More than five million Australians are bracing for an increase in their Centrelink payments, including the Age Pension, JobSeeker, Disability Support Pension, and Carer Payment this March. While some reports have speculated about a $450 to $790 increase, the official figures will be confirmed in early March.
What’s happening on March 20, 2025?
On March 20, 2025, the government’s biannual indexation of welfare payments will take effect. This process happens every March and September to ensure that Centrelink payments keep up with inflation.
The increases are determined by the highest movement among three key inflation measures: the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Wage Price Index, and the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index. This means that the final figures could change, depending on the latest economic data.
How much will the Age Pension increase?
Preliminary estimates suggest that single pensioners will see an increase of approximately $4.52 per fortnight, bringing the total to $1,148.92 per fortnight, including supplements.
Couples receiving a combined pension are expected to receive an additional $6.84 per fortnight, raising their total to $1,732.02 per fortnight.
While this increase is modest compared to the $28.10 rise in September 2024, it still provides much-needed relief for pensioners feeling the squeeze of rising costs.
JobSeeker, Parenting Payment, and Rent Assistance updates
The JobSeeker Payment and Parenting Payment Single will also see increases in March, but the exact figures will be confirmed closer to the date.
For renters, the Commonwealth Rent Assistance saw a 10 percent boost in September 2024, which added $23 per fortnight for singles and $27.02 for families with up to two children. Further adjustments could follow in March, depending on indexation.
Will the income and asset test limits change?
In addition to payment increases, the income and asset test limits for the Age Pension will also be adjusted on March 20, 2025.
These changes could mean that more Australians may become eligible for a partial pension, while current pensioners could see their payments increase.
The exact limits will be updated by Services Australia as the indexation date approaches.
Major Centrelink policy changes from March 2025
It’s not just the payment rates that are changing—several important policy updates will also take effect.
Newly registered job seekers with Workforce Australia or Disability Employment Services will not face penalties for their first failure to meet a requirement.
Job seekers working 30 or more hours per fortnight for two months will avoid payment cuts if they miss an appointment with their employment provider.
Additionally, Services Australia staff will now review all compliance actions in the “penalty zone” before applying financial penalties, ending automatic payment suspensions.
Carers will also have more flexibility when it comes to their working hours. From March 20, 2025, they will be able to work up to 100 hours over a four-week period instead of the current 25-hour weekly limit.
They will still need to report their hours fortnightly but will no longer be required to report study, training, volunteering, or travel time.
Those who occasionally exceed 100 hours will still be able to use respite days to maintain their payments.
What’s next?
While the official payment figures will be released in early March, pensioners and welfare recipients should prepare for the upcoming changes. Checking eligibility for increased payments or new benefits will be crucial in the weeks ahead.
Services Australia will provide official updates confirming the new payment amounts, and those affected should stay informed about how these changes might impact their financial situation.
Whats the difference between pensioners able to work 25hrs week or $100 month, 4 weeks in a month works out the same do they think we stupid??
Sorry should read 100 hours a month not $100 month.
The amount of the “possible” government Centerlink pensioners increase is a slap in the face of millions of suffering Australians.
It’s despicable when the Prime Minister, who hasn’t done SFF for Australians let alone pensioners gets a $10,000 bonus each week! His answers are simply excuses as he and his government have no idea of how to fix things.
It angers me to hear politicians say they’re going to give millions of dollars for this and that and especially for Green Renewable Energy crap that they have no intention of honouring if they win.
Victoria, Queensland and now Western Australia have become Gestapo Dictators, contrary to the fact they (Gov’t) they work for the people not the other way around.
It’s time the Australian people need to dump Labor, Green’s and Teals from winning power at the coming election Federal and State elections before Australia is taken down the path of no return!!!
How do you decide that $4.52 a fortnight is helpful with todays cost’s?
The pension is already grossly behind
Even the minimum weekly wage.
Which it is said those in receipt of that
Are struggling.
And yet us who have only the fortnightly pension to “manage” with,
Are expected to be satisfied.
And our cost’s are no less than those.
Be honest __ could any of you manage
With the current pension.
With that being your only income and
No other money ( super or anything) to fall back on.
PROVE YOU ARE HONEST AND CARE.
People on here knocking Labor here annoys me. If it wasn’t for Labor and the assistance packages we would be screwed. If the Lnp had been in government today we would be screwed. Many of the Cost of living Crises rises were due to the Corrupt Lnp, not Labor. Lnp Never Again.
Yes, I agree it’s a slap in the face for pensioners. The prime minister has forgotten that his mother was on a pension and they did it tough or has he shamelessly brushed aside the pensioners of today for his benefit while in power. It’s an embarrassment to the pensioners $4.52 per fortnight $2.26 per week. Shame on you Anthony Albanese
$4.52 Doesn’t even buy one coffee..but hey, every two weeks you can buy a kg of potatoes..Albo is taking the pi#s…
Also the buying of submarines from the US is OK to waste $100 billion well who knows how much the real cost, but that’s okay it’s not going to Australian taxpayers and pensioners or for communities. The newly Trump government seems they will cancel that deal which is fine however the first payment of $800 million plus will be in Americas pockets without return. No one talks about that but again that’s fine because it’s not going to a worthy cause for Australians
Hope those that fell for albos .poor mummy syndrome just to win you votes are all regretting it lnp were back in they would do what they started in 2004 help with the cost of living .they used to help with a 1of payment to pay bills .buy food .nothing in 3 yrs from labour .but they can buy themselves new homes cars .fly around the world .labour.you need to help Australians out workers need increases .to pensioners need more then 4 bucks you can’t even buy a loaf of bread even in aldi .and renters need help .with water bills .that owners are slogging us with .I get we use there water .but they get rates notice pay it all .then real estate slog us with an extra waterbill
Our rent alone goes up $10 per year. We desperately needed a much better increase. We can’t cut back much more. Haven’t had steak in yonks. Mr Albanese We need a decent boost. Life for renters is so hard and scary.
So generous Albo. You need to get in the real world..not even $5.00 but you can throw billions of dollars to overseas counties.. Start and look after the citizens of Australia who have worked hard to Make our beautiful country to prosper.
The Country that you and the Liberal party have destroyed in less than 3 years