Yahoo Finance Centrelink cash boost arrives for millions of Aussies today - here's how much you'll get
Payments will be going up this week, but recipients are calling on the government to do more.
Centrelink recipients will be better off from today as payments go through the first of two indexations for 2024.
The increase will affect 5 million people on the aged pension, disability support pension, carer payment, JobSeeker, ABSTUDY, rent assistance, single parent and many other payment systems.
The changes were announced earlier this month but, while extra money in the hip pocket will be welcomed, some recipients say they need much more to get by in a cost-of-living crisis.
Do you have a story? Email stew.perrie@yahooinc.com
George Helon is on the carers allowance. This will go up by $19.60 a fortnight for singles and $29.40 for couples, taking their payments to $1,116.30 and $1,682.80, respectively.
Helon told Yahoo Finance the increase was a drop in the ocean when trying to keep up with inflation.
“Seriously, would you work 24/7, 365 days a year for a paltry 46 cents an hour?” Helon said. “We get no superannuation, generous work or statutory benefits, but paid support workers do for just a 38-hour week.
“Carers are an inconvenient truth to governments; among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable, living way below the poverty line. Just imagine if we carers, Australia-wide, went on a strike.”
Centrelink recipient Robert Scott described the increase as a “load of s**t”.
RELATED
Centrelink recipient 'sick with anxiety' after payments abruptly cut off
Electricity price relief coming for Australians struggling with cost of living
Centrelink increase will do little to ease Brock's cost-of-living pressures
“My car insurance went up $60 a month, my health insurance went up $14 a month, water rates went from $370 a quarter to over $400,” he revealed to Yahoo Finance.
“The government has done nothing to bring down inflation … they can't even organise a five-year-old’s birthday party.”
Here’s how much Centrelink payments are going up
Payment Type | Increase (per fortnight) | Total (per fortnight) |
Aged pension | $19.60 for singles and $29.40 for couples | $1,116.30 for singles and $1,682.80 for couples |
Disability support pension | $19.60 for singles and $29.40 for couples | $1,116.30 for singles and $1,682.80 for couples |
Carer payment | $19.60 for singles and $29.40 for couples | $1,116.30 for singles and $1,682.80 for couples |
JobSeeker | $13.50 for singles with no children and $14.40 for singles with children | $762.70 for singles with no children and $816.90 for singles with children |
ABSTUDY | $13.50 for those living at home and independent with no children | $762.70 (but $771.50 including the energy supplement) |
Rent assistance | $3.40 for singles, $2.27 for singles sharing rent, $3.40 for couples | $188.20 for singles, $125.47 for singles sharing rent, $177.20 for couples |
Single parents | $17.50 | $959.40 (but $999.70 including supplements) |
Partnered parents | $12.30 | $698.30 (but $706.20 when including the energy supplement) |
The government hopes the changes in Centrelink payments will help the most vulnerable in the community. Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said it was her “number one priority” to assist those affected by the rising cost of living.
“These challenges highlight the importance of regular indexation to ensure that payment recipients have more money in their pockets for everyday expenses,” Rishworth said.
“This regular indexation is in addition to our boost to working age and student payments announced in last year’s budget. This increase, which took effect on 20 September 2023, also included the largest increase to maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance in 30 years.”
A full list of the Centrelink payment changes can be found here.
Get the latest Yahoo Finance news - follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
