Increased payments for young people, carers and students

The Minister for Social Services Kevin Andrews has announced almost one million students, young jobseekers, carers and young people with a disability will receive increases in their payments starting on 1 January 2014.

Mr Andrews says the increases keep the payments in line with the Consumer Price Index.

“The Australian Government is pleased to be able to provide extra support to nearly one million Australians,” Mr Andrews said.

“More than 350,000 students and young jobseekers receiving Youth Allowance will get an increase of between $7.70 and $18.30 a fortnight.

“Around 49,000 students will get a boost to their Austudy payments ranging from $13.90 to $18.30 a fortnight.

“More than half a million people with caring responsibilities who receive a Carer Allowance will receive an extra $2.80 a fortnight, lifting the basic rate to $118.20 a fortnight.

“People with a disability aged under 21 years receiving the Disability Support Pension will get increases of between $12.50 and $18.80 a fortnight.

“We’ve also raised certain personal income limits to keep them in line with increases in the Consumer Price Index,” he said.

These payment increases are the result of indexation, which occurs in January each year, as well as the start of the Clean Energy Supplement for Youth Allowance, Austudy and Disability Support Pension (under 21) recipients.

Full details can be found at: http://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-department/benefits-payments/indexation-rates-january-2014