Millions of Australians to receive relief from $4 billion payment increase
- 1 minute ago
- 1 min read
More than 5.3 million Australians will receive higher social security payments each fortnight from September 20, as payments are adjusted for inflation.
The maximum Age Pension will increase by $36.80 to $1,237.70 per fortnight for singles, while couples will receive up to $1,866, an increase of $55.60.
JobSeeker payments for people without children will rise by $16.20 to $833.70 per fortnight. Maximum payments for eligible parents will also increase.
Rent assistance rates will rise, with the maximum payment for single renters increasing by $4.40 to $223.80 per fortnight.
Youth Allowance payments will also increase, with the maximum rate for singles rising by $20.90 to $1,087.20.
The government will also adjust deeming rates for financial assets. The rate will rise to 1.75 per cent for assets below the relevant thresholds and 3.75 per cent above them.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the changes would provide about $4 billion in additional support.
However, welfare groups argue that indexation alone is not enough. ACOSS says JobSeeker remains well below the minimum wage and leaves many people struggling to cover basic costs.
Anglicare’s 2026 Cost of Living Index found that after paying for essentials such as rent, food and transport, a person receiving JobSeeker could be $502 short each fortnight, while a single parent could face a $348 shortfall.
Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka – the leading platform for news for Australians.
Source : 9 News
Comments