World News – UA – Seniors can cash in their budget

Elderly retirees will pocket an additional $ 500 to help cover costs during the coronavirus pandemic

The money will be split into two payments of $ 250, the first in December and the second in March of next year

The measure was announced in Tuesday’s federal budget, which provided more than $ 227 billion for social security and welfare

The extra payments come after the elderly pension was suspended for the first time in more than two decades because inflation fell due to the pandemic

Both payments will also be made to those in receipt of Disability Pension, Caregiver Allowance, Family Tax Allowance, Caregiver Allowance and certain payments for veterans

Holders of the Retiree Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and Veterans Concession Cards will also pocket the money

Social assistance recipients have already received two payments of $ 750 this year to help during the pandemic

Tuesday’s federal budget also signals additional funding to make the cashless debit card current, further strengthening its permanence after it was initially implemented on a trial basis

But the government did not say how much it would cost, as it negotiates with the companies that provide the cards

The ruling makes the cashless debit card ongoing for welfare recipients in South Africa’s Ceduna region, east Kimberley and Goldfields, as well as Bundaberg and Hervey Bay in Queensland

Young Australians will also benefit from a temporary change in eligibility criteria for youth allowance and abstention

From January 1 of next year, all applicants will be deemed to have worked for the six months from March 25 to September 24

This will meet the labor force participation criteria for payments of 30 hours of work per week for at least 18 months over a two year period

The budget also confirms $ 7-6 million in bereavement allowances for parents of stillbirths

Budget 2020: Retirees