New JobSeeker payment won't be enough says local Vinnies representative

Government ministers have agreed to permanently lift the base rate of the JobSeeker payment by $50 a fortnight when the coronavirus supplement ends next month, which means those receiving the benefit will get $615.70 a fortnight, which is still a drop from the current rate of $715 a fortnight, when the $150 coronavirus supplement expires at the end of March.

Mr Rabbett said the St Vincent de Paul Society has been advocating for an increase rate for a number of years, as an extra $50 a month - or just under $4 a day - doesn't make much of a difference.

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"We've been advocating for several years now to increase the rate. Obviously, with this JobSeeker payment for the past 12 months, it's made it a lot easier for those who are doing it tough," he said.

"These payments have been reduced on three occasions now come March. $4 a day is nothing when you look at it. That's only a $50 increase a fortnight and that's not going to be able to help anyone."

Mr Rabbett believes an increase of anywhere between $150-200 would be more adequate.

"We see a lot of people in really bad situations and obviously the past year and $50 is not going to do much to help them, especially when the coronavirus payment is to be cut," he said.

"If you take it up to $200 a fortnight, that's a little bit more, about $20 a day."

Over the past few months, Mr Rabbett said he's noted an increase in calls to St Vincent de Paul Society's hotline.

"I know we're getting 60 phone calls a day at Orange for assistance," he said.

"If you go across the whole area, that could be between 80-100 calls per day. That's increased over the past few months, when payments have been cut down."

Contact the local St Vincent's store on 6331 4094.

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