Payment increase for 1 million Australians

About one-million youth, student and carer payment recipients will receive an increase to their payments from 1 January 2019.

Minister for Families and Social Services, Paul Fletcher said that payments are indexed regularly to ensure they keep up with increases in the cost of living.

“This round of payment increases are linked to the Consumer Price Index rise of 2.1 per cent for the 12 months ending in June 2018,” Mr Fletcher said.

Single people aged under 21 years receiving Disability Support Pension will get increases of between $7.80 and $12.10 a fortnight. Each member of a couple aged less than 21 years receiving Disability Support Pension will also receive an increase of $12.10 a fortnight.

Carer Allowance will increase by $2.70 a fortnight to $129.80 a fortnight.

Students and young jobseekers receiving Youth Allowance will get an increase of between $5.10 and $12.30 a fortnight. Students receiving Austudy will also get an increase of between $9.40 and $12.30 a fortnight.

Payments such as Mobility Allowance, Double Orphan Pension, ABSTUDY and Assistance for Isolated Children will also increase in line with the Consumer Price Index.

Full details of new rates and thresholds is available at https://www.dss.gov.au/benefits-payments/indexation-rates-january-2019