Centrelink payments to rise for more than 4.7million Australians from today – here’s how much you will be getting
- Welfare payments are rising on March 20
- More than 4.7million Australians to benefit
More than 4.7million Australians will soon receive a boost to their Centrelink benefits so they can cope with the worst inflation in 32 years.
Australians who are on the pension, looking for work or studying are getting a 3.7 per cent increase to their benefits in two weeks’ time, on top of the 4 per cent increase they received in September.
Single disability pension recipients and carers will receive an extra $37.50 from March 20 bringing the fortnightly rate to $1,064.
Couples will get an extra an extra $56.40 raising the fortnight payment to $1,604.
JobSeeker and ABSTUDY payments will increase by $24.70 bringing the fortnightly payment to $701.90 for single recipients aged over 22 with no children.
Parenting Payments will rise by $33.90 to $967.90 a fortnight for single parents.
Commonwealth Rent Assistance will increase by $5.60 for singles, $6.58 for recipients with two children, and another $7.42 for families with three or more kids.
The 3.7 per cent increase to welfare payments reflects headline inflation rising by 1.8 per cent in the September quarter and by 1.9 per cent in the December quarter.
They are indexed twice a year, on March 20 and September 20, to reflect inflation over a six-month period, based on the two most recent quarters of Australian Bureau of Statistics data.
More than 4.7million Australians are set to receive a massive boost to their Centrelink benefits so they can cope with the worst inflation in 32 years
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the latest indexation of welfare payments to inflation would go a long way to help Australian welfare recipients cope with cost of living pressures.
‘Indexation is a pillar of our social security system and we want more money in the pockets of everyday Australians so they can better afford essentials,’ Ms Rishworth said.
‘Australia’s social security system exists to support our most vulnerable citizens, and we know they are feeling the pinch.’
