Pension Increases - Why do some miss out?

Election 2010

Major church groups call for a ten year plan to overcome poverty. 20 August

UnitingCare's Election Report Card released. 19 August

Both Major Parties fall short on Social Policy Commitments. 19 August

A report card on Aged Care election promises. 18 August

UnitingCare Australia applauds the Greens in calling for a Children's Commissioner. 17 August

Coalition's Job Commitment Bonus not the answer to tackling Long-term Unemployment. 17 August

New lease of life for social services welcome. 9 August

Greens aged care policy offers action and vision. 8 August

Help for vulnerable teenagers welcome. 2 August

UnitingCare Australia launches Key Social Policy Priorities for the 2010 Federal Election at Parliament House. 2 August

Compulsory widespread income management will not address disadvantage. 28 July

Major church groups seek action on community mental health. 21 July

Draft Child Protection Standards welcome but independent National Children's Commissioner needed. 7 July

Time for Action on Gambling. 23 June

Vulnerable Australians miss out because of red tape. 31 May

Budget 2010: Election is now the best chance for the Government to deliver on its Social Inclusion Agenda. 11 May

2010 Budget priorities for action. 10 May

UnitingCare Australia calls for Ministerial Taskforce following Henry Review. 2 May

Pension Increases - Why do some miss out?

UnitingCare Media Release

19 June 2009

UnitingCare Australia is calling on the Australian Government to extend the proposed increase in pensions to all who need income support.

UnitingCare Australia will put the case today at the public hearing of the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee’s Inquiry into the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Pension Reform and Other Budget Measures) Bill 2009.

In the legislation now before Parliament, the Government is proposing to increase the pension by $33 a week for singles and $10 a week for couples. However, in a concerning development, the Government is proposing to break the 30-year-old nexus between the aged pension and the single parent pension. Single parenting payments will not be increased.

Other groups to miss out on any increase in income support are people on unemployment benefits, youth allowance, and the disability support pension paid to people under 21 without children.

UnitingCare National Director Lin Hatfield Dodds said, “We’re pleased that the Government has responded to calls for the pension to be increased – but it is unacceptable that some groups of Australians have been left out. Despite talking about social inclusion, has the Government decided that people in some disadvantaged groups in society aren’t deserving of increases in income support?”

“In this economic downturn, single parents and unemployed people are doing it as tough as anyone. There should be no pecking order of disadvantage. They deserve equitable treatment,” she said.

UnitingCare Australia also calls for the government to monitor and report on demand for advance payments of income support, as one way to assess the adequacy of income support payments.

As well, UnitingCare Australia believes an independent process through which income support payments are set, indexed and reviewed needs to be established.

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You can download the pdf version of the media release here.

For more information on our position on Pension Reform, download the UnitingCare submission and tabling statement to the to the Senate Community Affairs Committee Inquiry into the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Pension reform and other 2009 Budget measures) Bill 2009.