Australian Government delivers the essential social services that Australians depend on while providing a supercharged social security safety net as part of our Economic Recovery Plan for Australia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said the Government has acted swiftly and decisively to address the pandemic’s significant impacts on Australians, their jobs, and the economy by providing an unprecedented level of support.
“This Budget delivers a range of initiatives to support Australia’s economic recovery, including extending and further targeting temporary measures specifically aimed at improving the wellbeing of individuals and families across Australia,” Minister Ruston said.
Measures in the 2020-21 Federal Budget include:
- Two additional $250 Economic Support Payments, the first to be provided from December 2020 and the second from early 2021.
- Supporting more vulnerable welfare recipients through the Cashless Debit Card.
- Temporary changes to the independence test for Youth Allowance and ABSTUDY applicants.
- Temporary changes to the Paid Parental Leave work test.
- Securing the pay of thousands of community sector workers.
About 5.1 million Australians on lower incomes will benefit from two separate $250 Economic Support Payments at a cost of $2.6 billion over three years from 2020-21. The $250 payments will be delivered progressively from December 2020 to Age Pensioners, Disability Support Pensioners, eligible veterans, concession cardholders and other social security recipients. When combined with the first two $750 Economic Support Payments earlier this year, a total of $12 billion in additional assistance is being delivered to Australian households.
In addition, funding of $28.3 million will be provided to extend the successful Be Connected partnership with the eSafety Commissioner and the Good Things Foundation to 30 June 2024 so older Australians can learn online skills to safely bank, pay bills and access services online while also remaining connected with their families and communities.
