Budget May 2023 - Individuals & Families

Increase to Working Age Payments

The government has announced additional funding to enhance the support provided to individuals receiving working-age payments, including the JobSeeker Payment.

Specifically, the government plans to implement the following measures:

• A $40 per fortnight increase in the base rate of various working-age and student payments. This adjustment will apply to the JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment (Partnered), Austudy, ABSTUDY, Disability Support Pension (Youth), and Special Benefit.
• The extension of eligibility for the higher single JobSeeker Payment rate to recipients aged 55 years and over who have been on the payment continuously for nine months or more. Previously, this higher rate was only available to individuals aged 60 years and over.

As a result of these changes, approximately 52,000 eligible recipients will witness an enhancement in their base payment rate by $92.10 per fortnight.

By offering increased support to recipients aged 55 years and over, recognizing that most of them are women, the government acknowledges the additional obstacles older Australians face when re-entering the workforce. Challenges such as age discrimination and poor health are considered with this measure.

Increased access to Single Parenting Payment

The government has announced a significant change in the eligibility age for single principal carers receiving Parenting Payments. From September 2023, the eligibility age for the youngest child will be increased from 8 to 14 years of age.

This policy adjustment will enable single principal carers to continue receiving Parenting Payment for an additional six years until their youngest child reaches the age of 14. Currently, when the youngest child turns 8, single principal carers are transitioned to other income support payments, such as JobSeeker Payment, which has a lower maximum rate. The base rate for JobSeeker Payment is $745.20 per fortnight, while the base rate for Parenting Payment (Single) is $922.10 per fortnight.

Furthermore, the government has decided to abolish ParentsNext starting July 1, 2024. Instead, they will develop a voluntary replacement program to provide high-quality pre-employment support. This change aims to eliminate the risk of losing payments and alleviate unnecessary stress and anxiety for participants, who are primarily women and single parents.