Starting next week, welfare payments for students, pensioners, and unemployed individuals will be adjusted based on the indexation of benefits.
Prior to the implementation of these changes, people on social security will also receive a small wage increase.
Single parents will receive an increase of around $17 a fortnight, while couples will receive an increase of $12.30.
Individuals receiving carer, aged, or disability support payments will receive around $116 a fortnight, which is an increase of almost $20.50.
As a result, couples will see their income grow by around $29.40 a week.
Individuals receiving ABSTUDY and Jobseeker’s Allowance will also receive an extra $13.30 a fortnight, before other allowances.
For couples on Jobseeker’s Allowance, the additional $12.30 a fortnight will translate into a total of $698.30.
The modest increase was expected to help around five million people in Australia. According to Amanda Rishworth, the government’s top priority is addressing the rising cost of living.
Many pensioners are considered to be some of Australia’s most vulnerable individuals, as they have worked all their lives to contribute to society. According to advocates, the increases don’t go far enough to help those who are struggling with the rising cost of living. In 2008, an advisory body identified the current rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance as seriously inadequate.
According to the group, people on these payments are experiencing the highest levels of stress in the country. Members of the committee were also told about individuals who have to choose between paying their electricity and medicine bills.
In February, Senator Janet Rice called on the government to stop “tinkering” and implement a comprehensive increase to the payments in the May budget. She noted that the small increases aren’t enough to help people meet the rising cost of food. According to the ACS chief executive officer, Jobseeker’s allowance should be increased to at least $88 a day.
In her speech, Senator Rice said that poverty is a choice that Australians have to make, and the government must take action to address it. It’s time to act now to put an end to this issue.