpleasant emotions, please consider contacting one of the many mental health hotlines listed here for support. And remember, you’re never alone.

In NZ everybody gets a pension. Even people with a very healthy bank account and here in Australia you have to fight to get a pension.

 

[Knell]

Thank goodness Superannuation was introduced in 1991. Surely this helps fill a gap?

 

[Bigboy1957]

Last Thursday, we shared the news of Centrelink’s September 20 indexation. It was confirmed that recipients of the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payments can expect an increase of $32.70 a fortnight for single pensioners and $49.40 for couples ($24.70 each) to go into effect later this month.

The increase comes as part of the twice-yearly indexation and provides an additional $2.34 per day.

Missed the news? You can catch up on the full article here.

But what did SDC members have to say? We’ve compiled a selection of comments below.

Of the increase, member @TessM had this to say: ‘Not really that much for the Age Pension, but better than nothing, I guess.’

View attachment 29616

What will you spend your $2.34 per day on? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Member @Rob44 said: ‘Wow. Amazing! The utter generosity! Just over $26,000 per year for the single bloke's pension! It might even be $27,000 a year! That was the poverty level for a family back in 1989. What are our politicians getting, just as allowances? Well, the Mayor of Melbourne City gets a pittance of a wee bit more than $250,000pa, and even our long-suffering Melbourne City Councillors get $57,000pa. Thank goodness the LNP Premier of Tasmania has just had a pay rise of $161 000 pa.; otherwise, the poor dear might starve and not be able to afford heating.’

‘The generosity of Australia to its elderly is stunningly amazing!’ they continued.

Member @Glo72 said: ‘I am glad that I will get a rise. Every dollar is a help.’

Member @ChristyMahon said: ‘This is bull****. 3L of milk at local supermarkets in this 2799 region is now $6.50 (price increase since last pension increase: 50%), and diesel is now $2.10 (increase since last pension increase: 10.5%. I could go on to demonstrate the CPI figures used by the government are purposefully fraudulent. The actual CPI increase since March is in the region of 40% for staple commodities. The actual pension increase: 3%.’

Member @PeeBo added: ‘What a bl**** joke this interval payment is. It is a joke that the single and couple payments are so vastly different when both have the exact costs for electricity, rates, mortgage, and transport. The only things that come slightly cheaper for a single are clothes and food.’

‘The cost of living has risen so much that this rise is lost on the first shop of the year, not to mention the increase in rates and electricity. I am a single pensioner and have been monitoring costs. My food bill is about the same every fortnight, with no luxuries, just the bare basics. Just before COVID, the shopping bill averaged $5.70 an item; last week, an almost identical shop was $8.67 per item. And it is still increasing.’

‘I don't have the ability because of health to go and earn extra. If I could, I would. The job I did have was when Centrelink had the robot fiasco, and I had to pay back just $ 8,000 initially. They said it was $24000 until I questioned, but I still got stung for an overpayment, which should have been about maybe $600, an error on my part on declaring.’

‘The government does not care about pensioners and just needs to be seen doing, while they hand out millions of extras on badly organised infrastructure contracts and handing out handouts to overseas countries whose people hardly see the benefit of such charity.’

Member @Janmf said: ‘I’m very grateful for the rise, but the way that everything has risen, it won’t make much difference. My friend and I were saying that this is the first time that we have ever had to really watch what we spend on food. The little chocolate or bikkie no longer exists. She is on JobSeeker and is very lucky to own her own home. I’m still paying a mortgage, but we are both better off than having to rent.’

Member ‘IAN3005’ said: ‘An insult to the intelligence... enough for 1/2 tank of petrol. We need an increase of $628.29 a month as rent has increased by that much. Give me a break.’

As member@granmacub aptly put, the increase ‘barely scratches the surface for 99% of pensioners’.

The reactions to this announcement highlight the complex and varied experiences of those who rely on the age pension to make ends meet.

So how do you feel? What is $2.34 per day going to do for you? We want to hear from you, so have your say in the comments below.

We hope that by amplifying the voices and perspectives of Centrelink pensioners and SDC members, we can foster greater empathy, understanding, and advocacy. The more our voices are heard, the greater the chance of change.

If this situation has brought up unpleasant emotions, please consider contacting one of the many mental health hotlines listed here for support. And remember, you’re never alone.

Even tho every rise is welcomed this current rise doesn't really help much I live in government housing and every rise we get they take their cut and with thee price of shopping petrol electricity gas phone all rising their prices this although $32.70 sounds gd it barely helps at all

 

[Knell]

In NZ everybody gets a pension. Even people with a very healthy bank account and here in Australia you have to fight to get a pension.

Population NZ 5,223,100. Population Australia 26,439,111. Apples to Oranges

 

[Jest]

Last Thursday, we shared the news of Centrelink’s September 20 indexation. It was confirmed that recipients of the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payments can expect an increase of $32.70 a fortnight for single pensioners and $49.40 for couples ($24.70 each) to go into effect later this month.

The increase comes as part of the twice-yearly indexation and provides an additional $2.34 per day.

Missed the news? You can catch up on the full article here.

But what did SDC members have to say? We’ve compiled a selection of comments below.

Of the increase, member @TessM had this to say: ‘Not really that much for the Age Pension, but better than nothing, I guess.’

View attachment 29616

What will you spend your $2.34 per day on? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Member @Rob44 said: ‘Wow. Amazing! The utter generosity! Just over $26,000 per year for the single bloke's pension! It might even be $27,000 a year! That was the poverty level for a family back in 1989. What are our politicians getting, just as allowances? Well, the Mayor of Melbourne City gets a pittance of a wee bit more than $250,000pa, and even our long-suffering Melbourne City Councillors get $57,000pa. Thank goodness the LNP Premier of Tasmania has just had a pay rise of $161 000 pa.; otherwise, the poor dear might starve and not be able to afford heating.’

‘The generosity of Australia to its elderly is stunningly amazing!’ they continued.

Member @Glo72 said: ‘I am glad that I will get a rise. Every dollar is a help.’

Member @ChristyMahon said: ‘This is bull****. 3L of milk at local supermarkets in this 2799 region is now $6.50 (price increase since last pension increase: 50%), and diesel is now $2.10 (increase since last pension increase: 10.5%. I could go on to demonstrate the CPI figures used by the government are purposefully fraudulent. The actual CPI increase since March is in the region of 40% for staple commodities. The actual pension increase: 3%.’

Member @PeeBo added: ‘What a bl**** joke this interval payment is. It is a joke that the single and couple payments are so vastly different when both have the exact costs for electricity, rates, mortgage, and transport. The only things that come slightly cheaper for a single are clothes and food.’

‘The cost of living has risen so much that this rise is lost on the first shop of the year, not to mention the increase in rates and electricity. I am a single pensioner and have been monitoring costs. My food bill is about the same every fortnight, with no luxuries, just the bare basics. Just before COVID, the shopping bill averaged $5.70 an item; last week, an almost identical shop was $8.67 per item. And it is still increasing.’

‘I don't have the ability because of health to go and earn extra. If I could, I would. The job I did have was when Centrelink had the robot fiasco, and I had to pay back just $ 8,000 initially. They said it was $24000 until I questioned, but I still got stung for an overpayment, which should have been about maybe $600, an error on my part on declaring.’

‘The government does not care about pensioners and just needs to be seen doing, while they hand out millions of extras on badly organised infrastructure contracts and handing out handouts to overseas countries whose people hardly see the benefit of such charity.’

Member @Janmf said: ‘I’m very grateful for the rise, but the way that everything has risen, it won’t make much difference. My friend and I were saying that this is the first time that we have ever had to really watch what we spend on food. The little chocolate or bikkie no longer exists. She is on JobSeeker and is very lucky to own her own home. I’m still paying a mortgage, but we are both better off than having to rent.’

Member ‘IAN3005’ said: ‘An insult to the intelligence... enough for 1/2 tank of petrol. We need an increase of $628.29 a month as rent has increased by that much. Give me a break.’

As member@granmacub aptly put, the increase ‘barely scratches the surface for 99% of pensioners’.

The reactions to this announcement highlight the complex and varied experiences of those who rely on the age pension to make ends meet.

So how do you feel? What is $2.34 per day going to do for you? We want to hear from you, so have your say in the comments below.

We hope that by amplifying the voices and perspectives of Centrelink pensioners and SDC members, we can foster greater empathy, understanding, and advocacy. The more our voices are heard, the greater the chance of change.

If this situation has brought up unpleasant emotions, please consider contacting one of the many mental health hotlines listed here for support. And remember, you’re never alone.

it is the renters responsibility to pay the rent not the bloody government. too many ungrateful people for small mercies.

 

[Jest]

Population NZ 5,223,100. Population Australia 26,439,111. Apples to Oranges

are you sure about this? My daughter is back home and she tells us it is very expensive back in NZ. I will find out next month as i am going home for another visit. I will let you know.

 

[Jest]

My wife and I have just had an increase in rent from 410 dollars per week to 520 dollars per week, and with the increase in food costs this pension increase won't go far. I suppose you have to be thankful for small Mercy's

you have one greedy owner.

 

[Jest]

Amazing how some people continually whinge about the pension they receive....a lot of counties pay nothing to their elderly, they have to work till they die!
We should be very thankful to receive any money. It's just a matter of budgeting and not wasting money on stuff that we don't need.
How many people still seem to find the money to gamble and buy alcohol etc. Lots of things we can do without as we age.

agree. have a look at pokie machines and work out the age of those playing. OLD

 

[Knell]

are you sure about this? My daughter is back home and she tells us it is very expensive back in NZ. I will find out next month as i am going home for another visit. I will let you know.

Sure about what? I just googled population nz/aus. I didn't comment on cost of living in NZ as I have no idea