Centrelink payments to rise today: JobSeeker: pension, disability, ABSTUDY

More than 4.7 million Australians will soon receive a huge increase in their Centrelink benefits, allowing them to cope with the worst inflation in 32 years.

Australians who are retired, looking for work or studying will receive a 3.7 per cent increase in their benefits in two weeks’ time, on top of the 4 per cent increase they received in September.

Recipients of a single disability pension and caregivers will receive an additional $37.50 starting March 20, bringing the biweekly rate to $1,064.

Couples get an additional $56.40, increasing the two-week payment to $1,604.

JobSeeker and ABSTUDY payments are increased by $24.70, making the biweekly payment $701.90 for single recipients over the age of 22 with no children.

Parental payments increase $33.90 to $967.90 every two weeks for single parents.

Commonwealth Rent Assistance is increased by $5.60 for singles, $6.58 for recipients with two children, and an additional $7.42 for families with three or more children.

The 3.7 percent increase in social benefits reflects the rise in headline inflation of 1.8 percent in the September quarter and 1.9 percent 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 most recent two quarters of Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the latest indexation of social benefits to inflation would go a long way in helping Australian welfare recipients cope with cost-of-living pressures.

“Indexing is a pillar of our social security system and we want more money in the pockets of everyday Australians so they can afford better,” said Ms Rishworth.

“The Australian social security system is there to support our most vulnerable citizens, and we know they are struggling.”