More than 2.6 million Age Pensioners will see an increase to their payments in a few weeks. (Source: Getty)
Australians receiving the Age Pension will see their payments increase in a few weeks, along with the cut-off limits for the income and asset tests. This means more than 2.5 million age pensioners will be able to earn slightly more money and have higher-value assets than before.
From March 20, a number of changes to social security payments, rates and limits will kick in as part of regular indexation. This will see more than five million people receive more money in their bank accounts each fortnight.
Single pensioners will receive an extra $22.20 per fortnight, with the total rate increasing to $1,200.90. Couples will see a $16.70 lift in their payments each, with the amount each partner receives going up to $905.20.
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JobSeekers will see a $15.10 fortnightly increase, with the maximum payment increasing to $817.50 for singles. The Parenting Payment will increase by $19.60, with singles to receive $1,066.30 per fortnight.
Commonwealth Rent Assistance will also increase by $4 a fortnight to $219.40 for singles.
Currently, if you are single and earning more than $2,575.40 per fortnight, you won’t be eligible to access the Age Pension at all.
From March 20, the cut-off point for the age pension will increase by $44.40 to $2,619.80 per fortnight.
For couples, the combined fortnightly income threshold will increase by $66.80 to $4,000.80.
Single homeowners will now be able to have $722,000 in assets and be eligible for a part-age pension, an increase of $7,500.
Couple homeowners will be able to have $1,085,000 in combined assets without being cut off, an increase of $11,000.
Single non-homeowners can now have $980,000 in assets, while couple non-homeowners can have $1,343,000 combined in assets.
Deeming rates will also increase again in March, after they were unfrozen in September last year.
A deeming rate of 1.25 per cent will apply for financial assets under $64,200 for singles and $106,200 for couples combined. Assets over this amount will be deemed at a rate of 3.25 per cent.
This is up from the previous rates of 0.75 per cent and 2.75 per cent, but still below the official cash rate of 3.85 per cent.
Deeming rates are the rates of return the government assumes people earn on their financial assets, including shares, superannuation and bank accounts.