Age pensioners in Wide Bay receive payment increase
23rd September, 2015
Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss, has advised that from today single age pensioners will receive an increase of up to $6.80 per fortnight, and age pensioner couples will receive up to $10.20 extra per fortnight.
“After these new increases, the maximum payment for the age pension will rise to $867 a fortnight for single pensioners and $1,307 for couples,” Mr Truss said.
“These latest payment increases are in addition to the boost pensioners received from the Coalition Government’s decision to abolish the carbon tax, while enabling pensioners to keep Labor’s carbon tax compensation of $14.10 per fortnight for single pensioners and $21.20 for couples.
The Newstart Allowance, Parenting Payment Partnered, Widow Allowance, Partner Allowance and Sickness Allowance will also increase as a result of today’s indexation.
“The increases in the Age Pension are tied to indexation according to two measures: the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index or the Consumer Price Index “ whichever produces the higher result. That result is then compared to a Male Total Average Weekly Earnings benchmark, and if this benchmark gives a higher pension increase, then the benchmark is used to adjust pensions.
“The Coalition Government is committed to ensuring our welfare system looks after those who need it most and that the pension system is sustainable.”
Full details of all rates and thresholds indexed today can be found at:
https://www.dss.gov.au/benefits-payments/indexation-rates-september-2015
