The Work Bonus income bank is useful for pensioners who wish to work, particularly those who undertake intermittent or occasional work. Note: from 1 December 2022 to 31 December 2023, a one-off, temporary credit of $4,000 applies to Work Bonus income bank balances.
However, on 2 September 2022 the Prime Minister announced that Age Pensioners will be able to earn an additional $4,000 in the 2022–23 financial year before it affects their pension.
The payment rates for Age Pension, Carer Payment and Disability Support Pension are increasing from 20 March 2023. Age Pension, Carer Payment and Disability Support Pension will increase by $37.50 a fortnight for singles and $56.40 a fortnight for couples combined.
The government will provide $3.7 million in 2023–24 to extend the measure to provide age and veteran pensioners a once-off credit of $4,000 to their Work Bonus income bank and temporarily increase the maximum income bank until 31 December 2023.
You have $300 of Work Bonus available each fortnight, which can accrue up to the maximum amount. When your Work Bonus eligible income is less than $300 a fortnight, we'll reduce your income to zero.
All pensioners over Age Pension age are eligible for the Work Bonus. This includes: Age Pension, Carer Payment and Disability Support Pension recipients. Department of Veterans' Affairs Service Pensioners and Income Support Supplement recipients over qualifying age are also eligible.
If you're a pensioner currently receiving support through Centrelink, you may be eligible for extra help with bills and medicine costs through the Pension Supplement. This supplement is a combined payment of Pharmaceutical Allowance, Utilities Allowance, GST Supplement and Telephone Allowance.
Aussies who compare energy providers will receive a one-off $250 payment, as part of a new NSW election promise. NSW households will receive a $250 cost-of-living payment for comparing energy providers, if the Coalition is re-elected in March.
The Government has provided two separate $750 payments to social security, veteran and other income support recipients and eligible concession card holders. Around half of those that benefit are pensioners. These payments will support households to manage the economic impact of the Coronavirus.
A one-off $250 Cost of Living Payment will be paid to eligible recipients from the end of April 2022.
You can get the Work Bonus if both of these apply to you. You: are Age Pension age and over. get Age Pension, Carer Payment or Disability Support Pension.
But after widespread speculation, it has now been confirmed that all JobSeeker recipients will see their payments go up by $40 per fortnight, as well as those on Youth Allowance, Austudy and other income support payments.
The Cost of Living Payment is a $250 one-off payment to help with the cost of living. The Cost of Living Payment is not taxable, and you don't need to report it as income. You'll get it if you were residing in Australia on 29 March 2022, and: you were able to claim, or were getting an eligible payment.
From 20 March 2023, some veterans and their families will receive an increase to their pension payments in line with increases in the cost of living. You don't have to do anything to receive the increase, it will be automatically included in your next payment.
As a temporary measure introduced in September 2022, age pensioners will be able to earn an extra $4000 this financial year.
The Carer Supplement is an annual payment of $600 which is attached to each Carer Allowance. The Supplement is paid in July each year.
One off payment principles
Employees of NSW Health Agencies (including Ministry of Health) under NSW Awards are eligible. Visiting Medical Officers are eligible. Certain employees of third schedule organisations are eligible.
Carer Payment
The current maximum rate for a single person is $967.50 per fortnight, or $729.30 for a member of a couple. Constant care is defined as daily care which is the equivalent of a normal working day.
Make your claim
If your Centrelink account is linked to myGov you can claim online. To do this: Sign in to myGov. Select Make a claim or view claim status, then Make a claim.
If you are temporarily absent from Australia for longer than 6 weeks or you live overseas, you may, depending on your income and assets, receive pension supplement at the basic rate. The basic rate of pension supplement is: $27.20 – single. $22.40 – partnered (each)
This payment is for those who start studying at any point in the year immediately after completing year 12 or equivalent. If you're eligible, you can only claim the Tertiary Access Payment from January 1 to December 31 in your first year of tertiary study.
On 1 February 2022, the Federal Government announced aged care workers would be eligible to receive a bonus payment of up to $800.
In the first week after this vaccination rate was reached, a $450 payment rate would apply for those who had lost eight or more hours of work (or a full day of their usual hours per week) except for those on income support who could receive a rate of $100.