Newstart and Pension Recipients to Get $500 Stimulus Payment (Update: $750)

jimbobaus on 11/03/2020 - 15:05
Last edited 12/03/2020 - 11:42

The government is set to announce a range of methods to stimulate the economy
among the expected announcements is one off payments of $500 to Newstart and pension recipients

https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6140338515001

"Australia’s battlers on Newstart or the pension will each get a one-off $500 payment from the Coalition’s multi-billion-dollar coronavirus stimulus package"

Update : Those on government payments including Newstart, FTB, pensions and carers allowance will get one off payments of $750
https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/c…

Financial

Comments

      • Levathian on 14/03/2020 - 20:45
        -2

        No because Im not eligible for any centrelink payment.

        • broseph21 on 23/03/2020 - 00:17

          FT uni students won't get it. It sucks because I've lost my job and my youth allowance barely covers rent.

          • Zachary on 23/03/2020 - 08:55
            +1

            @broseph21: Just move back to your parents' or crash at a friends house for free….that's what I've done when I can't afford rent….

    • lostn on 14/03/2020 - 22:39

      FT worker and FT uni student, get zilch.

      Where do you find the time?

      • Levathian on 19/03/2020 - 11:15

        Unlike most uni students I don't spend my weekends getting shitfaced at the pub. Some people actually have families to care for.

  • Pimpiticians 4 Life on 14/03/2020 - 01:25

    Trickle down economics = piss in your pocket and tell you its gold economics

  • CarnivalMonkey on 14/03/2020 - 11:55

    $750 is a good weekend in Bali with the local nightlife

    • Griffindinho on 14/03/2020 - 13:03

      if they were smart, they would save it

  • prhino on 14/03/2020 - 14:15

    My sister will be happy. Her digital SLR and MacBook Pro are getting a bit long in the tooth.

  • lostn on 14/03/2020 - 22:37
    -1

    i like free money. It would be nice to actually be able to buy something with it. Have not ever seen toilet paper or hand wash in stock the last few weeks.

    • MatthewTeng on 21/03/2020 - 06:43

      Try Big W, the vultures had cleared Coles in seconds, which there sat 2 pallets at our local Big W barely touched for hours.

  • dmac on 15/03/2020 - 08:06
    +21

    As someone with casual employment and on Newstart this will be handy for me. There's a lot of people who assume Newstart is for people that don't work whereas in reality it's mostly for people who can't work full time due to either personal, medical or job reasons - casualisation of the work force.

    Everyone is aware there are a few people that will "waste the money", but that is the point.

    I don't understand how people with jobs, who have been secure enough in employment to trash anyone who doesn't have secure employment, can still be upset that they aren't getting "enough". Most people on Newstart would prefer a secure job than a few hundred once every 10 years.

    • smurfinaus on 20/03/2020 - 00:54

      There are heaps of people working casual due to flexible working hours, better $$$…and they prefer it.

  • Plug on 15/03/2020 - 17:41

    At least it'll give the jobless some more money for grog and drugs. As usual though those that are working and contributing to the economy get nothing.

    • lostn on 16/03/2020 - 00:42

      Kevin07 gave every tax payer (anyone who earns above the tax free threshold) $900 about 12 years ago. The welfare recipients did not get that payout. It was the reverse of this one.

      That was the last cash handout I can recall. If there was another, it would have been for everyone.

      • sir_bazz on 16/03/2020 - 08:42

        Off topic but a small correction. The GFC handouts were still means tested. Pretty sure it wasn't available to those who had earnt in excess of $100k.

    • Griffindinho on 16/03/2020 - 14:42

      not everyone on welfare consumes alcohol or smokes. ignorance at its finest.

  • chudson on 16/03/2020 - 03:54
    +2

    I hear Harvey Norman is already working on their BIG $750 Sale…

    • Andard on 16/03/2020 - 12:16
      +1

      Does anyone remember the (I think it was called) Kevin '47 ?

      Basically a TV on sale the exact price of the stimulus package at that time. They're probably do another one to blow everyone's stimulus money all in one go.

  • CtrlAltSpoods on 16/03/2020 - 10:25

    What about younger casual workers that don't get any centre-link (actually making an effort to not rely on handouts), and now risk losing all their hours if their employer closes doors for 2 weeks?

    Those are generally the people living week to week.. Those without jobs are already receiving free handouts each week, and surviving with them.

    • Griffindinho on 16/03/2020 - 14:44

      they can apply for newstart (jobseeker now) payment. The plus side there's no waiting period for casual workers who summit a claim.

      • chudson on 16/03/2020 - 15:55
        +1

        They wont get the $750 though..

        You had to be on an eligible payment at 12 March 2020

        • Griffindinho on 16/03/2020 - 17:09
          +2

          Yeah so? He can still get the $559 per fortnight, better than nothing temporarily

        • Of Aquitaine on 04/04/2020 - 20:20

          https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/Fact_she…

          Eligibility for the first payment

          To be eligible for the first payment, you must be residing in Australia and be receiving one of the following payments, or hold one of the following concession cards, at any time from
          12 March 2020 to 13 April 2020, inclusive:
          • Age Pension
          • Disability Support Pension
          • Carer Payment
          • Parenting Payment
          • Wife Pension
          • Widow B Pension
          • ABSTUDY (Living Allowance)
          • Austudy
          • Bereavement Allowance
          • Newstart Allowance
          • JobSeeker Payment
          • Youth Allowance
          • Partner Allowance
          • Sickness Allowance
          • Special Benefit
          • Widow Allowance
          • Family Tax Benefit, including Double Orphan
          Pension
          • Carer Allowance
          • Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) holders
          • Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders
          • Veteran Service Pension; Veteran Income Support Supplement; Veteran Compensation payments, including lump sum payments; War Widow(er) Pension; and Veteran Payment.
          • DVA PCC holders; DVA Education Scheme recipients; Disability Pensioners at the temporary special rate; DVA Income support pensioners at $0 rate.
          • Veteran Gold Card holders • Farm Household Allowance

  • nubzy on 16/03/2020 - 22:31

    And meanwhile freelancers/contractors/self employed get nothing..what a wonderful government we have..

    • MITM on 16/03/2020 - 23:14

      Because, as a group, there are too many of us.

    • sir_bazz on 17/03/2020 - 14:47

      You might be able to keep in work because of it too.

      Many will.

      • julesio on 05/04/2020 - 09:46

        My market is frozen. I have to apply, I’ve never been a sole trader but every job I’ve had this year has been under my ABN. I have told many times to apply.

  • krazek on 21/03/2020 - 06:33

    We are eligible for FTB part B but i planned on applying for it as a lump sum payment at the end of the financual year. Will I still get this payment?

  • Pimpiticians 4 Life on 06/04/2020 - 23:08

    Ozcentrepay was not rolled out.

    With the government wanting to expand cashless welfare payments they had an opportunity to implement it. The $750 payment that they want spent in the economy instead of saved and the ongoing $1100 or $1500 job seeker/job keeper is being used as a political tool to win votes. The negative reaction on the cashless welfare card was why it was not implemented at this stage.

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/feb/06/cashl…

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