$200m in unclaimed Medicare rebates, millions of Aussies to get a welfare boost

Doing one simple thing could earn you a share of $200m worth of unclaimed Medicare rebates, as millions of Aussies get a welfare boost.

Some $200 million in unclaimed Medicare rebates is waiting for Australians who haven’t updated their bank account details, says Services Australia boss Hank Jongen.

And he has revealed he had a relative who hadn’t updated their bank details in a while and when they did they received a $600 payment.

Speaking on Channel 7’s Sunrise program, he said it was easy to check bank account details were correct through the mygov website or Medicare app.

“I promise it will only take a few minutes,” he said.

“If you’re owed money we will automatically identify that and generally we pay within three days.

Hank Jongen.

“People don’t think to update their Medicare bank account details and as a result they’re losing out on money.”

The news comes as more than 4.7 million Australians prepare to receive welcome boosts to social security payments.

Welfare and assistance payments will increase as part of indexation from March 20. Here are some of the key changes.

WHAT CAN RECIPIENTS OF AGE PENSION, DISABILITY SUPPORT PENSION AND CARER PAYMENT EXPECT?

From Monday they will get an increase of $37.50 a fortnight for singles and $56.40 a fortnight for couples combined. The maximum fortnightly rate of pension will increase to $1064 for singles and $1604 for couples, including the pension supplement and energy supplement.

“These increases are on top of similar increases that were made in September last year,” Mr Jongen said.

“What that means is that a pensioner couple for example, are now receiving something like $115 a fortnight more than they were receiving in August last year.”

WHAT ABOUT JOBSEEKER PAYMENT AND ADULT ABSTUDY PAYMENT RATES?

These will also be indexed from Monday, single recipients of the JobSeeker payment and ABSTUDY recipients aged over 22 years and without children will receive $701.90 per fortnight including energy supplement. This reflects a $24.70 increase. Each member of a couple in receipt of the JobSeeker payment and ABSTUDY will benefit from an additional $22.50 per fortnight, with the fortnightly rate increasing to $639.10 including Energy Supplement.

WILL SINGLE PARENTS GET A BOOST?

Single parents receiving a parenting payment will receive an additional $33.90 a fortnight, with the rate increasing to $967.90, including the pension supplement, pharmaceutical allowance, and energy supplement.

WHAT ABOUT RENT ASSISTANCE?

Single recipients of maximum rate Commonwealth Rent Assistance (without children) can expect to see a $5.60 increase to $157.20 per fortnight. Maximum rate Rent Assistance recipients (with one or two children) will see an increase of $6.58 to $184.94 per fortnight.

Maximum rate recipients with three or more children will receive an increase of $7.42 to $208.74 per fortnight.

WHAT OTHER PAYMENTS ARE GOING UP?

Assistance payments will increase by $5.60 a fortnight for singles without children, $6.58 for maximum rate recipients with one or two children and $7.42 for those with three or more children. Single parents on the parenting payment will receive a boost of $33.90 a fortnight, increasing the payment to $967.90.

HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE?

Mr Jongen suggests going to the Services Australia website and look under rates “because it can vary depending on your family circumstances”.

“Don’t ring us please,” he said.

“Most people who are in receipt of these payments already know that these increases will roll out automatically.

“You don’t need to contact us, however it’s important to remember the increase kicks in from Monday 20th of March. For some people it may mean they receive a few days at the old rate and then the remainder of the payment at the new rate.”

More details are available on the Services Australia website.

Adult rates of allowances and pensions are indexed twice a year to ensure they keep pace with increases in the cost of living. They will next be indexed on September 20 this year.

Additionally, income and assets limits may change as a result of payment indexation.

More detail regarding March indexation is available on the Department of Social Services website. See here for more details.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said indexation was an important part of the welfare system and helped “those doing it toughest”.

“Australia’s social security system exists to support our most vulnerable citizens, and we know they are feeling the pinch,” she said.

“Indexation is a pillar of our social security system and we want more money in the pockets of everyday Australians so they can better afford essentials.”