Murray Watt says the government is providing the largest cost-of-living increase to welfare recipients in 30 years. Is that correct?
2 years, 2 months ago

Murray Watt says the government is providing the largest cost-of-living increase to welfare recipients in 30 years. Is that correct?

ABC  

The claim As the cost of living soars, Australians receiving some welfare payments have seen some relief with the bi-annual indexation of payments — applied on September 20 — leading to an increase in the pension, JobSeeker and a number of other allowances. In making his claim, Senator Watt referred to September's bi-annual adjustment of welfare payments as "the biggest cost of living increase in 30 years". Changes included an initial 7 per cent increase to Rent Assistance and a 4 per cent increase to all other social security payments. According to then treasurer Peter Costello, the "overall effect" of the GST-related changes meant income support payments would be "1.5 per cent higher than they would have, had normal indexation arrangement applied". Later, in September 2009, more than 3 million people receiving the pension and related allowances received a boost to their payments "on top of an indexation increase", according to the Department of Social Services.

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History of this topic

Federal budget summary: JobSeeker and welfare payments increased as living costs bite
1 year, 7 months ago

Federal budget summary: JobSeeker and welfare payments increased as living costs bite

ABC  

A modest increase in unemployment benefits and cheaper health care are the centrepieces of a federal budget tasked with helping the nation's most vulnerable as living costs continue to hurt households. Key points: The rates for JobSeeker, rent assistance and the single-parent payment have increased in the budget Labor's second budget includes a surplus this financial year, and the prospect …

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