Post by Banker on Apr 4, 2012 16:22:47 GMT 7
Pitiful Pension and Newstart Increases Do Nothing to Alleviate “Anomaly”
On 20 March Carer, Disability Support and Age Pensions were increased by a mere $6.70 a fortnight for singles and $10 for couples (combined). And this is including a rise in the Pension Supplement!
And people on Newstart have only received a measly $2.90 a fortnight increase for singles and $2.60 each for couple members.
While any increase is certainly welcome, this is definitely not enough.
CPSA is wondering when the Government will wake up and realise that most pensioners and allowance recipients still struggle to pay ordinary household bills and that an increase of less than $3.40 a week does nothing to alleviate this.
The much sought after $65 increase to fortnightly payments for single Pensioners in 2009 was quickly eaten up by the rising prices of essential goods and services.
The price increases of necessities (such as electricity) since this time have been at far higher levels than the average Consumer Price Index (CPI), leading to a constant struggle to stay on top of bills.
While the bi-annual increases take into account CPI increases, they do not adequately factor into what has been termed ‘anomaly’ rises in essential services, leading to Pension and Newstart payments being barely enough, and often simply not enough, to cover living and accommodation expenses.
This often results in bad health, housing stress and social exclusion.
Since the 2009 single Pension increase we have seen a 19 per cent increase in real terms in electricity, while general CPI has remained at around 3 per cent.
Pensioners and allowance recepients in the private rental market are paying, on average, well over 30 per cent of their income on rent, more than any other group of renters. THE VOICE is unsure how such constant rises can be labelled “anomalies”.
CPSA is calling on the Australian Government to recognise this and give Pensioners and Newstart recipients a fair go.
CPSA calls for reform of income support in such a way that people forced to rely on it as their main or only source of income are able to pay for adequate food, shelter, utilities and healthcare.
Real increases to Centrelink payments would be a good start.
goo.gl/ApmGW
On 20 March Carer, Disability Support and Age Pensions were increased by a mere $6.70 a fortnight for singles and $10 for couples (combined). And this is including a rise in the Pension Supplement!
And people on Newstart have only received a measly $2.90 a fortnight increase for singles and $2.60 each for couple members.
While any increase is certainly welcome, this is definitely not enough.
CPSA is wondering when the Government will wake up and realise that most pensioners and allowance recipients still struggle to pay ordinary household bills and that an increase of less than $3.40 a week does nothing to alleviate this.
The much sought after $65 increase to fortnightly payments for single Pensioners in 2009 was quickly eaten up by the rising prices of essential goods and services.
The price increases of necessities (such as electricity) since this time have been at far higher levels than the average Consumer Price Index (CPI), leading to a constant struggle to stay on top of bills.
While the bi-annual increases take into account CPI increases, they do not adequately factor into what has been termed ‘anomaly’ rises in essential services, leading to Pension and Newstart payments being barely enough, and often simply not enough, to cover living and accommodation expenses.
This often results in bad health, housing stress and social exclusion.
Since the 2009 single Pension increase we have seen a 19 per cent increase in real terms in electricity, while general CPI has remained at around 3 per cent.
Pensioners and allowance recepients in the private rental market are paying, on average, well over 30 per cent of their income on rent, more than any other group of renters. THE VOICE is unsure how such constant rises can be labelled “anomalies”.
CPSA is calling on the Australian Government to recognise this and give Pensioners and Newstart recipients a fair go.
CPSA calls for reform of income support in such a way that people forced to rely on it as their main or only source of income are able to pay for adequate food, shelter, utilities and healthcare.
Real increases to Centrelink payments would be a good start.
goo.gl/ApmGW