From 1 July 2022, more than 1.4 million Australian families will see an increase to family payments, while around one million pensioners will also benefit from increases in means test free areas, limits and deeming thresholds.
Minister for Social Services, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP, said that these increases are coming at an important time with costs of living skyrocketing.
“The indexation process complements the levers we are pulling across portfolios to help address the rising cost of living,” Minister Rishworth said.
“We will continue to support Australians by cutting the cost of medicines on the PBS, freezing deeming rates for pensioners, expanding access to the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, lowering energy costs and making child care cheaper.”
Family Tax Benefit Part A will increase by up to $204.40 per year for families with a child under 13 years, and $255.50 per year for those with a child 13 years and over. Similarly, Family Tax Benefit Part B will increase by up to $164.25 per year for families who have a youngest child under five and $116.80 per year for those whose youngest child is aged five to 18.
The amount of income or assets an Age Pension, Disability Support Pension or Carer Payment recipient can have before their payment is affected will also increase.
“Social security and family payments have a built in safeguard where they are automatically indexed at regular intervals to help them maintain purchasing power,” Minister Rishworth said.
Those who receive other family payments, such as Multiple Birth Allowance and Newborn Supplement, will also receive an increase.
More details on the new payment rates and thresholds are available on the Department of Social Services website.
ENDS
Background
- Allowances, such as JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (other), and family payments are indexed to increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) only, while pension rates are indexed to the higher of the increase in the CPI or Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index (PBLCI), then compared against a Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE) benchmark and increased to meet the benchmark if necessary.
- Adult rates of allowances and pensions are indexed twice a year on 20 March and 20 September.
- Payment rates and relevant income test thresholds for young people and students are indexed once a year, on 1 January.
- Family payment rates and relevant income test thresholds are indexed once a year, on 1 July.
- Means test thresholds for pensions (and Parenting Payment Single) are indexed once a year on 1 July.