A one-off $250 Cost of Living Payment will be paid to eligible recipients from the end of April 2022.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
From 1 December 2022 to 31 December 2023, your maximum Work Bonus balance limit increases from $7,800 to $11,800. This will reset to $7,800 on 1 January 2024. You'll also get a one-off increase of $4,000 to your Work Bonus balance during this period. Work Bonus is not money you can draw on to use for other things.
Latest Age Pension changes (from 20 March 2023)
From 20 March 2023 the maximum full Age Pension increases $37.50 per fortnight for a single person, and $28.20 per person per fortnight for a couple. Note: Annual amounts are approximate. The figures above include the pension and energy supplements.
The Order is currently linked to the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) and is based on CPI as at the previous September. CPI at September 2022 was 10.1% which means that your pension will increase by 10.1% from 10 April 2023.
To get the $250 one-off Cost of Living Payment you must be a Centrelink or Department of Veterans'Affairs customer. You must have been residing in Australia on 29 March 2022 and either: you were able to claim, or were getting an eligible payment.
The most direct is the series of two $250 payments, with the first made in December, and the second made in March 2021. Those receiving the age pension, as well as disability carers, are eligible for the payments, and they work similarly to the $750 payments seen earlier this year.
Depending on your circumstances you can be eligible for between $375 and $600 of Centrelink bonus payments for each relevant period.
From 20 March 2023 the maximum rate of the single age pension will rise by $37.50 per fortnight (taking the single age pension from $1026.50 to $1064) and for couples, by $56.40 per fortnight (taking their payment from $1547.60 to $1604 combined).
“There are many direct benefits that older Australians will receive in their wallets out of this year's budget including energy relief of up to $500 per year, cheaper medicines, more GPs bulk billing pensioners and healthcare card holders without a co-payment, $15 a week more rent assistance, $20 a week more in ...
News: Federal Budget 9 May 2023
increase the base rate of working age and student payments (jobseeker etc) from 20 Sept 2023. energy relief payments for eligible Centrelink customers & card holders (no action is required; see note below)
Can I Get the Pension if I Have Super? Having superannuation savings does not deny you from receiving Age Pension payments. Eligibility for the Age Pension is based on an Assets Test and an Income Test.
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.
The federal government will change the pension work test and increase the amount age pensioners and veterans can earn before being financially penalised. As a temporary measure introduced in September 2022, age pensioners will be able to earn an extra $4000 this financial year.
The government age pension usually increases in March and again in September. Thresholds for income and assets test are indexed in March, July and September. Super income stream minimum drawdowns are reviewed every July.
On 1 February 2022, the Federal Government announced aged care workers would be eligible to receive a bonus payment of up to $800.
The Carer Supplement is an annual payment of $600 which is attached to each Carer Allowance. The Supplement is paid in July each year.
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.