Treasurer's major $7.8 billion cost-of-living relief update: 'More help on the way'

Jim Chalmers pointing up with a house and $100 note in the background
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said "more help is on the way" as September cost-of-living relief is rolled out.

The cost-of-living crisis has reverberated into almost every household across the country. From expensive energy and under-pressure mortgage holders to those struggling to put food on the table.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers acknowledged Aussies are "under the pump" on Monday and delivered an update on the cost-of-living relief rolling out in September. The government committed $7.8 billion to tackling the crisis and claimed inflation is coming down because of it.

Chalmers tracked back on the tax cut we all got on July 1, energy rebates taking a slice off your bill each quarter and a rise in the minimum wage.

But as for the September stuff, the big winners are renters, pensioners and those struggling with the cost of prescription medicine.

So, what benefits does the government say is rolling out in September and will they help you?

Commonwealth Rent Assistance: This one only benefits those on Centrelink payments, like JobSeeker or the aged pension — around one million households. The payment goes up by 10 per cent from September 20. Check out our explainer here.

JobSeekers cash boost: Despite calls to boost JobSeeker payments, the government opted not to increase the payment but to expand how many people could get a higher rate. If you can't work more than 15 hours, you could get "at least an additional $54.90 a fortnight". Check out our explainer here.

Cheaper medicine: This isn't making drugs cheaper, but making it cheaper for you to access them. Aussies often have to fork out to go to the doctor so to reduce the number of trips you need to make, more medicine is being added to the 60-day script program. This means fewer visits to renew prescriptions for common ailments like acne, asthma, depression and glaucoma. Check out the list here.

Welfare indexed: Inflation has made things more costly, so the government increases annual Centrelink payments through indexation. This means those on Jobseeker, the age pension, disability support pension, carer payment and parenting payment will get a boost. Check out our explainer here.

"This support is on top of the billions of dollars of relief that has been rolling out to millions of Australians to help ease the cost of living since July," Chalmers said.

He pointed to some other things Aussies are yet to see which include: