JobSeeker Payment rates 2026
JobSeeker Payment · Single, no dependent children
Basic rate per fortnight · $21,026.20 ≈ per year (×26 fortnights)
- Basic Rate
- $808.70
- Energy Supplement
- $8.80
- Total per fortnight
- $817.50
$817.50 total with Energy Supplement (paid automatically with this payment).
Effective 20 March 2026 · Source: DSS / Services Australia
JobSeeker Payment is income support for people who are looking for work, or who are temporarily unable to work because of an illness or injury. It is for people aged 22 up to Age Pension age. It is paid by Services Australia through Centrelink.
Most people check this page to see how much JobSeeker pays right now and how much they can earn before it reduces. The figures here are the current rates. They change at indexation, and the next change is on 20 September 2026.
Every number on this page is taken line by line from the Department of Social Services rates list and checked against the Services Australia payments guide, so you can see the exact amount and the date it applies from.
Full JobSeeker Payment rate table
| Variant | Base rate | Supplements | Total /fortnight | ≈ per year (×26) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single, no dependent children | $808.70 | $8.80 | $817.50 | $21,255 |
| Single, with dependent children | $866 | $9.50 | $875.50 | $22,763 |
| Single, principal carer of a dependent child | $866 | $16.50 | $882.50 | $22,945 |
| Single, principal carer, exempt from the activity test | $1,047.30 | $19 | $1,066.30 | $27,723.80 |
| Single, aged 55 or over (after 9 months on payment) | $866 | $16.50 | $882.50 | $22,945 |
| Single, partial capacity to work (0–14 hours) | $866 | $16.50 | $882.50 | $22,945 |
| Partnered (each) | $740.30 | $7.90 | $748.20 | $19,453.20 |
Source: DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 March 2026 — JobSeeker Payment — Single — No dependent children · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 March 2026 — JobSeeker Payment — Single — With dependent children · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 March 2026 — JobSeeker Payment — Single — Principal carer of a dependent child · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 March 2026 — JobSeeker Payment — Single — Principal carer of a dependent child, exempt from the activity test due to foster caring, non‑parent relative caring under a court order, home schooling, distance education or large family · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 March 2026 — JobSeeker Payment — Single — Aged 55 or over — After 9 months on payment · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 March 2026 — JobSeeker Payment — Single — Partial capacity to work 0-14 hours · DSS Social Security Payment Parameters, 20 March 2026 — JobSeeker Payment — Partnered (each)
The table below shows every JobSeeker rate. There is a different basic rate depending on your situation: single with no children, single with a dependent child, a single principal carer, single and aged 55 or over after nine months on payment, or partnered. A single parent who is the principal carer is paid more than a single person with no children.
Each total includes an Energy Supplement, and single principal carers also receive a small Pharmaceutical Allowance. The Energy Supplement is paid automatically with JobSeeker, so you do not claim it separately. It is shown as its own line because it works differently from the basic rate: it has been frozen at the same amount since it was introduced, so it does not rise at indexation.
Estimate your JobSeeker Payment
Before tax, per fortnight.
Estimated JobSeeker payment
$817.50per fortnight
- ≈ per year (×26 fortnights) $21,255.00
How this is worked out
What this means
JobSeeker is paid every two weeks. The total you see is the maximum for your situation. The totals include an Energy Supplement, and single principal carers also get a small Pharmaceutical Allowance, so the total for a parent is higher than the basic rate alone.
The Energy Supplement comes with the payment automatically; there is nothing extra to claim. It is frozen, though: it has stayed at the same amount since it was introduced, so when JobSeeker is indexed, only the basic rate rises and the Energy Supplement line stays the same.
JobSeeker is a working-age allowance. Allowances are adjusted once or twice a year by the Consumer Price Index only. Pensions use a different method that also checks wages, which is why pensions have risen faster than JobSeeker over time.
The next indexation is on 20 September 2026. On that date the basic rates change and this page updates to match.
Who can get JobSeeker Payment
Services Australia assesses JobSeeker on your age, your residence status, your income and assets, and whether you meet the activity or mutual obligation rules, such as looking for work or taking part in an approved activity. People who are temporarily unable to work because of a medical condition may qualify under different rules.
This page reports the rates and the test rules. It does not decide your claim. For the eligibility rules that apply to your own situation, check the official JobSeeker page linked at the top and bottom of this page.
Explore JobSeeker Payment
- Full rate tableEvery variant, base to total
- How much in 2026?The answer, up top
- Income testHow earnings change it
- Assets testLimits and free areas
- CalculatorEstimate your payment
JobSeeker Payment: common questions
- How much is JobSeeker per fortnight?
- The maximum JobSeeker rate for a single person with no children is $817.50 a fortnight, effective 20 March 2026. Single parents, single principal carers and people aged 55 or over after nine months on payment are paid more. Partnered people are paid a lower rate each. The full table on this page lists every rate.
- How much can I earn before JobSeeker reduces?
- You can earn up to $150 a fortnight before your payment starts to reduce. Above that, it reduces by 50 cents in the dollar in the first band, then 60 cents in the dollar higher up. For a single person with no children, JobSeeker reduces to zero once income reaches $1,530.17 a fortnight.
- When does JobSeeker go up next?
- JobSeeker is indexed on 20 March and 20 September each year. The next increase is on 20 September 2026. New rates are published just before each date, and this page updates to match.
- Does JobSeeker include the Energy Supplement?
- Yes. The Energy Supplement is paid automatically with JobSeeker and is included in the totals shown on this page. It appears as a separate line from the basic rate because it is frozen: it has stayed at the same amount since it was introduced, so it does not rise at indexation.
- What is the Working Credit on JobSeeker?
- Working Credit builds up when your income is low and lets you keep more of your payment when you later earn more, up to your credit balance. It is meant to make it easier to take on short-term or casual work without losing your whole payment straight away. Services Australia tracks your Working Credit balance for you.
- Is JobSeeker taxable?
- Yes, JobSeeker Payment is taxable income and is included in your tax return. Whether you actually pay tax depends on your total income for the year. You can ask Services Australia to take tax out of your payments if you want to.
Estimates and general information only — not financial advice. Check Services Australia for your circumstances.
Rates current as of 20 March 2026. Source: DSS / Services Australia. Last checked 17 July 2026.