JobSeeker, Student Payments and Commonwealth Rent Assistance

As part of the Government’s $14.6 billion cost-of-living package

The Government is investing around $7.6 billion over the forward estimates, which includes:.

• $4.9 billion to increase the rate of eligible working age and student payments by $40 per fortnight and move single JobSeeker Payment recipients aged 55 years and over after nine continuous months on payment to the higher single rate; and
• $2.7 billion to increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance maximum rates by 15 per cent.

Increased support for cost of living pressures

The Government is helping with cost of living pressures for around 2 million Australians through increases to working age and student payments and Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

$40 per fortnight

The base rates of working age and student payments, including JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment (Partnered), Austudy, ABSTUDY, Disability Support Pension (Youth), and Special Benefit, will increase by $40 per fortnight.

Extension of JobSeeker payment eligibility

We are also extending eligibility for the existing higher rate of JobSeeker Payment to single recipients aged 55 to 59, who are on payment for nine or more continuous months. Currently the qualifying age for this higher rate is 60.

• The higher level of support for older recipients on JobSeeker Payment, the majority of whom are women (55 per cent), acknowledges the additional barriers they face when they are looking for work, such as age discrimination or poor health.
• Around 52,000 recipients aged 55-59 (on payment for 9 continuous months or more) will receive an increase of $92.10 per fortnight.

Working age and student payment changes to assist over 1 million Australians

The changes to working age and student payments will help 630,000 women, 325,000 young people (under 25), 150,000 First Nations Australians and 245,000 mature aged recipients (aged 55 and over).

Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA)

Government provides 15% boost to rent assistance

The Government is also providing additional support to around 1.1 million households, with the biggest increase to Commonwealth Rent Assistance in over three decades—a 15 per cent increase to the maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

The new rates will commence from 20 September 2023, subject to the passage of legislation. Indexation of eligible payment rates will also take place as usual on 20 September.

Significant increase in support for working age and student payment recipients

As a result of measures:

A 20-year-old student on Youth Allowance, who is receiving the maximum rate of CRA while renting with flatmates, can receive more than an additional $55 per fortnight.

A single JobSeeker Payment recipient who is aged 56 and has been unemployed for 10 months, living alone, and receives the maximum rate of CRA, can receive more than an additional $115 per fortnight.

For more information about this measure and other Department of Social Services’ Budget measures, visit the Department of Social Services website

For information about the 2023–24 May Budget, visit the Australian Government budget website(Opens in a new tab/window)