Extra money is coming the way of millions of Aussies next week who receive social security payments, however, one group argues that it won’t make a difference for those already struggling with the increasing cost of living.
Around five million Australians have been earmarked for a rise in social security payments, yet Labor assesses the federal government’s announcement to be purely spin.
The cost of multiple everyday items have seen marked increases already, and with petrol ballooning out to $2.20 per litre in many cities, it is expected that the knock-on effect of inflation will be felt in further core goods with prices surging.
As of Monday March 20 this year, pensioners will experience a 2.1% rise in their payments.
Anne Ruston, the Social Services Minister, notes that the 2.1% rise to pension payments is the most significant since 2013.
“This is putting money in the pockets of all Australians who rely on our social security system and, in particular, older Australians.”
Senator Ruston conveyed that precise calculations have been undertaken to include the full scope of expenses for older Australians.
She commented, “It gives us a higher weighting to fuel and transport costs in recognition of their significance to pensioners, which helps ensure the rate of the age pension maintains senior Australians’ purchasing power in the economy.”
However, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese slammed the minister’s claim, arguing the rise to be meager and not in keeping with the pace of increasing cost of living.
Speaking to reporters in Townsville, he noted, “This government is so out of touch that they’re prepared to spin out there saying how well pensioners are going to be off.
“When they get to the supermarket to buy products they find that everything‘s gone up.”
He drew attention to the fact that the current government omitted to broadcast the 2013 increase in payments occurred under and due to a Labor government.
“Remind me again what happened in 2013? We were in government,” Mr Albanese highlighted.
Additionally, the asset testing limits have been widened to allow greater numbers of older Australians to access a partial pension.
A single homeowner now has the asset limit of $599,750, an increase of $6,750, while a couple can now fall within $901,500, an increase of $10,000.
Increases will be felt across the social securities categories. Childless single Jobseeker recipients are set to receive $629.50, an increase of $13.20, while Parenting Payment Singles will benefit from an extra $18.20 for a total of $874.10.
Maximum fortnightly rent assistance will increase to a total of $145.80 for singles and a total of $193.62 for families.
I live alone on a Dsp and because of my bad health plus because of 2 ex husbands, one abusive horrible I am still trying hard to pay even my mortgage.
I live below the poverty line and I always pay my accounts on payment arrangements but not much at all left for food let alone now putting fuel into my car. Fortunately paid cash for with what I had in my superannuation. No money in my bank. I wish that the govt would give dsp people a couple more payments of 500 or even 250. I speak for many in the same situation. Poverty line… help needed.
I would like to know why my pension went DOWN BY $3 THIS WEEK ANY ANSWER FOR THIS
I am 71 and was doing alright on the disabled pension but over the last 3 months or so after buying food and bills I am having struggles I don’t live expensively I have a HBF but if this keeps going I am going to have to give it up at my age and the things that can go wrong health wise !I really do not wish to b yet another person on the public waiting list to get into hospital or have an op
In my opinion the increase does not cover the costs of food, medication, housing, petrol, etc. People living in Public Housing (government owned) Social Housing (Non Gov Organisations) automatically loss 1/4 of the increase because their rent goes up whenever any extra income / payment is giving to tenants. There has been constant increases in the cost of living for years now e.g. droughts, floods, fires, Covid, and now the war in Ukraine but the CPI has not risen to meet the increases.
Yes give me more money so housing can put my rent up all the time just sad way to live