JobKeeper/Seeker payments targeted to individual circumstances, extended to December

Australia’s temporary income support measures, JobSeeker and JobKeeper, will be better targeted to individual circumstances and extended until December 31.

Senator Ann Ruston Picture: AAP/Kelly Barnes

New temporary support measures will see JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments targeted to individual circumstances and be extended until December.

Under the arrangements — which come into effect from September 28 — the JobKeeper rate will be $1200 per fortnight for people working 20 hours or more per week while those employed for fewer than 20 hours will receive $750.

As of Friday, the JobSeeker payments will be extended for another three months to December 31.

Federal Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said people did not need to be unemployed to access JobSeeker payments as well as JobKeeper.

“For someone who’s on full rate of JobKeeper of $1200 per fortnight, who finds themselves in the situation where that is their only income because their employer is not able to top up their payment, they are likely to be eligible for $276 of JobSeeker payments as well,” she said.

“That also means the additional supplements and allowances you get on a JobSeeker or income support payment will also be available to them whereby they may be eligible for rent assistance, a health care card, etcetera and if they have children they will be able to have the maximum rate of Family Tax Benefit.”

Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston. Picture Gary Ramage

The base rate of JobSeeker payments will be $815.70 as of September 25 — including the $250 coronavirus supplement per fortnight — for single recipients.

People can also earn up to $300 per fortnight before their payment is affected, which would bring their total income to $1115 per fortnight.

“What we seek to do by this is to create a balance between people with elevated levels of support, recognising our job market is very shallow at the moment, but also to provide the right incentives to re-engage people with the jobs market,” Ms Ruston said.

“We will continue to monitor the economic conditions that exist particularly in the jobs market and will be making announcements about any further temporary measures after that information is available to us.”

A customer talks to a staff member at Centrelink in Melbourne during stage 4 lockdowns. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Geraghty

To be eligible for JobSeeker payments, an individual with no children must have an income lower than $1257 per fortnight and is subject to meeting other requirements, like redundancies and assets tests.

Those earning part time rates of $750 in JobKeeper payments fortnightly could receive a JobSeeker payment of about $546, including the coronavirus supplement, bringing their total income to $1296.

Ms Ruston said the two programs ensured Australians maintained a connection with the workforce and were supported to find additional or alternative employment.

“I would encourage anyone who is concerned about changes to their employment or has had their income reduced to test their eligibility for JobSeeker payment or related payments.

“We have temporarily put arrangements in place so that our social security safety net is not just for people who have lost their jobs, it is able to provide a cushion for people who have had or fear their hours or income will be reduced.”