Centrelink cash boost coming in weeks for millions of Australians   
Recipients will soon find out how much their payments are tipped to increase by thanks to quarterly indexation.   

Yahoo Finance.
Mon 17 February 2025



Millions of Centrelink recipients are just weeks away from getting a boost in their payments. The March 20 indexation date is one of four in the yearly calendar that sees Centrelink payments keep pace with inflation.

Services Australia is set to announce how much these payments will increase early next month and they will apply to several branches of welfare. The last time Services Australia updated the amount given was on January 1.

Here's what you need to know for the March update.

What Centrelink payments will be affected?
If the indexation follows what happened this time last year, it will affect payments such as:

Age Pension

Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment

Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement

Commonwealth Rent Assistance

JobSeeker

Parenting Payment Single

ABSTUDY

The government says each change in the amount given to each recipient is designed to "deliver timely cost of living relief" to those who are doing it tough or retired.

“Our number one priority is addressing inflation and cost of living pressures," Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said.

"These challenges highlight the importance of regular indexation to ensure that payment recipients have more money in their pockets for everyday expenses.

“Pension recipients are some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, many having worked all their lives contributing to our society or caring for a loved one.

“This regular indexation is in addition to our boost to working age and student payments."


How much are the payments going up by?
The government usually reveals this information within the first few days of the month in which indexation occurs.

Most payments are indexed by the movement in the consumer price index over the six months from the previous June to the previous December.

The increase will hit accounts on March 20.

March's indexation will also be the last round before the federal election.

Back in January, Rishworth warned that if the Coalition is elected, the number of increases in Centrelink payments would be "at risk".   

"Peter Dutton’s Liberal and National Coalition have labelled it “reckless spending” and indicated it would be part of their $315 billion of cuts, if elected," she said.