JobSeeker not enough to cover cost of living increases, report claims
JobSeeker payments aren't enough to cover basic living costs, a new report from Anglicare Australia says.
The national not-for-profit pointed to the impact of inflation - and the increases in living costs from providers who had jacked up prices to an even greater extent.
Anglicare said housing costs had increased by 22 per cent, food and groceries by 17 per cent, electricity by 17 per cent, and transport by 11 per cent.
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JobSeeker payments don't cover basic living costs, a new report claims. 9News
And while essential costs, Anglicare said, were growing "much faster" than inflation, most Centrelink payments were only raised in line with the CPI.
Anglicare executive director Kasy Chambers said that people on lower incomes are paying the highest price for rising living costs.
"Our research shows that it costs more to be poor," she said.
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"For decades, people on the lowest incomes were already falling short on the cost of basics.
"But over the last two years, the cost of essentials like rent, food, and utilities has been skyrocketing.
"They already spend more of their weekly budgets on essentials.
"When their incomes fall even further behind living costs, they have no room to move and no other costs to cut out of their budgets. That punishes people who are already earning less."
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She said this led to people incurring spiralling debt, or missing out on basic essentials including meals and medical appointments.
"These numbers show us that Australians doing it tough need real action, and real leadership," Chambers said.
"That means raising the rate of Centrelink payments, making the minimum wage a living wage, and creating cheaper insurance and energy options for people who need them.
"People on low incomes did not create Australia's cost-of-living crisis. They shouldn't be asked to pay a higher price for it. We need a plan to stop the lowest-paid Australians from being pushed deeper into poverty."
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