The Centrelink JobSeeker Payment is an Australian Government-funded program to assist people of working age for whom there is no job, or those who are unable to work due to sickness or injury. The maximum fortnightly rate for a single person 22 years or over without children has gone up from $762.70 to $1004.67.
Centrelink JobSeeker Payment 2024
The JobSeeker Payment is the Australian financial support vehicle, designed to assist those who are actively seeking work. Since 2024, there have been substantial changes to the rate of support given to recipients with regards to rising living costs and economic pressures.
The JobSeeker Payment is paid fortnightly, which provides recipients with regular support while seeking work. The single amount for JobSeeker Payment increased by $121.97 per fortnight, a major increase to help recipients keep pace with inflation and cost of living.
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Centrelink JobSeeker Payment 2024 Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for JobSeeker Payment in Australia are as follows:
- You need to be between 22 years of age and pension age.
- You have to be an Australian resident or the holder of a permanent visa.
- You have to be unemployed and looking for work.
- You may be eligible if you work part time or casually.
- You may be eligible if you have been temporarily stood down from your job.
Income Test
The amount you can earn before your JobSeeker Payment reduces to zero depends on your family situation.
- Income limits for single recipients:
- Single with no children: $1,453.50 per fortnight
- Single, 55 years or older, getting the payment for at least 9 months: $1,556.34 per fortnight
- Single, primary carer of a child under 16, exempt from mutual obligation: $2,666.25 per fortnight
- Single, primary carer of a child under 16: $2,233.00 per fortnight
- Single with a dependent child under 16 but not the primary carer: $1,545.00 per fortnight
Partnered recipient income limits:
- Partnered: For your income, $1,344.67, and for your partner’s income, $2,522.00 if your income is less than $150 per fortnight.
- Your income rate might differ if you happen to be the primary carer of a child below 16 or your partner gets any pension payment.
Assets Test
Your JobSeeker Payment will end if your assets are more than these limits.
- Asset limits:
- Single homeowners: $314,000
- Single non-homeowners: $566,000
- Couple homeowners: $470,000
- Couple non-homeowners: $722,000
- One partner eligible, combined assets: $470,000 (homeowners) or $722,000 (non-homeowners)
The assets test includes the type and value of all your and your partner’s assets except for your principal home.
Centrelink JobSeeker Payment Rates 2024
The following is the current JobSeeker Payment rates as of September 2023 are:
Payment Frequency and Factors Affecting Amount
- Payment Schedule: JobSeeker Payment is paid fortnightly.
The actual amount you receive will be determined by a number of things, including:
- If you have a partner
- If you have children
- How old you are
- How much you and your partner earned in the last 14 days
JobSeeker Payment Rates
Note that these rates are a guide only and are subject to change on 20 March and 20 September each year.
- Single with no children: $762.70 per fortnight
- Single with dependent child(ren): $816.90 per fortnight
- Single, aged 55 or older, receiving payment for at least 9 continuous months: $816.90 per fortnight
- Partnered: $698.30 per fortnight
- One major carer exempt from mutual obligation requirements: foster caring, non-parent relative caring under court order, home schooling, distance education, large family: $987.70 per fortnight
Consideration
- Income tax: JobSeeker Payment is taxable. You can request for tax to be deducted at source to avoid having to pay a higher amount of tax when you lodge your end of year tax return.
- Child Support: If you get JobSeeker Payment, it may affect your child support. It’s important you also tell Centrelink about your income.
- These rates run from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022. They may change. Normally, the Australian Government reviews and alters social security payments, including JobSeeker Payment, regularly to reflect another 12 months of inflation and cost of living.
Future changes
The Australian Government announced in the 2024–25 Budget that it will introduce a higher JobSeeker Payment rate for eligible recipients with a partial capacity to work up to 14 hours per week. The measure is expected to commence on 20 September 2024, subject to the passage of legislation.
How to Claim Centrelink JobSeeker Payment?
To claim for JobSeeker Payment, you will need your myGov account linked to Centrelink.
- If you haven’t already, sign up for a myGov account. Just follow the steps to create your account, then confirm your identity.
- If you have a myGov account, add your Centrelink account. This will mean you can see your Centrelink letters online.
- Log in to myGov. Click Centrelink.
- Look for “Make a claim” or “Start a claim,” then select the type of claim as “JobSeeker Payment.”
- You will need to answer questions about your personal details, employment, earnings, and other things.
- Answer these questions carefully to the end. You will need to upload documents that support your application, including any relevant proof of identity or income.
- As part of the claim process, you will be required to make a telephone appointment with a Centrelink officer to discuss your claim further.
- Once you have submitted your claim, you will be confirmed.