Centrelink Payment Rates 2026: JobSeeker, Pension & DSP + 20 Sept Increase

JobSeeker, Age Pension, DSP, Parenting Payment & Youth Allowance per fortnight, income cut-offs, and the rates from 20 September 2026 — all in one table.

Updated 3 September 2026

JobSeeker Payment rates (current — from 20 March 2026)

JobSeeker Payment is the main income support payment for people aged 22 to Age Pension age who are looking for work. Maximum fortnightly rates from 20 March 2026, as published by Services Australia (basic rate; the Energy Supplement is paid on top): Single, no children — $808.70 per fortnight (about $21,026 a year), plus $8.80 Energy Supplement = $817.50. Single with a dependent child or children — $866.00 ($22,516 a year), plus $9.50 Energy Supplement = $875.50. Single, 55 or older after 9 continuous months on an income support payment — $866.00. Single principal carer exempt from mutual obligations (foster care, home schooling, distance education, large family) — $1,047.30. Partnered (each) — $740.30 ($19,248 a year), plus $7.90 Energy Supplement = $748.20. From 20 September 2026 the basic rates rise to $824.90 (single, no children), $883.30 (single with children, or 55+), $1,068.20 (exempt principal carer) and $755.10 (partnered, each). Income test: the first $150 a fortnight is free; your payment then reduces by 50 cents for every dollar between $150 and $256, and 60 cents for every dollar above $256 (single principal carers: 40 cents per dollar over $150). The payment cuts out at $1,530.17 a fortnight for a single with no children ($1,557.17 from 20 September 2026), $1,626.84 for a single with children and $1,414.67 for each partnered recipient; a partner's income reduces your payment by 60 cents per dollar over $1,415 a fortnight ($1,440 from 20 September). The assets test cuts JobSeeker off entirely above $333,000 (single homeowner), $600,000 (single non-homeowner), $499,000 (couple, homeowners) or $766,000 (couple, non-homeowners). JobSeeker recipients must meet mutual obligation requirements, including job search and appointments with their employment services provider.

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From 20 September 2026 — the new rates (published by DSS)

The Department of Social Services has published the 20 September 2026 indexation, so the new rates are known before they start. New maximum fortnightly rates from 20 September 2026: JobSeeker single, no children $824.90 (up $16.20; $833.70 with the Energy Supplement); JobSeeker single with children $883.30 (up $17.30); JobSeeker partnered $755.10 each (up $14.80); Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment $1,237.70 single (up $36.80) and $933.00 each for couples ($1,866.00 combined, up $55.60); Parenting Payment Single $1,068.20 including the Pension Supplement (up $20.90); Parenting Payment Partnered $755.10 (up $14.80); Rent Assistance up to $223.80 a fortnight for a single with no children (up $4.40) and $263.06 with one or two children (up $5.18). Means-test limits move too: the pension income cut-off becomes $2,701.40 a fortnight for a single and $4,128.00 for a couple combined; the pension assets cut-off becomes $745,750 for a single homeowner ($1,012,750 non-homeowner) and $1,121,000 for a couple ($1,388,000 non-homeowner); the JobSeeker cut-off becomes $1,557.17 for a single with no children. Youth Allowance, Austudy and the income and assets free areas are not indexed in September — they change on 1 January and 1 July respectively. The other sections on this page show the rates that apply until 19 September 2026.

Youth Allowance rates (January 2026)

Youth Allowance is available to full-time students aged 16–24, apprentices aged 16–24, and job seekers aged 16–21. Maximum fortnightly rates from the 1 January 2026 indexation: Living at home (single, no children) — $418.90 if under 18, or $482.40 if 18 or over. Away from home (single, no children) — $677.20. Single with dependent children — $854.20. Partnered, no children — $677.20; partnered with children — $733.20. These rates are not indexed on 20 September — the next change is 1 January 2027. Income test for students and apprentices: earnings up to $539 a fortnight (the income free area) don't affect your payment; between $539 and $646 it reduces by 50 cents per dollar, and above $646 by $53.50 plus 60 cents per dollar. The Student Income Bank lets you bank unused income-free credits up to $13,500 to use in fortnights when you earn more. Job seekers on Youth Allowance use the JobSeeker income test ($150 free area). The parental income test applies to dependent recipients: the payment reduces once combined parental income exceeds $66,722 a year. Recipients assessed as independent are not subject to the parental income test.

Age Pension rates (current — from 20 March 2026)

The Age Pension is available to Australians who have reached Age Pension age (67) and meet residence requirements. Maximum fortnightly rates from 20 March 2026: Single — $1,200.90 per fortnight ($31,223 a year). Couple (each) — $905.20 ($23,535 a year each, $47,070 combined). Couple combined — $1,810.40. These figures include the Pension Supplement ($86.50 single, $65.20 each for couples) and the Energy Supplement ($14.10 single, $10.60 each). From 20 September 2026 the single rate rises to $1,237.70 (up $36.80) and the couple rate to $933.00 each ($1,866.00 combined, up $55.60). Income test: the free area is $226 a fortnight for singles and $396 for couples (combined); above it the pension reduces by 50 cents for every dollar of income (25 cents each for a couple). The pension cuts out at $2,627.80 a fortnight for a single and $4,016.80 for a couple combined ($2,701.40 and $4,128.00 from 20 September 2026). Assets test: full pension up to $333,000 (single homeowner), $600,000 (single non-homeowner), $499,000 (couple, homeowners) or $766,000 (couple, non-homeowners); the pension cuts out at $733,500 (single homeowner), $1,000,500 (single non-homeowner), $1,102,500 (couple, homeowners) and $1,369,500 (couple, non-homeowners) — rising to $745,750, $1,012,750, $1,121,000 and $1,388,000 from 20 September 2026. The Age Pension is means-tested on both income and assets — whichever test produces the lower rate is the one that applies.

Parenting Payment rates (current — from 20 March 2026)

Parenting Payment supports the principal carer of a young child. There are two rates depending on your relationship status. Single parents — $1,047.30 per fortnight ($27,230 a year), which is the $1,017.20 basic rate plus the $30.10 Pension Supplement as quoted by Services Australia; the $12.00 Energy Supplement and $7.00 Pharmaceutical Allowance are paid on top (typical total $1,066.30). Eligibility: youngest child under 14. Partnered parents — $740.30 per fortnight ($19,248 a year), plus $7.90 Energy Supplement ($748.20). Eligibility: youngest child under 6. From 20 September 2026: Parenting Payment Single rises to $1,068.20 including the Pension Supplement (typical total $1,087.20) and Parenting Payment Partnered to $755.10 ($763.00 with the Energy Supplement). Income test, single: the free area is $232.60 a fortnight with one child, $257.20 with two, $281.80 with three, plus $24.60 for each further child; above it the payment reduces by 40 cents per dollar and cuts out at $2,898.35 a fortnight with one child ($2,950.60 from 20 September 2026). Income test, partnered: $150 free area, then 50 cents per dollar up to $256 and 60 cents per dollar above; your partner's income reduces the payment by 60 cents per dollar over $1,415 a fortnight ($1,440 from 20 September). Parenting Payment Single recipients may also get Rent Assistance (up to $257.88 a fortnight with one or two children; $263.06 from 20 September 2026) and the Pensioner Concession Card for discounted healthcare, utilities and transport.

Disability Support Pension rates (current — from 20 March 2026)

The Disability Support Pension (DSP) provides income support for people with a permanent physical, intellectual or psychiatric condition that prevents them from working 15 or more hours a week. Maximum fortnightly rates from 20 March 2026 for people aged 21 or over (or under 21 with a dependent child): Single — $1,200.90 per fortnight ($31,223 a year). Couple (each) — $905.20 ($23,535 a year each). These are the same as the Age Pension and include the Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement. From 20 September 2026 they rise to $1,237.70 single and $933.00 each for couples. People under 21 without children are paid on the lower youth rate scale — check your rate with Services Australia. Income test: the free area is $226 a fortnight for singles and $396 for couples (combined); you can earn up to this without affecting your payment, and it then reduces by 50 cents per dollar. DSP assets test thresholds and cut-offs match the Age Pension. To qualify, you must have a condition assessed at 20 or more points under the Impairment Tables, and it must be fully diagnosed, treated and stabilised. People under 35 must generally participate in a Program of Support before being eligible.

When do Centrelink payments increase?

Centrelink payments are indexed (adjusted) twice a year, on 20 March and 20 September. Pension-type payments (Age Pension, DSP, Carer Payment, Parenting Payment Single) are indexed using the higher of CPI or the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index (PBLCI), then benchmarked against Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE) — the combined couple rate must be at least 41.76% of MTAWE, which puts the single rate at around 27.7%. Allowance-type payments (JobSeeker, Parenting Payment Partnered) are indexed to CPI only, and Youth Allowance, Austudy and ABSTUDY are indexed once a year on 1 January. This means allowances tend to fall behind pensions over time as wages grow faster than prices. The 20 September 2026 rates have already been published by the Department of Social Services (see the section above) and apply from your first payment on or after 20 September 2026 — $16.20 more a fortnight on single JobSeeker and $36.80 more on the single pension. After that, the next indexation is 20 March 2027, with Youth Allowance changing on 1 January 2027. Income and assets free areas are indexed separately on 1 July.

Official resources

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