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.

 

[Liz]

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.

 

[Franko]

When will you stop deceiving your readership. This is INDEXATION, not an inrease. In fact, their hasn't been a reall increase in age pensions in living memory. Indexation is catch up; we've already paid the increased costs and prices so all this does is bring us back up to the poverty line. Pensioners need a REAL increase to bring us up to, at least, the minimum wage.

 

[Gwrndoline Nye]

A rise of $28 for a single pensioner is a joke ,

 

[Bill Schulz]

The increase in the pension for either a single pensioner or a couple is only a catch up rate and not an increase to get you over the next 6 months. By the time the next increase is due in March 2025 the pension will be well down below the cost of living again. It is just like a dog chasing its tail. We need an increase of at least $80 for singles and $110 for couples per fortnight to do any good.

 

[Mickie Stoner]

What about Disability Support Pension?

 

[Tiger4u]

What the Government give the pension is a f........ joke

 

[Drew62]

yeah you get the rise and then it is gone in rent increases what a joke seriously

 

[Skilly69]

They promise you everything and give you nothing. It is disgraceful in this day and age that us pensioners get f***all Money. They should be ashamed of themselves. So much for looking after the Aussies first

 

[mitchellowe]

$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

 

[Johno54]

Plenty money for overseas relief etc. Charity begins at home.

 

[Bill Schulz]

What about Disability Support Pension?

Disability Support Pension or Carer Allowance only goes up once a year in or around Feb. The increase is only a few dollars per year. No were near the true cost of being a carer. I've be getting the carers allowance now for my wife for over 18 yrs and in all that time it has only gone up by about $50 to $60 . This is one allowance that the Government has forgotten about. Some people getting this allowance are not even on any pension and they have to use their own money to cover the cost. This allowance has to increase by at least a $100 per fortnight to make any difference. Right now it is at $153.50 per fortnight.

 

[mylittletibbies]

What about Disability Support Pension?

That goes up by the same lousy amount.

 

[mylittletibbies]

Disability Support Pension or Carer Allowance only goes up once a year in or around Feb. The increase is only a few dollars per year. No were near the true cost of being a carer. I've be getting the carers allowance now for my wife for over 18 yrs and in all that time it has only gone up by about $50 to $60 . This is one allowance that the Government has forgotten about. Some people getting this allowance are not even on any pension and they have to use their own money to cover the cost. This allowance has to increase by at least a $100 per fortnight to make any difference. Right now it is at $153.50 per fortnight.

The carer allowance only goes up once a year,.but the Disability Support Pension rises twice yearly, at the same time as the age pension.
My daughter has been on DSP for most of her life. It always rises twice a year.
I agree with you about the carer allowance, it is a pittance and an insult to carers when you think just how much money they save the government than if these people were placed into care instead of being looked after at home.

 

[AndreaSteed]

I‘m not affected by this as I don’t receive Centrelink payments but I read the article anyway, and what a joke! How the Government can say that this is a 'timely cost-of-living relief' for Centrelink recipients is unbelievable. Albo should have been doing so much more to help recipients before now and not using Indexation to make it sound like his Government had anything to do with the increase.

As my mum would have said, he’s all mouth and no trousers (loud-mouthed and boastful, but lacking in substance)

 

[mitchellowe]

That goes up by the same lousy amount.

SO DOES CARERS AND YET WHAT ARE SINGLE PARENTS GETTING

 

[mylittletibbies]

Last year I read the "fat cats" in the public service, here in WA,.received a
$50,000 a year pay rise on top of their already more than generous salaries.
Almost $1,000 a week rise and we are handed a $28.10/fortnight pittance.
When is all this rorting by people in high places going to stop.
It doesn't matter which party we vote for the pensioners always get shafted.

 

[Grumpypa]

If the pension has increased by $28 /fn then why did my pension payment decrease by $30 /fn. ? I have had no notification of why the change.

 

[GillyH]

yeah you get the rise and then it is gone in rent increases what a joke seriously

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.

 

[Fisherman2320]

Yes, it's not enough and does anyone really believe that any opposition parties, give you anymore?
In the old days every home had a good veggie patch and 1 or 2 hens and you would go to the markets for your .
I know of several families who do and some even use either cordial and milk bottles hanging upside down. Beans and Peas do wonders. PVC pipe for Strawberries. Don't forget the spuds and check uTube
The ideas are endless.