As the cost of living continues to soar, millions of Australians who rely on Centrelink payments are facing an uphill battle to make ends meet.

A recent announcement may see a boost in payments, yet many recipients think that this is not enough to get by.

Starting Friday, 20 September, regular indexation will see a payment increase for over five million Aussies, including those receiving JobSeeker and the Age Pension payouts.

Single Age Pension recipients should receive an additional $28.10 for single recipients or $42.40 for couples per fortnight.

This increase could bring total payments up to $1,047.10 for singles and $1,725.20 in total for couples.

Parenting Payment Single base will go up by $19.80 per fortnight, while the Parenting Payment Couple will increase by $14.

According to the government, this increase could provide 'timely cost-of-living relief'.

The increase in payments aimed to alleviate cost-of-living concerns among Australians. Image Credit: Shutterstock/Nils Versemann

However, the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and numerous recipients say otherwise.

'Although the increase per fortnight is certainly appreciated, it is still nowhere near enough to live off in these tough times,' one JobSeeker recipient said.

With rental prices skyrocketing and the general cost of living on the rise, the extra money is seen as a drop in the ocean.

'The Government still doesn't realise how far this money goes when you have rent to pay,' they added.

Another JobSeeker recipient shared her struggle to cover rent, utility bills, and the rising cost of groceries and fuel.

She stated that she could go 'broke' on the same day she received her payment.

According to PropTrack data, the nationwide rent average stayed steady at $600 per week, marking a 9.1 per cent annual increase.

'ACOSS welcomes investment in social security, but the core issue remains: JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, and related payments remain below all measures of adequacy,' ACOSS stated.

The welfare body also called for a raise in pension payments to at least $80 a day to effectively 'cover the basics'.

The organisation also pointed out that less than half of JobSeeker recipients get Rent Assistance.

Despite the upcoming ten per cent increase in Commonwealth Rental Assistance, most will still be in housing stress due to low JobSeeker and Youth Allowance payments.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth stated that the government has been 'firmly committed' to assisting Australians facing cost-of-living challenges.

'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,' Minister Rishworth said.

'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.'

Yet, the question remains whether these measures are sufficient to support the vulnerable populations who are struggling to afford necessities.

The increases may be a step in the right direction, but the conversation around social security and the cost of living needs to continue.

Key Takeaways

• Over five million Australians should see an increase in their Centrelink payments from starting 20 September, despite being criticised as insufficient.
• JobSeeker and the Age Pension recipients could receive modest increases for their payments, which do not cover necessities.
• ACOSS declared that the social support payment rates are not enough and called to raise them to at least $80 per day.
• Alongside the payment increases, the maximum rate of Commonwealth Rental Assistance will rise by ten per cent, albeit fewer people only get Rent Assistance.

What do you think of the upcoming payment increase? Are they enough to help you manage your expenses? Share your opinions with us in the comments section below.

 

[SirExton]

$28.10 a fortnight equals $730.60 for singles
where do you get$1047 for singles
low income earners just received $74/40 a week payrise due to inflation
THATS$148.80 A FORTNIGHT INCREASE
THATSA BIG DIFFERENCE THAN $28.10
also if it is a working couple thats $289.60 compared to a married couple on a pensionof $42.40
HOW THE HELL IS THAT FAIR

Hi Mitchellowe
Are you living in a state housing situation? The center link payments are deducted by the fortnightly rent before the payment is deposited into your nominated bank account! Check the figures now?
Take care and stay safe.
Regards
Phil

 

[LOUIS A]

It helps a little,very little, wont even cover the increase in my car rego, so the government get that and a little more back.

 

[BeautifulMousey]

Is that this year or next. Not enough either way. They've been threatening an increase for a while now.

 

[BeautifulMousey]

They get a modest increase o a few thousand a year yet not enough for them to be able to pay for their Lobster dinners

 

[BeautifulMousey]

Anything is a help. Although I think, from past experiences that if a Liberal Government gets into power again in Queensland the first thing they will do is raise public housing rent. We have been lucky for a bit with the Labor government. But all governments are out to take what they can unfortunately. They give with one hand and take with the other.

Don't you mean give with one finger and take out with two hands x2

 

[David567]

I propose that we all vote that all politicians start on a BASIC WAGE. When they do something to benefit Australians and Australia they get a small pay rise. When they break a promise or make destructive decisions they get a drop in pay. Australian pay their wages so we should have a say in what they get paid. Once a prime minister is outed they stop getting paid just like anyone else. The likes of Tony Abbott, Julia Gillard etc, are all still being paid, despite the fact that none of them have even earned their pay when they Prime Ministers. Enough is enough. If they can't get a job they get Job seekers allowance like anyone else.

 

[mylittletibbies]

I propose that we all vote that all politicians start on a BASIC WAGE. When they do something to benefit Australians and Australia they get a small pay rise. When they break a promise or make destructive decisions they get a drop in pay. Australian pay their wages so we should have a say in what they get paid. Once a prime minister is outed they stop getting paid just like anyone else. The likes of Tony Abbott, Julia Gillard etc, are all still being paid, despite the fact that none of them have even earned their pay when they Prime Ministers. Enough is enough. If they can't get a job they get Job seekers allowance like anyone else.

Wouldn't that be wonderful.

 

[kevin2852]

Uunfortunately, I am a single Pensioner of 73 years with no superannuation, I live alone and I get our loving Goverment's maximum rental assistance of $129 per fortnight.
My current rent is ONLY $980 per fortnight which is a huge percentage of my pension. I cannot see an additional $12.90 per fortnight Making any real difference to a situation which on average is increasing my total expenses by more than $15 per week, each and every passing week.

 

[Daibhin]

some people should be lucky they get public housing, it is a percentage of your pension. A pension won't be available in 15 years.

When you get public housing the rent allowance is stopped, so the lower rent is not that great when considering what is lost in the allowance.

 

[Daibhin]

Wouldn't that be wonderful.

True. It would certainly stop the kind of person who only joins politics for the money plus perks, not forgetting lunch time booze ups

 

[perritykity]

Is it only the Aged Pension? What about the Disability pension?

 

[mylittletibbies]

Is it only the Aged Pension? What about the Disability pension?

Also DSP.

 

[perritykity]

Also DSP.

Thank you

 

[Gsr]

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer, doesn’t matter which party is in power, they are all about ripping off the public purse as much as they can. Sneak through their $20,000 plus pay rise each year, after all they can’t live on the huge wage they already get, especially with all the other benefits they get that they really don’t need Or deserve. Poor diddams, it should be mandatory for every politician to live on jobseeker for at least a few months, paying for all their food, travel, rent etc, and see what they think about living well below the poverty line. Might encourage them to lift their snouts out of the public money trough and realise that people are starving, living on the streets, living without power and other necessities of life if they are lucky enough to have a rental, getting very sick and maybe passing away as they can’t afford their meds that keep them alive. I’m sure every politician could live on half of what they pay themselves if they were genuine about helping the poor, and the money saved should be used to fund better payments for pensioners, jobseekers etc. another topic of interest, if people on parenting payments need us taxpayers to pay super for them shouldn’t people on jobseeker also be paid super, they are much worse off than working parents and how are they ever going to have enough super to eventually retire. In fact anyone on benefits of any kind should be just as entitled to get super paid for them, pensioners included.

 

[kimmartin]

The government doesn't care they earn a small fortune for screwing up the country not to mention the stupid pay increases that they get along with all the other lurks & perks!

 

[BeautifulMousey]

Hi Mitchellowe
Are you living in a state housing situation? The center link payments are deducted by the fortnightly rent before the payment is deposited into your nominated bank account! Check the figures now?
Take care and stay safe.
Regards
Phil

What a load of hogwash.

 

[BeautifulMousey]

It helps a little,very little, wont even cover the increase in my car rego, so the government get that and a little more back.

Now you get the picture

 

[BeautifulMousey]

Uunfortunately, I am a single Pensioner of 73 years with no superannuation, I live alone and I get our loving Goverment's maximum rental assistance of $129 per fortnight.
My current rent is ONLY $980 per fortnight which is a huge percentage of my pension. I cannot see an additional $12.90 per fortnight Making any real difference to a situation which on average is increasing my total expenses by more than $15 per week, each and every passing week.

Uunfortunately, I am a single Pensioner of 73 years with no superannuation, I live alone and I get our loving Goverment's maximum rental assistance of $129 per fortnight.
My current rent is ONLY $980 per fortnight which is a huge percentage of my pension. I cannot see an additional $12.90 per fortnight Making any real difference to a situation which on average is increasing my total expenses by more than $15 per week, each and every passing week.

What do you expect. I'm in the same boat as you but I'm 76 and can't swim so don't rock the boat. I don't have super either, never know though, we might be able to afford a lobster claw though for once in a year. Just don't expect it to often.

 

[BeautifulMousey]

I propose that we all vote that all politicians start on a BASIC WAGE. When they do something to benefit Australians and Australia they get a small pay rise. When they break a promise or make destructive decisions they get a drop in pay. Australian pay their wages so we should have a say in what they get paid. Once a prime minister is outed they stop getting paid just like anyone else. The likes of Tony Abbott, Julia Gillard etc, are all still being paid, despite the fact that none of them have even earned their pay when they Prime Ministers. Enough is enough. If they can't get a job they get Job seekers allowance like anyone else.

For a minute I thought you were going to say they would drop their pants. How stupid

 

[SirExton]

What a load of hogwash.

Please explain???