4.7 million Australians to benefit from September pension indexation. 4.7 million pensioners and allowance recipients will receive an increase to their welfare payments from September 20, 2017. As a result of the regular twice-yearly indexation, pension payments including Age Pension and Disability Support Pension will rise by $6.10 a fortnight to $894.40 for singles and $4.60 a fortnight to $674.20 for each member of a couple.
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People receiving Newstart Allowance while they look for work will also benefit from the increases of $3.20 per fortnight for singles with no children and $2.90 a fortnight each for members of a couple. Recipients of Parenting Payment Single will receive an increase of $4.50 a fortnight. Payment rates for pensions are allowances are adjusted twice a year, in March and September.
These increases help pensioners and allowance recipients keep up with increases in living costs. Rent Assistance rates also increase from next week and a range of income and assets limits for pensions and allowances will also increase as a result of indexation. This includes higher to the income and assets test limits for age pensioners before their payments are affected.
“The amount self-funded retirees can earn to qualify for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, which provides access to cheaper medicines and a range of state/territory government and local government concessions increases by $1,003 annually for singles and $802 annually for each member of a couple. Visit www.dss.gov.au/benefits-payments/indexation-rates-september-2017
1800RESPECT receives extra funding
The Nationals-Liberal Government is undertaking a concerted effort to make 1800RESPECT the best service of its type in the world. We completely turned around a system that was failing to help victims of domestic and family abuse and sexual assault. We are now continuing our process of improvement for 1800RESPECT and putting an extra $5 million a year into the service for until December 2019. In 2017-18 this will see $19.568 million in total provided to 1800RESPECT.
Airlines Urged to Put ADF Personnel in the Fast Lane
Australia’s major airlines are being encouraged to support a new campaign to honour the service of the nation’s ADF personnel both past and present. This Government is spearheading a move that will see serving and former defence personnel and their families given priority boarding as a standard feature on Australian airlines.
It is important to recognise the service and sacrifice made by our Australian Defence Force personnel and their families. The Australian public is urged to participate by signing this petition located at: https://tinyurl.com/ADFboarding