Age Pension, JobSeeker, and More: Your Guide to September’s Welfare Payment Increases

As the cost of living continues to rise, millions of Australians are set to receive a welcome boost to their welfare payments. From September 20, five million Australians will see their welfare payments increase, providing timely cost of living relief.

Here, we’ll break down the increases to the age pension, JobSeeker, and other welfare payments, as well as explore the expansion of Australia’s 60-day prescription scheme.

Welfare Payment Increases:

While the Australian government’s move to increase welfare payments is welcome, concerns remain about the adequacy of these increases. Let’s break down how much various payments will rise:

Age Pension Increase

• Singles will receive an extra $28.10 per fortnight, bringing the maximum rate to $1,114.40.
• Couples will get an additional $21.20 per fortnight, meaning they’ll receive $862.60 each or $1,725.20 combined.
• The disability support pension and carer payments will see the same increases.

JobSeeker Payment Increase

• Singles over 22 without children will see their payments rise by $15.30 per fortnight to $778.
• Partnered individuals will receive an extra $14 per fortnight, totaling $712.30 each or $1,424.60 combined.

Rent Assistance Increase

• A 10% increase, announced in the federal budget, will be applied alongside indexation.
• The maximum payment for singles living alone without children will rise by $23 per fortnight to $211.20.
• Couples without children will receive an extra $21.80 per fortnight, bringing the total to $199.
• Single parents and couples with up to two children will get an additional $27.02 per fortnight, taking the total to $248.22.
• Single parents and couples with three or more children will receive an extra $30.52 per fortnight, also totaling $248.22.

Parenting Payment Increase

• Singles under the pension age will see their base rate rise by $19.20 per fortnight to $978.60.
• Partnered parents under the pension age will see their base rate increase to $712.30 per fortnight, thanks to a $14 fortnightly increase.

When Will These Changes Take Effect?

These increases will automatically apply on September 20th. It’s worth noting that Youth Allowance is not included in this round of increases, as it is indexed in January.

Additional Changes: 60-Day Prescription Scheme

Beyond welfare payment increases, there’s another significant change this month: the expansion of the 60-day prescription scheme. This scheme now covers around 300 medications, including treatments for various conditions like acne, anxiety, asthma, and more.

It allows patients to purchase two months’ worth of subsidized medicines on a single prescription, saving both time and money.

Is It Enough? The Debate Continues

While these increases provide some relief, organizations like the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) argue that they fall short. ACOSS advocates for raising payments like JobSeeker to at least $80 a day to ensure people can afford basic necessities. The debate over the adequacy of welfare payments in Australia is ongoing.

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