Cash boost for millions as indexation kicks in for Centrelink Rent Assistance, JobSeeker, and other Services Australia payments

Millions of Australians are set to get a cash boost within weeks as Services Australia payments are indexed on top of additional increases to Rent Assistance payments also due to kick in this month.

Centrelink JobSeeker recipients will also be moved to a higher rate, and receive an extra $71.20 per fortnight.

The indexation will be applied to a range of pensions and payments including the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payments, Commonwealth Rent Assistance, JobSeeker, and Parenting Payments.

The indexation increases — up to $41.50 a fortnight — will vary based on the payments and will come into effect on September 20.

Changes to Rent Assistance and Jobseeker payments will come into effect on the same day, and indexation will be applied on top of those new rates.

Maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance will be increased by 10 per cent.

Single recipients receiving the maximum rate — who are renting on their own, with no children — will get an extra $23 per fortnight.

In families with one or two children, the Rent Assistance fortnightly payment will increase by $27.02.

JobSeeker recipients are also in line for a payment boost.

“Single JobSeeker Payment recipients with an assessed partial capacity to work of 0 to 14 hours per week will move to the higher rate of JobSeeker, receiving $849.50 a fortnight,” the Department of Social Services said.

For those recipients moving to a higher rate, the fortnightly payment will increase by $71.20.

But even JobSeeker recipients who are remaining on the lower rate will receive an indexation increase.

Single recipients without children will get a $15.30 boost to their payments, while single recipients with a child in their care will get a $19.80 boost.

Single age pensioners will see an increase of $28.10 to their fortnightly payments, and recipients in a couple will receive a combined $42.40 increase to their payments.

The same increase will apply to the Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment, taking the total per fortnight, including energy supplement, to $1114.40 for singles and $862.60 for each member of a couple.

Single recipients receiving a fortnightly Parenting Payment will also receive a $19.80 increase.