Centrelink JobSeeker Increase September 2025 – Who Gets the Extra $12.50?

Australia’s JobSeeker Payment has long been a financial safety net for unemployed and underemployed citizens, but this September it’s getting a small but meaningful bump. From 20 September 2025, the government will index the payment, adding $12.50 per fortnight to the base rate for singles with no children. It’s a modest increase, but for people on the edge of affordability—juggling rent, groceries, or petrol—it can make a difference.

JobSeeker Increase 2025: The Basics

Feature	Details
Authority	Services Australia (Centrelink)
Country	Australia
New Base Rate (Single, no kids)	$793.60 per fortnight
Effective Date	20 September 2025
Eligibility	Australians aged 22 to pension age, unemployed or underemployed, meeting mutual obligations
Payment Mode	Direct deposit to nominated bank account
Frequency	Fortnightly
Website	servicesaustralia.gov.au

Why the $12.50 Boost?

Twice a year—in March and September—the government adjusts social security payments through a process called indexation. It ties payments to wage growth and inflation to help vulnerable Australians keep pace with rising living costs.

This year’s September adjustment adds:

• $12.50 for singles with no children.
• Slightly higher increases (up to $16.20) for principal carers and single parents.
• $11.40 for partnered recipients.

It’s not a windfall, but it reflects a system designed to maintain the real value of welfare payments in a high-inflation environment.

Who’s Eligible for JobSeeker?

You can access JobSeeker if you:

• Are aged 22 to 66 (pension age).
• Live in Australia as a permanent resident.
• Are unemployed, underemployed, or temporarily unable to work.
• Pass the income and assets test.
• Meet mutual obligation requirements such as:
  • Actively looking for work.
  • Completing training or education.
  • Volunteering or participating in approved activities.

Some recipients—like single parents, carers, or those with a partial capacity to work—may qualify for higher rates or supplements.

New Payment Rates from 20 September 2025

Family Situation	Old Amount (fortnightly)	New Amount	Increase
Single, no children	$781.10	$793.60	$12.50
Single with children	$836.50	$849.90	$13.40
Single 55+, 9+ months unemployed	$836.50	$849.90	$13.40
Single with partial capacity to work	$836.50	$849.90	$13.40
Couple (each)	$715.10	$726.50	$11.40
Single principal carer of child	$1,011.50	$1,027.70	$16.20

Payment Schedule

The increase applies automatically from 20 September 2025. Recipients will see the new amount in their next regular fortnightly payment after that date.

No separate claim is required—if you’re already receiving JobSeeker, the adjustment will roll out automatically.

How to Apply for JobSeeker

For new claimants:

1. Create or log into myGov and link it to Centrelink.
2. Start your claim under JobSeeker Payment.
3. Provide supporting documents (ID, proof of income/assets, separation certificates if relevant).
4. Agree to mutual obligation terms—like job search reporting or training participation.
5. Wait for approval. Once approved, your first payment arrives after a one-week waiting period (some exemptions apply).

Advance Payments

Eligible JobSeeker recipients can also request an advance payment, essentially borrowing against future payments to cover urgent bills. This can help with rent arrears, car repairs, or other immediate costs—but repayments reduce future fortnightly payments.

Staying Eligible

To keep receiving JobSeeker, you must:

• Report your income and hours worked each fortnight.
• Stick to your Job Plan (job applications, training, volunteering).
• Notify Centrelink if your situation changes (new job, relationship, moving overseas).

Why It Matters

A $12.50 boost doesn’t solve Australia’s cost-of-living crisis, but it does ensure JobSeeker payments don’t fall further behind. For a single person, that’s about $325 more per year—enough to cover a quarter’s electricity bill or several weeks of bus fares.

Critics argue the payment is still too low to lift people out of poverty, but the September indexation remains a cornerstone of Australia’s welfare safety net.

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