Australian government payment rates, 20 September 2026
Independent. Not Services Australia or Centrelink.
What every Australian government payment pays now, what it paid before the indexation, and the change in dollars and per cent. Rates from the Department of Social Services and Services Australia; the comparisons and calculations are ours.
| Payment | Maximum a fortnight, incl. supplements | Basic rate | Before 20 September 2026 | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age PensionSingle | $1,237.70 | $1,135.40 | $1,200.90 | +$36.80 | +3.06% |
| JobSeeker PaymentSingle, no dependent children | $833.70 | $824.90 | $817.50 | +$16.20 | +1.98% |
| Youth Allowance (job seekers)18 or over, living away from home | $684.20 | $677.20 | Not indexed on 20 September 2026 · next 1 January 2027 | ||
| Youth Allowance (students and apprentices)18 or over, living away from home | $684.20 | $677.20 | Not indexed on 20 September 2026 · next 1 January 2027 | ||
| AustudySingle, no children | $684.20 | $677.20 | Not indexed on 20 September 2026 · next 1 January 2027 | ||
| ABSTUDY Living AllowanceAged 22 or over — Independent — Single, no children | $833.70 | $824.90 | $817.50 | +$16.20 | +1.98% |
| Parenting Payment (single)Single principal carer | $1,087.20 | $1,037.50 | $1,066.30 | +$20.90 | +1.96% |
| Parenting Payment (partnered)Partnered (each) | $763.00 | $755.10 | $748.20 | +$14.80 | +1.98% |
| Disability Support PensionSingle | $1,237.70 | $1,135.40 | $1,200.90 | +$36.80 | +3.06% |
| Disability Support Pension (under 21)Single, under 18 — Dependent (at home) | $594.40 | $581.50 | Not indexed on 20 September 2026 · next 1 January 2027 | ||
| Carer PaymentSingle | $1,237.70 | $1,135.40 | $1,200.90 | +$36.80 | +3.06% |
| Carer AllowancePer care receiver | $162.60 | — | Not indexed on 20 September 2026 · next 1 January 2027 | ||
| Family Tax Benefit Part AMaximum, aged under 13 | $235.48 | — | Not indexed on 20 September 2026 · next 1 July 2027 | ||
| Family Tax Benefit Part BMaximum, youngest child aged under 5 | $200.34 | — | Not indexed on 20 September 2026 · next 1 July 2027 | ||
| Commonwealth Rent AssistanceMaximum, single with no children | $223.80 | — | $219.40 | +$4.40 | +2.01% |
| Energy SupplementSingle pensioner | $14.10 | — | Fixed amount, not indexed | ||
| Pension SupplementMaximum, single | $88.20 | — | $86.50 | +$1.70 | +1.97% |
| Pensioner Education SupplementFull rate (full-time study) | $62.40 | — | Fixed amount, not indexed | ||
Maximum a fortnight is the basic rate plus the supplements paid with it every fortnight. Family Tax Benefit rates are per child (Part A) or per family (Part B), without the end-of-year supplement.
- Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment shared the largest rise in dollars, $36.80, more than any other payment indexed on 20 September 2026.
- The single Age Pension rose 3.06% ($36.80), compared with 1.98% ($16.20) for JobSeeker, single with no children.
- Parenting Payment (single), single principal carer, rose 1.96%, lower than every other payment indexed on 20 September 2026.
Every rate, limit and threshold that changed on 20 September 2026 →
Where each payment cuts out
The income at which each payment falls to nothing. We calculate it from each payment's maximum rate, income free area and taper, and check it against the limit DSS publishes wherever it prints one.
| Payment | Single | Partnered or couple |
|---|---|---|
| Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment | $2,701.40Single, a fortnight | $4,128.00Couple, combined income, a fortnight |
| JobSeeker Payment | $1,557.17Single, no dependent children, a fortnight | $1,439.34Partnered (each), a fortnight |
| Youth Allowance (job seekers) | $1,307.0018 or over, living away from home, a fortnight | $1,307.00Partnered, no children, a fortnight |
| Youth Allowance (students and apprentices) | $1,697.1718 or over, living away from home, a fortnight | $1,697.17Partnered, no children, a fortnight |
| Austudy | $1,697.17Single, no children, a fortnight | $1,697.17Partnered, no children, a fortnight |
| ABSTUDY Living Allowance | $1,946.34Aged 22 or over — Independent — Single, no children, a fortnight | $1,828.50Aged 22 or over — Independent — Partnered (each), no children, a fortnight |
| Parenting Payment (single) | $2,950.601 child, a fortnight | — |
| Parenting Payment (partnered) | — | $1,439.34Own income, partner has none, a fortnight |
| Disability Support Pension (under 21) | $1,937.80Single, 18–20 — Independent, a fortnight | $3,805.60Couple, combined income, a fortnight |
| Carer Allowance | $250,000Carer and partner, combined adjusted taxable income, a year | — |
| Family Tax Benefit Part A | $129,6481 child aged under 13, a year | — |
| Family Tax Benefit Part B | $124,327Single parent or primary earner, a year | $33,270Couple, secondary earner — youngest child aged under 5, a year |
| Commonwealth Rent Assistance, Energy Supplement, Pension Supplement, Pensioner Education Supplement | Paid with another payment, so they stop when it stops | |
Fortnightly figures are other income a fortnight with no partner income; couple figures are combined income. Family Tax Benefit and Carer Allowance use yearly adjusted taxable income. Each figure matches the DSS published limit wherever DSS prints one.
- A single pensioner keeps some Age Pension until income reaches $2,701.40 a fortnight, $1,144.23 more than the $1,557.17 at which JobSeeker stops for a single person.
- Youth Allowance for a job seeker living away from home stops at $1,307.00, $250.17 lower than JobSeeker.
- Parenting Payment (single), 1 child, has the highest single cut-out of the income support payments here, $2,950.60, with its income taper of 40 cents in the dollar.
2026, one indexation date at a time
Four indexation dates change payment rates each year. These are the rates in force from each date, for four of the most checked payments.
| Rate | Before | 1 January 2026 | 20 March 2026 | 1 July 2026 | 20 September 2026 | 2026 change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age Pension, single | $1,178.70 | — | $1,200.90 | — | $1,237.70 | +$59.00 (+5.01%) |
| JobSeeker, single, no children | $802.40 | — | $817.50 | — | $833.70 | +$31.30 (+3.90%) |
| Youth Allowance, 18 or over, away from home | $670.30 | $684.20 | — | — | — | +$13.90 (+2.07%) |
| Parenting Payment Single | $1,046.70 | — | $1,066.30 | — | $1,087.20 | +$40.50 (+3.87%) |
- Age Pension, single, rose $59.00 (5.01%) across 2026, from $1,178.70 to $1,237.70: $22.20 on 20 March 2026 and $36.80 on 20 September 2026.
- JobSeeker, single, no children, rose $31.30 (3.90%) across 2026, from $802.40 to $833.70: $15.10 on 20 March 2026 and $16.20 on 20 September 2026.
- Youth Allowance, 18 or over, away from home, rose $13.90 (2.07%) across 2026, from $670.30 to $684.20 on 1 January 2026.
- Parenting Payment Single rose $40.50 (3.87%) across 2026, from $1,046.70 to $1,087.20: $19.60 on 20 March 2026 and $20.90 on 20 September 2026.
Estimators and comparisons
Estimate a payment from your own income, or compare two payments side by side at the same incomes. Estimates are a guide only; Services Australia works out actual payments.
- Age Pension calculatorEstimate from your own income
- JobSeeker Payment calculatorEstimate from your own income
- Youth Allowance (job seekers) calculatorEstimate from your own income
- Youth Allowance (students and apprentices) calculatorEstimate from your own income
- Austudy calculatorEstimate from your own income
- Parenting Payment (single) calculatorEstimate from your own income
- Parenting Payment (partnered) calculatorEstimate from your own income
- Family Tax Benefit Part A calculatorEstimate from your own income
- Family Tax Benefit Part B calculatorEstimate from your own income
- Commonwealth Rent Assistance calculatorEstimate from your own income
- Every payment side by sideMaximum and basic rates
- Age Pension vs JobSeeker PaymentAt three incomes
- Carer Payment vs Carer AllowanceAt three incomes
- JobSeeker Payment vs Youth Allowance (job seekers)At three incomes
- JobSeeker Payment vs Parenting Payment (single)At three incomes
- Austudy vs Youth Allowance (students and apprentices)At three incomes
- JobSeeker Payment vs Disability Support PensionAt three incomes
- Age Pension vs Disability Support PensionAt three incomes
- Family Tax Benefit Part A vs Family Tax Benefit Part BAt three incomes
- Parenting Payment (single) vs Parenting Payment (partnered)At three incomes
Every payment
Every payment on this site, with its rates, history, income and assets tests, worked examples and calculator on one page.
- Age PensionIncome support for Australians who have reached Age Pension age.
- JobSeeker PaymentFinancial help for people aged 22 to Age Pension age looking for work or temporarily unable to work.
- Youth Allowance (job seekers)Financial help for people aged 16 to 21 looking for work or temporarily unable to work.
- Youth Allowance (students and apprentices)Financial help for full-time students and Australian Apprentices aged 16 to 24.
- AustudyFinancial help for full-time students and Australian Apprentices aged 25 or older.
- ABSTUDY Living AllowanceFinancial help for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and apprentices.
- Parenting Payment (single)Income support for single principal carers of a young child.
- Parenting Payment (partnered)Income support for partnered principal carers of a young child.
- Disability Support PensionIncome support for people with a permanent physical, intellectual or psychiatric condition that stops them working.
- Disability Support Pension (under 21)Youth rates of Disability Support Pension for people under 21 without dependent children.
- Carer PaymentIncome support for people who can't work in substantial paid employment because they provide constant care.
- Carer AllowanceA supplementary payment for people who give daily care to someone with a disability or medical condition.
- Family Tax Benefit Part AA per-child payment that helps with the cost of raising children.
- Family Tax Benefit Part BExtra help for single parents and families with one main income.
- Commonwealth Rent AssistanceA supplementary payment for people who pay rent and receive an income support payment or Family Tax Benefit.
- Energy SupplementA supplement paid automatically with most income support payments. The rate has been frozen since it was introduced.
- Pension SupplementA supplement paid with the Age Pension and other qualifying payments to help with bills and medicine.
- Pensioner Education SupplementHelp with study costs for people on certain income support payments.
Indexation and payment dates
Payment rates change on four dates each year, not two: 20 March and 20 September for pensions and allowances, 1 July for family payments, and 1 January for student payments. Each event has its own page with every rate before and after.
- 20 September 2026 indexationEvery rate before and after
- 1 July 2026 indexationEvery rate before and after
- 20 March 2026 indexationEvery rate before and after
- 1 January 2026 indexationEvery rate before and after
- The four indexation datesWhat changes on each
Payment dates depend on when your payment started, so we cannot tell you your exact day. Here is how the fortnightly cycle works and how public holidays move payments earlier.
Terms explained
The terms behind the tests, each with a worked example.
- Deeming
- MTAWE
- PBLCI
- Income free area
- Taper rate
- Working Credit
- Income Bank
- Principal carer
- Illness separated
- Partner income test
- Parental means test
- Adjusted taxable income
Figures include every indexation up to 20 September 2026; each shows the date it took effect. Next scheduled indexation 1 January 2027. Source: DSS / Services Australia. Last checked 23 September 2026.