JobSeeker Payment Rate 2025–26: How Much Is Newstart Allowance Now?
Find out how much JobSeeker Payment (formerly Newstart Allowance) pays in 2025–26. Current fortnightly rates for singles, couples, and those with children, plus income test thresholds and supplements.
How much is JobSeeker Payment in 2025–26?
JobSeeker Payment — still informally called Newstart by many Australians — is the primary income support payment for people aged 22 to Age Pension age who are looking for work or temporarily unable to work. The payment replaced Newstart Allowance in March 2020, but the eligibility rules and structure remain broadly similar. As of the September 2025 indexation, the base JobSeeker rate for a single person with no children is $762.70 per fortnight, which works out to roughly $381.35 per week or $19,830 per year. If you are single with at least one dependent child, the rate rises to $816.90 per fortnight. Partnered recipients each receive $698.30 per fortnight. These amounts include the Energy Supplement, which is built into the headline rate. The Energy Supplement adds $8.80 per fortnight for singles and $7.90 for partnered recipients. Without the Energy Supplement, the base single rate is $753.90 per fortnight. Rates are indexed twice a year — in March and September — in line with changes to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The March 2026 indexation is expected to deliver a modest increase of roughly 1.5–2%, reflecting the cooling inflation environment.
Full JobSeeker Payment rate table (2025–26)
Here is every current JobSeeker Payment rate by household type, effective from September 20, 2025: **Single, no children:** $762.70 per fortnight ($19,830/year) **Single, with dependent children:** $816.90 per fortnight ($21,239/year) **Single, aged 55+, after 9 continuous months on payment:** $816.90 per fortnight **Partnered (each):** $698.30 per fortnight ($18,156/year) **Single, 60+ after 9 months, with Pension Supplement:** $816.90 per fortnight These are the maximum rates — your actual payment depends on income and assets testing. If your partner earns above the partner income threshold, your payment reduces and may cut out entirely. On top of the base rate, you may also receive Commonwealth Rent Assistance (up to $188.20 per fortnight for singles), Pharmaceutical Allowance ($6.40 per fortnight), and Remote Area Allowance if you live in a designated remote location.
JobSeeker income test explained
The JobSeeker income test determines how much your payment reduces when you earn employment income. Understanding the thresholds is critical because working even a small number of hours can significantly affect your payment. The income free area is $150 per fortnight. This means you can earn up to $150 each fortnight without any reduction to your JobSeeker Payment. Above $150, the taper rate kicks in: - From $150 to $256 per fortnight: your payment reduces by 50 cents for every dollar earned above $150. - Above $256 per fortnight: your payment reduces by 60 cents for every dollar earned above $256. For example, if you earn $400 per fortnight: the first $150 is free, the next $106 ($150–$256) reduces your payment by $53 (at 50%), and the remaining $144 ($256–$400) reduces it by $86.40 (at 60%). Total reduction: $139.40 per fortnight. The Working Credits system lets you build up credits during periods of low or no income (up to 1,000 credits maximum). When you start earning, these credits offset your income — effectively increasing your income free area temporarily. Credits accrue at 48 per fortnight for JobSeeker recipients.
JobSeeker assets test thresholds
The assets test sets limits on how much you can own and still receive JobSeeker Payment. The thresholds depend on whether you are a homeowner and whether you are single or partnered. **Homeowners:** - Single: assets up to $301,750 (full rate), cut-off at approximately $622,250 - Couple (combined): assets up to $451,500 (full rate), cut-off at approximately $935,000 **Non-homeowners:** - Single: assets up to $543,750 (full rate), cut-off at approximately $864,250 - Couple (combined): assets up to $693,500 (full rate), cut-off at approximately $1,177,000 Assets include bank accounts, shares, investment properties, vehicles, and most other property you own — but not your family home if you are a homeowner. Superannuation is generally exempt if you are under Age Pension age. The assets test taper rate for allowances like JobSeeker is different from pensions. Above the lower threshold, your payment reduces by $0.25 for every $250 of assets (effectively $1 per $1,000), compared to $3 per $1,000 for pensioners.
How to apply for JobSeeker Payment
Applying for JobSeeker Payment is done online through your myGov account linked to Centrelink. The process typically takes 2–4 weeks from claim submission to first payment, though it can be longer during peak periods. Step 1: Create or sign into your myGov account and link it to Centrelink. Step 2: Start an online claim for JobSeeker Payment. Step 3: Complete the claim, providing details about your identity, residency, income, assets, and accommodation. Step 4: Attend a Centrelink appointment (either in person or by phone). Step 5: Connect with an Employment Services Provider and agree to a Job Plan (now called a Points Based Activation System plan). To be eligible, you must be aged 22 to Age Pension age (currently 67), an Australian resident who has lived in Australia for at least two years (or hold a qualifying visa), and meet mutual obligation requirements — meaning you actively look for work or participate in approved activities. If you are in severe financial hardship while waiting for your claim, you can request a crisis payment or hardship advance. Centrelink can also fast-track claims in emergency situations.
Newstart vs JobSeeker: what changed?
Many Australians still search for 'Newstart Allowance' even though the payment was renamed to JobSeeker Payment on 20 March 2020. The name change came alongside the temporary Coronavirus Supplement, which doubled the effective payment rate during the COVID-19 pandemic. The key differences between the old Newstart and current JobSeeker are: **Rate:** Newstart was criticised for decades for being too low — at roughly $550 per fortnight in early 2020. The permanent base rate has since been increased through a combination of the $50/fortnight COVID supplement being made permanent and subsequent indexation, bringing the single rate to $762.70 per fortnight. **Mutual obligations:** The Points Based Activation System (PBAS) replaced the old Job Plan structure in July 2023. Instead of a fixed list of requirements, you now earn points through various activities — job applications, training, volunteer work, and other tasks. **Income reporting:** Reporting moved from a fixed calendar cycle to a variable reporting period based on your individual start date. You report your income and job search activities online through the Workforce Australia portal. The eligibility criteria remain fundamentally the same — the payment is for working-age Australians who are unemployed or underemployed and willing to look for work.
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General information and estimates only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always verify with Services Australia.
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