Payment increase for more than 14,000 pensioners in Bonner

More than 3.7 million pensioners in Australia, including over 14,000 pensioners in Bonner, will receive an increase to their payments from September 20, Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, said today.

 

“Single age pensioners will receive an increase of up to $11.50 a fortnight, while age pensioner couples will receive up to $17.40 extra a fortnight, the second rise this year,” Mr Vasta said.

 

“This means total pension payments for people on the maximum rate will be $854.30 a fortnight for singles, and $1,288.00 a fortnight for couples.”

 

“This is good news for the 14,189 age pensioners in Bonner.”

 

In addition, around one million allowance recipients will also benefit on September 20 from increases to income support payments such as Newstart and Parenting Payment.

 

Parenting Payment Single recipients will receive an extra $7.20 a fortnight to $732.30.

 

Newstart Allowance, Parenting Payment Partnered, Widow Allowance, Partner Allowance and Sickness Allowance will increase by $5.20 a fortnight for singles and $4.70 each for couples (including Energy Supplement).

 

Mr Vasta said the increases will help pensioners keep up with rises in cost of living expenses.

 

“Pensions will continue to increase in March and September every year under an Abbott Government,” Mr Vasta said.

 

“The Abbott Government is pleased to deliver increases to those on the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment and veterans’ income support.”

 

“This is on top of our election commitment delivered earlier this week to annually index the income thresholds for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card to CPI,” Mr Vasta said.

 

Full details of all rates and thresholds to be indexed on 20 September can be found at www.dss.gov.au/about-the-department/benefits-payments/indexation-rates-september-2014.