Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

Indexation increases payments to over 940,000 Australians

Joint Media Release with:

  • Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations

From 1 January 2011 more than 940,000 Australians who receive Carer Allowance, Disability Support Pension (under 21, without children), Austudy, ABSTUDY and Youth Allowance will receive increases in their payments as a result of indexation.

Some income and assets limits will also change.

The increases are linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rise of 3.1 per cent for the 12 months to June 2010.

The following rates and limits have been indexed:

  • Carer Allowance recipients will receive an extra $3.30 per fortnight to bring their rate to $110.00 per fortnight.
  • Students and young jobseekers receiving Youth Allowance will get increases between $6.40 and $15.30 per fortnight.
  • Young long-term unemployed people commencing full-time study and receiving Youth Allowance will get increases of up to $14.20 per fortnight.
  • Students receiving Austudy will get an increase of between $11.70 and $15.30 per fortnight .
  • Single people aged under 21 years receiving the Disability Support Pension will get increases of between $9.70 and $15.00 per fortnight, while members of a couple will receive an increase of $15.00 per fortnight .
  • Personal income limits for Disability Support Pension (under 21, without children), Youth Allowance and Austudy will increase in line with the CPI.
  • Other payments such as Mobility Allowance and Double Orphan Pension will also increase in line with the CPI. Additional Child Amounts (paid under some overseas agreements) and Permissible Child Earnings limits are also adjusted from 1 January 2011.

The rate of Pharmaceutical Allowance will remain at $6.00 per fortnight for eligible single recipients, and $3.00 per fortnight for each eligible member of a couple, as the CPI increase was not high enough to increase the Pharmaceutical Allowance.

For full detail of payments and limits, visit Index Table – Summary of Changes 1 January 2011