2026 brings in increases to multiple support payments

OVER one million Australians receiving Youth Allowance, Austudy, ABSTUDY, the Youth Disability Support Pension and the Carer Allowance have benefited from an increase to their payment rates, which came into effect on New Year’s Day.

A single adult receiving Youth Allowance with no dependents living away from home saw their maximum fortnightly payment increase to $684.20, while income thresholds for student payments also went up, as well as the parental income test thresholds for Youth Allowance and ABSTUDY.

Around 680,000 people receiving the Carer Allowance saw their payments increase to $162.60 per fortnight, in addition to the Carer Supplement and other social security payments they may also have been receiving.

All changes took effect automatically with recipients not needing to reapply for the payment adjustments themselves.

Exact new fortnightly amounts depended on individual circumstances (age, living situation, income/assets, for example).

Federal Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek made the claim that social security recipients may also benefit from her government’s tax cuts, increased rent assistance, cuts to student debt, free TAFE, cheaper medicines, more bulk billing and a whole range of other cost of living measures it has delivered since coming into power.

“We’ll continue to make sure our social security system is there to support those who need it most, ensuring that everyone can make ends meet and no one gets left behind,” she said.

The complete list of payment rates indexed on 1 January can be found on the Department of Social Services website.