The Pension Supplement is a regular extra payment to help with utility, phone, internet and medicine costs if you get income support from the government.
Who is eligible?
There are three ways you can be eligible for the Pension Supplement.
The supplement is granted to recipients of the Age Pension, JobSeeker Payment, Carer Payment and the Disability Support Pension (unless you’re aged 20 or younger with no dependent children).
You can also access this supplement if you’re over Age Pension age and are receiving Abstudy, Austudy, Parenting Payment or Special Benefit payments.
You can access a smaller amount if you’re over Age Pension age.
If you qualify for the supplement, you will be paid automatically along with your regular pension or welfare payment. There is also the option to have your supplement paid quarterly as a lump sum.
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How much will you receive?
The amount you can receive is calculated based on the basic Pension Supplement rate combined with the rate of other government payments you’re receiving.
For singles, the basic rate is $25.20 per fortnight. The minimum supplement per fortnight you’ll receive is $39.10 and the maximum is $72.20.
For couples, the basic rate is $41.60 per fortnight, the minimum payment is $59.00 (or $29.50 each) and the maximum per fortnight is $109.60 (or $54.80 each).
If you’re in a couple, but separated due to illness, respite or prison, the rates are paid the same as if you were single.
If you travel overseas, the supplement will be paid to you for up to six weeks. If you stay beyond that, the supplement will reduce to the basic rate for as long as you’re still eligible.
Learn more about the Pension Supplement at Services Australia.
Do you qualify for the Pension Supplement? Do you think it’s enough in the current economic climate? Let us know in the comments section below.
All very well and good even though pensioners are still languishing under the poverty line. With a 3.5% increase and inflation bolting off at 7.8% and an announcement from my ‘Energy Provider’ that prices increased on the 1st March by 12.1% … AND … The elephant in the room is ‘Energy Prices’ but the gov see fit NOT to increase the ‘Energy Supplement’ to assist with rampant ‘Energy Bills’.
So, as usual, promise the world then kick the pensioners in the teeth when they’re down.