I am pleased that more than 3.7 million pensioners across the country have received an increase to their payments from September 20, the second rise this year.
Single age pensioners will receive an increase of up to $11.50 a fortnight, while age pensioner couples will receive up to $17.40 extra a fortnight.
This means total pension payments for people on the maximum rate will be $854.30 a fortnight for singles, and $1,288.00 a fortnight for couples.
This is good news for the age pensioners across the Mornington Peninsula, Bass Coast, Phillip Island, Koo Wee Rup and Lang Lang.
In addition, around one million allowance recipients will also benefit from increases to income support payments such as Newstart and parenting payment.
Parenting payment single recipients will receive an extra $7.20 a fortnight to $732.30.
Newstart allowance, parenting payment partnered, widow allowance, partner allowance and sickness allowance will increase by $5.20 a fortnight for singles and $4.70 each for couples (including energy supplement).
These increases will help pensioners keep up with rises in cost of living expenses.
Pensions will continue to increase in March and September every year under an Abbott government.
The government is pleased to deliver increases to those on the age pension, disability support pension, carer payment and veterans’ income support.
This is on top of our election commitment delivered earlier this month to annually index the income thresholds for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card to CPI.
Full details of all rates and thresholds to be indexed on 20 September can be found at http://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-department/benefits-payments/indexation-rates-september-2014
Media contact: Samantha Robin on 03 5979 3188 or 0427 787 166
Download the related file: 230914 Media Release – payment increase for pensioners.pdf