Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
Australia’s welfare system is set for a major shake-up when new obligations for jobseekers come into effect.
Some payments will also receive a bump, while the price of some medicines are set to drop from Friday.
Individuals on unemployment benefits will no longer need to apply for 20 jobs a month when the scheme is replaced by a points-based activation system from July 4.
Instead, to keep receiving payments, welfare recipients must receive 100 points from jobseeking activities.
There is a list of more than 30 tasks and activities that each carry their own individual points value, such as attending job interviews and studying or training.
Jobseekers will still have to apply for at least four jobs each month, which will be worth a minimum of 25 points.
That figure was set by the previous government at five but was brought down to four earlier this week by new Employment Minister Tony Burke.
He had previously vowed to tweak the system after fierce criticism from advocates.
In a statement, Mr Burke said people on the scheme would receive a “clean slate” from July 4.
“These changes will provide real incentives for people who are making an extra effort to be job ready,” he said.
“It is important to note that people who continue to do exactly what they did under the old system – apply for 20 jobs a month – will still meet their points requirements and therefore satisfy their mutual obligation.”
From Friday, 1.4 million Aussies who receive a payment under the family tax benefit (part A and B) will benefit from an increase.
Families with a child younger than 13 will receive up to $204.40 more under the family tax benefit part A over 2022-23.
Payments will increase by a maximum of $255.50 for families with a child 13 years and older.
Families receiving family tax benefit Part B and whose youngest child is under 5 will receive an increase of as much as $164.25 per year.
Families on family tax benefit part B with a youngest child aged 5-18 will receive up to $116.80 more per year.
One million pensioners will also benefit from increases in means-test-free areas, limits and deeming thresholds.
The amount of income or assets an age pension, disability support pension or carer payment recipient can have before their payment is affected will also increase.
