Five million people to receive boosted pension payments and rent assistance

More than five million people will receive more money in their pocket when a range of government support payments like pensions and rent assistance are boosted by indexation on September 20.

Age pensions, disability support pensions, and carer payments will increase to bring some cost-of-living relief.

Commonwealth Rent Assistance will also be increased by 10 per cent.

Centrelink
Some Services Australia staff demanding better pay are going on strike for 24 hours. (Dylan Coker / The Sydney Morning Herald)

Single-aged pensioners will get $28.10 more per fortnight, with couples to get $42.20 more per fortnight.

The total payment for the Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment will go up to $1114.40 for singles and $862.60 for each member of a couple, including the energy supplement.

As announced by the government in the last budget, Commonwealth Rent Assistance will be going up by 10 September – and will have yearly indexation applied on top.

Singles with no kids who rent on their own will get an additional $23 per fortnight if they’re getting the maximum Rent Assistance rate.

Families with one or two kids will see their payment go up $27.02.

JobSeeker is also going up, with a single person with no kids to get $15.30 more per fortnight.

JobSeeker recipients with an assessed partial capacity to work of 0 to 14 hours per week will move to a higher rate of JobSeeker, and will see an increase of $71.20 a fortnight.

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Parenting Payment Single recipients are also benefiting from indexation, with their fortnightly payments increasing by $19.80 to $1026.30 a fortnight (including supplements).

The Minister for Social Services said the government is committed to delivering cost-of-living relief.

“This Government recognises that many Australians continue to be directly affected by cost of living pressures,” Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said.

“Indexation, together with our Budget measures, means maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance will have increased by around 45 per cent since the Albanese Government was elected.

“This indexation will deliver timely boosts to people receiving allowance payments and pensions, ensuring that these vulnerable cohorts have more money in their pockets for everyday expenses.”

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