Australian Government Is Increasing JobSeeker By $25 Per Week

Scott Morrison has confirmed the Australian government will be increasing the JobSeeker amount to help vulnerable Aussies who are out of work.

But, don't expect too much more money in your pocket.

The Prime Minister has explained the subsidy will increase by $50 a fortnight, or $25 a week, or a little less than $4 a day.

The changes will kick into gear from April 1 and will affect around two million Australians who are currently receiving JobSeeker.

The $150 coronavirus supplement will end on March 31 and welfare organisations have been working tirelessly to get the government to commit to a large increase on the subsidy based off pre-pandemic levels.

The benefit equates to around $44 per day, but Australian Council of Social Service wanted to see this jump by $25.

Scott Morrison said: "I want to assure all Australians that I can tell you, nothing will distract me or my Government from my pledge to them to save lives and save livelihoods."

The Prime Minister added it was the biggest single increase in unemployment benefits since the mid 1980s.

"But I think the more relevant feature to focus on is its percentage of the minimum wage. It brings up from 37.5 per cent to 41.2 per cent," he said.

There will also be changes to the requirements job seekers will have to undergo if they want to remain on the payment.

Anyone who is unemployed and wanting to be on or stay on JobSeeker will have to conduct 15 job searches every month until the end of June. From the beginning of July, that quota will increase to 20 job searches every month.

Employers are also encouraged to contact the government if someone who is unemployed turns down a job offer.

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash said: "We will also, after six months of being on welfare, require people to enter into an intensive training stage.

"In other words, we're going to give them the best chance they can to do a short course to enhance their skills or to do some work experience.

"Remember, this is all about getting people off welfare and into work. The best form of welfare is a job, and we will do everything that we can to move people from welfare into work."

Featured Image Credit: Pixabay

Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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