Centrelink payments rise today – causing a major debate among Aussies
Australians are divided as Centrelink recipients will get a cash boost when indexation of payments starts today.
Centrelink’s payments will be indexed for inflation every six months, with the 1.8 per cent increases coming into effect on Wednesday and reflecting the combined Consumer Price Index increases in the September and December quarters.
From March 20, people on an old-age pension, disability pension and informal caregiver benefit will receive an extra $19.60 every two weeks for singles and $29.40 for couples.
The maximum pension rate increases every fortnight to $1,116.30 for singles and $1,682.80 for couples.
Single job seekers without children, and people over 22 years old who follow ABSTUDY, will receive an additional $13.50 per fortnight, bringing it to $771.50, including the energy supplement.
The single parent payment will also increase by $17.50 per fortnight, bringing the total fortnightly payments to just over $1,000.
A further 77,000 parents will now receive a higher benefit rate after entitlement was extended last year to parents with a youngest child under the age of 14, up from eight.
Each member of a couple receives an additional $12.30 per fortnight.
Commonwealth Rent Assistance, claimed by almost 1.4 million people, will rise by $3.40 to $188.20 per fortnight for single income support recipients.
Australians are divided over a Centrelink payment increase that comes into effect this week
Some Aussies were unimpressed by the very small increases in payments.
“Welfare here in Australia is a joke, there are too many career losers and junkies looting the system,” one man said angrily. “It’s meant to help people get through tough times, not as a career choice for generations.”
A second said: ‘Wow, what bludgers to get more money. No wonder they don’t want to find a job!’
A third added: What about indexing income tax rates if this is good enough for prosperity?’.
Another said: ‘Can they just get a job?’
But many defended the welfare recipients.
“Most welfare recipients are actually elderly retirees and they’ve earned their damn pensions,” one man explained.
“They worked, they raised children, they contributed to society. And this increase only helps to offset inflation.
‘As for the bludgers, unemployment benefits are a small percentage of the total social bill. Plus, we’re all one accident, illness or recession away from joining them. A little humility goes a long way.”
‘In a cost of living crisis this is a no-brainer and for some it could mean the difference between homelessness and a roof over their heads. There needs to be more support to help people find work!’
Centrelink recipients who want to pocket extra money are also hitting back.
‘$17 = $8.50 per week. WOW grateful yes. Seriously, it’s a pittance in today’s world,” one woman commented.
A second added: ‘I understand the frustration of those commenting but the majority of these payments go to old age pensions and the disabled. I am happy to support those who really need help.’
Up to five million recipients will receive a biweekly boost to their bank account from March 20
One woman called on the government to do more.
“What about cutting the salaries politicians receive for doing nothing but lining their pockets?” she said.
“They work for the Australian people, we don’t work for them.”
One Job Seeker recipient urged critics to look at the bigger picture.
“People with disabilities don’t ask to be disabled, they deserve the raise,” she began.
‘People at Nieuwstart don’t ask to become unemployed, some are like that because their boss thought they were above the requirements.
‘So with the meager increase we get, we can probably buy an extra bottle of milk and a loaf of bread a week.’
A single mother with a newborn also shared some insight.
‘My baby is 21 weeks old and I have a 12-year-old child. “I have always worked and been a single mother,” she wrote.
‘The price of living is ridiculous… what $600 plus just to rent a place… food is insane… so any extra coin I’m grateful for.
While many Australians were outraged by the index-linked increase in Centrelink payments, others argued the cash boost won’t make much of a difference to those who are struggling
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said tackling inflation and the rising cost of living was her “number one priority”.
“Pension recipients are among the most vulnerable members of our communities, many of whom have spent their lives working and contributing to our society or caring for a loved one,” she said.
The last indexed increase six months ago came on top of the increase in income support announced in the federal budget as part of the $14.6 billion cost of living package.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth (pictured) said tackling inflation and the rising cost of living was her ‘number one priority’