Pension to increase by $6.70

FEDERAL MP Justine Elliot has announced an increase in the pension claiming it will help local pensioners keep up with living costs.

Richmond MP Justine Elliot. Picture: Jay Cronan

FEDERAL MP Justine Elliot has announced an increase in the pension claiming it will help local pensioners keep up with living costs.

And while the government's "historic pension reforms" have delivered an increase of more than $150 per fortnight since 2009, the most recent increase announced on Tuesday is only an extra $6.70 per fortnight.

"We delivered the biggest increase to the pension in its 100 year history, and the boost gives our local pensioners that little bit extra to help manage the budget," Mrs Elliot said.

"Single pensioners on the maximum rate will receive an extra $6.70 a fortnight and pensioner couples on the maximum rate will receive an extra $10 a fortnight combined."

Mrs Elliot said the rise was in line with a fair indexation system that followed living costs.

"Labor understands that pensioners have the least room to move in their budgets," Mrs Elliot.

"That's why it's so important that when the cost of living goes up, the pension goes up to match it."

From May, pensioners will receive an increase of about $338 per year as part of the clean energy future package.

Mrs Elliot slammed Tony Abbott and the Coalition for voting against the increase.

"After a lifetime of work, pensioners deserve a fair go," she said.

"As local pensioners look forward to a pension increase today and another boost in the next few months, they will be quite rightly asking Tony Abbott just how much he plans to rip away.

"They deserve to know their pension is being protected, and they deserve better than Tony Abbott's savage cuts."

Originally published as Pension to increase by $6.70