In March 2025, significant changes to Centrelink payments are set to impact millions of Australians. These adjustments aim to assist various demographics, including pensioners, carers, students, and job seekers, in managing the rising cost of living. Below is a detailed overview of the key updates.
Increased Payments for Pensioners and Carers
Approximately five million Australians will benefit from increased payments starting this month. The Age Pension, Carer Payment, Commonwealth Rent Assistance, Disability Support Pension, and Parenting Payment Single are among the payments receiving boosts. These adjustments are based on the higher measure between the consumer price index and wage price index, ensuring that support keeps pace with inflation.
Enhanced Support for Job Seekers
JobSeeker recipients will experience more lenient compliance rules. First-time registrants with Workforce Australia or Disability Employment Services can avoid compliance action for initial failures. Additionally, job seekers working 30 hours a fortnight for two months will not face penalties for missed appointments with employment service providers.
Flexible Working Hours for Carers
Carers are set to benefit from more flexible working arrangements. They will now be able to work up to 100 hours over four weeks without affecting their payments, providing greater flexibility to balance work and caregiving responsibilities.
Adjustments to Youth and Student Payments
From January 1, 2025, over one million Australians receiving youth, student, and carer support saw a payment increase due to regular indexation tied to the consumer price index. Specifically, Youth Allowance, Austudy, and Carer Allowance rose, with single Youth Allowance recipients over 18 living at home receiving $477.10, up from $459.80, and those living away from home receiving $670.30, up from $646. Austudy payments increased to a maximum of $845.80 for those with dependent children, while Carer Allowance recipients saw a rise of $5.80 to $159.30 per fortnight.
Government’s Commitment to Cost-of-Living Relief
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth highlighted that these changes aim to help Australians manage cost-of-living pressures. Notably, there has been up to a 45% increase in Commonwealth Rent Assistance since the election of the Albanese Government.
Looking Ahead
These updates reflect the government’s ongoing efforts to adjust social support systems in line with economic changes, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive adequate assistance. Australians are encouraged to stay informed about these changes and assess how they may benefit from the updated Centrelink payments.