Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

Almost one million Australians to benefit from indexed payments

Joint Media Release with:

  • Senator the Hon Christopher Evans, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, Senator for Western Australia

From next month, more than 900,000 Australians who receive Carer Allowance, and payments to students and youth, such as Youth Allowance and Austudy, will see an increase in their payments as a result of indexation.

These payments will be increased from 1 January 2012.

The increases are linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rise of 3.6 per cent for the 12 months to June 2011 and 3.5 per cent for the 12 months to September 2011.

The following rates and limits, which have been indexed, will be implemented on 1 January 2012:

  • Carer Allowance recipients will receive an extra $4 a fortnight to bring their rate to $114 a fortnight.
  • Students and young jobseekers receiving Youth Allowance will receive increases between $7.70 and $18.30 a fortnight.
  • Young long-term unemployed people starting full-time study and receiving Youth Allowance will get increases of up to $17 a fortnight.
  • Students receiving Austudy will receive an increase of between $14 and $18.30 a fortnight.
  • People under the age of 21 years receiving the Disability Support Pension will get increases of between $11.70 and $18 a fortnight.
  • The rate of Pharmaceutical Allowance for eligible single recipients will increase by $0.20a fortnight to a rate of $6.20,and by$0.10 a fortnight to a rate of $3.10 for each eligible member of a couple.
  • 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 will also be adjusted.
  • Personal income limits for Youth Allowance, Austudy and Disability Support Pension (under the age of 21 years and without children), will increase in line with the CPI.

To access the full indexation tables, please go to: Rates Indexation 1 January 2012