The Week Ahead

So I think I’ve move past my despair and disheartenedess from last week, ready for the pollies to go back for another sitting week and try to make some announce-ables on cost-of-living stick in the lead up to the Federal election, which I’m still feeling is gonna be may not December but who knows yet?

Speaking of announce-ables, the Combined Superannuants and Pensioners Association have looked at the numbers and anticipate a 2.6% indexation on the base rate of pensions and 2% on supplements and other payments like JobSeeker.

How much will JobSeeker increase in September 2024?The JobSeeker Payment rates are indexed based on the last 2 quarterly CPI increases, as reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. On 20 September 2023, JobSeeker Payment rates will most likely increase by 2%. JobSeeker Payment Current maximum fortnightly rate Expected rate from September 2024 Amount extra each fortnight Single, no children $762.70 $778 $15.30 Single, 55 or older (after 9 continuous months on an income support payment) OR with a dependent child/children $816.90 $833.20 $16.30 Single, principal carer (exempt from mutual obligations due to specific carer responsibilities) $987.70 $1,007.50 $19.80 Partnered $698.30 $712.30 $14 Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment Current maximum fortnightly rate Expected rate from September 2024 Amount extra each fortnight Single/Couple separated due to ill health $1,116.30 $1,144.40 $28.10 Couple (each) $841.40 $862.60 $21.20 Couple (combined) $1,682.80 $1,725.20 $42.40

So, for me that’s $21.40 a fortnight on the pension, and $3.54 a fortnight up on rent assistance (going from $177.20 $180.74 a fortnight, $90.37 a week). Of course that’s already gone, so it’s a good thing I’m signing a contract with AUWU to become the first actual employee of the Unemployed Works Union to further their Nobody Deserves Poverty campaign. If I’m good enough at my job it won’t exist soon, which should be the aim for most of the charities circling the slush fund that is the welfare industry.

butternut pumkin on my lap

We’re still sick in this house, I’ve  just got the tail end cold which is fine until I talk and then I cough like crazy. The boys are ploughing through the tissues, good thing I have a delivery of essentials coming from Amazon this week. If anyone wants to send a care package there’s some boring things on our household wishlist. We’re still down a car which means my opportunities to do my shopping around have been limited and we’ve had to actually buy bread this week (the horror!). Even though Bruce won’t be up to fixing his car, since he’s sick and will be doing minimum work this week I can hit up our locals for breads and fruit and veg tomorrow 🙂 Til then, the guy at the servo this morning gave me this pumpkin so I’ll chop it up and roast it and add it to tonight’s meal. Score!