Sources

Every figure on BenefitRates comes from an official Australian Government source. These are the documents and pages we use.

Rates and payment amounts

Department of Social Services, Social Security Payment Parameters, the rates lists published at each indexation. We use the 20 March 2026, 1 July 2026, and 1 January 2026 editions. This is our primary source for payment rates, income-free areas, tapers, and asset limits.

Services Australia, A guide to Australian Government payments (the CO029 booklet), 1 July 2026 edition. This is our cross-check source and our reference for the income and assets tests.

Indexation and how rates change

Department of Social Services, Social security indexation, which sets out which payments are indexed on which date and by which measure (CPI, PBLCI, or MTAWE).

Rent Assistance

Department of Social Services, Family Assistance Guide, section 3.1.4.30, for the Rent Assistance thresholds and formula.

Payment dates

Services Australia, Public holiday reporting and payment dates, for the framework of payment cycles and public-holiday adjustments. We publish the national rules only, never an individual's dates.

Use of Commonwealth material

The figures and facts on this site are drawn from Commonwealth of Australia material and reproduced with attribution. Each figure carries a source reference to the document and edition it came from. Copyright in the source material remains with the Commonwealth of Australia. We reproduce facts and figures only. We do not reproduce the Australian Coat of Arms or any agency logo, and nothing on this site should be taken to imply government endorsement or affiliation.