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JobSeeker payment won't go up but more Aussies will be able to access it

The government has allocated more than $41 million over the next five years to expand the payment's eligibility criteria.

Stewart Perrie
·Senior Journalist
Updated ·2-min read

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has shot down hopes of an increase in the JobSeeker payment after unveiling the 2024 Federal Budget. The government has been under pressure to hike the Centrelink payment as the cost of living crisis squeezes vulnerable Aussies more and more.

While it might not be the win that advocates were hoping for, the government has revealed it will amend the eligibility criteria for JobSeeker, which will allow more Aussies to receive the payment. It has allocated $41.2 million over the next five years for the plan.

According to the government, this will provide a boost of at least $54.90 per fortnight to eligible recipients with a partial capacity to work zero to 14 hours per week.

Find out how the 2024 Federal Budget will impact you by following Yahoo Finance’s coverage here.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers next to someone standing outside a Centrelink sign
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has ruled out increasing the JobSeeker, but the government will expand the eligibility criteria. (Source: Getty)

In an interview on the ABC, Chalmers was asked why the budget didn't prioritise an increase to JobSeeker.

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"We increased JobSeeker by $40 a fortnight and that's about $120 higher a fortnight since we've come to office," he said. "There's more than one way to help people who are especially vulnerable, including the jobless, energy rebates, rent assistance in and other ways too."

The 2024 Budget did have a $300 cost of living energy rebate that will go to every household and the Commonwealth Rent Assistance is going up by 10 per cent.

Ahead of the budget reveal, Chalmers hinted current JobSeeker recipients would not be the target of relief.

The Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee (EIAC) called for JobSeeker to be increased to 90 per cent of the aged pension, bumping the fortnightly payment from $762.70 for singles to $1004.67.

That’s an increase of $121 per week or about $17 per day.

"People receiving these payments told the Committee that they regularly go without life’s essentials because they simply cannot afford them," EIAC said in its report.

"This is in part the result of unsatisfactory indexation arrangements over many years. Without change to indexation arrangements, the living standards of recipients of these payments will continue to fall – whether measured relative to average or National Minimum Wages, pensions, or income poverty measures."

The Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee made a total of 22 recommendations to the government before the budget was handed down, which also included an increase to the Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

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