In Australia, from March 20, 2025, Centrelink payments will be adjusted on the latest indexation primarily intended to help people keep up with the increasing cost of living. The adjustments include new payment amounts applicable to the pensions, JobSeeker, Parenting Payment, and Rent Assistance, but an additional one-off bonus for some Australians.
The What and How of Indexation
Indexation is the pegging of social security payments to keep its parity with inflation and maintain the purchasing value of the recipients. This generally happens every year in March and September, when payments are usually in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), with some payments also linked to the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index.
Specific Payment Increases Starting March 20, 2025
For Age Pension recipients, single individuals will receive an increase of $4.60 every fortnight that would bring it to $1,149 as a maximum rate. Couples will each receive an increase of $3.50 per fortnight, resulting in a combined total of $1,732.20 per fortnight.
For Jobseekers, singles of 22 years and above, will receive an increase of $3.10 per fortnight bringing the total to $789.90 (inclusive of the energy supplement). Couples will receive an extra $2.80 per fortnight each. Other classifications are those who have children and those aged 55 and older who have had this payment for nine months or more will receive an increment of $3.30 per fortnight.
Also enjoying increases are the recipients of Parenting Payment. The single-parent households will be given an additional $4.00 every fortnight, while the partnered parents will get $2.80 more.
There will also be increases regarding the Commonwealth Rent Assistance. For instance, single recipients will now be given an increase of $0.80, bringing the amount to $212. In a similar vein, couples will enjoy an increase of $0.80, thus raising their payment to $199.80. Single sharers are according to get a $0.53 increment, bringing the total to $141.33.
Beyond the regular indexation increases, this is an extraordinary bonus payment announced by the Australian Government specifically for those eligible Australians aged 65 to 67 years, worth $885 as an extra financial relief support for older Australians experiencing financial hardships but not qualifying for the Age Pension.
Eligibility Criteria for the Bonus Payment of $885
The individuals should be aged between 65 and 67 as at March 1, 2025, to receive this bonus. They should also be an Australian resident, passed income and assets test, not a recipient of the Age Pension or certain kinds of payments, and possess a valid Centrelink online account or registrant of Services Australia.
The $885 bonus will begin to be distributed beginning March 15, 2025. Services Australia advised that payment delivery will take place over approximately a two-week period automatically to eligible people. Application is not required by eligible recipients for this payment, as the processing then occurs on the basis of existing Centrelink records.
Information Keeping and Fraud Prevention
It is important that recipients are aware of the official communication from Centrelink and use caution when it comes to potential scams. Reports of unsolicited messages claiming to offer “‘fake Centerlink bonuses’ for pensioners” have been made. Recipients should authenticate unsolicited messages and must not use unverified pressure channels to provide personal information.
Conclusion
The changes in Centerlink payments payment entitled to all persons aged between 65 and 67 that will commence on March 20, 2025, as well regular indexation increases will prove to be extensions of the government efforts in assuaging suffering in general, among Australians, due to financial strain. Therefore, it is encouraged for recipients to check that their individual details are consistent with the Centrelink system while still being alert against possible scams.