Millions of Australians can expect to receive higher pensions and other payments from March 2025. It is a part of a range of changes that is going to come in for Centrelink recipients. Services Australia disclosed that jobseekers can also expect changes to observance if they are not able to fulfill their requirements.
Carers can also enjoy more flexible working hours without facing an impact on their payments. The main purpose of such changes is to alleviate the financial burden of retirees and help them to cover the rising living expenses. It is expected that the increased payments can cover the period from 20 March 2025 to 19 November 2025.
Centrelink Payment Increase 2025
In Australia, Centrelink payment is basically designed for providing financial aid to those who are facing financial hardships, especially those who are struggling with rising living costs. It is expected that from March 2025 more than five millions of Aussies are going to receive an increase into their incomes as support payments are reevaluated and raised to help individuals to keep up with inflation.
The main objective of this increase is to provide an additional financial security for qualifying Australians, especially for seniors and job seekers. Payment increases are expected to come for those Australians who are on the Age Pension, Commonwealth Rent Assistance, ABSTUDY, JobSeeker, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension as well as Parenting Payment Single.
Whichever measure of inflation increases the most, the consumer price index and wage price index, will be utilized to determine how much most Centrelink incomes are increased. The pensioner and beneficiary living cost index can also be taken into account for increase or for other changes in pension.
Centrelink Pension Increase Payment Amount & Date
The exact Centrelink Payment Increase amount is difficult to predict. The exact and final amount will be based on the Consumer Price Index. But it is expected that Centrelink Pension payment is going to increase by $19.60 for singles for every two weeks and by $14.70 for each member of a married couple for every two weeks. The expected Centrelink Payment amounts are listed in the below table.
| Applicant’s status | Expected increase amount |
| Single | $1,440.40 fortnightly |
| Couples | $1,725.20 fortnightly |
As we know that the indexed payments are normally increased twice a year, in September and March. So it is expected that the Centrelink Pension Increase Payment amount will be provided on March 12, 2025 through direct deposit and on March 18, 2025 through paper checks. But keep in mind that the exact payment date and increase figures for 2025’s will be confirmed by officials in early March.
What are the expected changes for Carers?
In Australia, Carers will be able to work for more and flexible hours without facing any
impact on their payment from March 20, 2025. According to the new changes, carers can work for at least 100 hours in a four-weekly period. Whereas carers are currently allowed to work for only 25 hours in a week.
According to the Services Australia, individuals still need to report their hours after every fortnight, but there will be no need to report study, training, travelling or volunteering hours. If an individual sometimes works more than 100 hours, then they will still be able to utilize a respite so you can receive your payment on a regular basis.
What are the expected changes for JobSeekers?
It is also expected that from March 2025 some JobSeeker beneficiaries will be cut off from Centrelink payments. From these changes, job seekers who are recently registered with Workforce Australia and Disability Employment Services are not going to face compliance action if it’s the first time that they haven’t satisfied the requirements.
Jobseekers who have been working more than thirty hours in a fortnight for at least two months can also be exempt from being cut off from the Centrelink payment from March 2025, if they miss an meeting with their employment service provider. Services Australia stated that, Our staff members will properly investigate the situation of qualifying individuals first before the automatic suspension of Centrelink payment.