Payments adjusted as cost of living crisis lingers

MEMBERS of the community who receive youth, student or carer support have received a welcome adjustment to their payments in line with increases to the cost of living.

For single recipients of Youth Allowance with dependent children, payments have increased by $30.60 to a maximum rate of $845.80 a fortnight.

Partnered recipients of Youth Allowance without dependent children have received a payment increase of $24.30, bringing the maximum rate to $670.30 a fortnight.

For more than 600,000 carers, indexation has increased Carer Allowance payments by $5.80, bringing the rate to $159.30 per fortnight.

Single or partnered recipients of Austudy with no dependent children also saw an increase to their payment, bringing their fortnightly total to $670.30.

The maximum rates of ABSTUDY Living Allowance for Masters and Doctorate students increased to $1,285.40 a fortnight, and the parental income test threshold for Youth Allowance has increased to $65,189 per year.

Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters said the changes go a long way to providing relief to those in need.

“Local youth allowance recipients are working hard to build a better life for themselves through further study or training,” she said. “It’s important this payment and other vital Federal Government payments move in line with increases to the cost of living so nobody gets left behind.”

The complete list of payments that increased on 1 January, including income and asset limits, can be found on the Department of Social Services website.