31103 (2023). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

31103 (2023). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What does, if at all, the Minister project the Supported Living Payment (single, 18+) benefit rate to be over the next four financial years following the change to indexation, and what, if at all, did the Minister project the same benefit rate to be over the next four financial years before the change to indexation?

Hon Louise Upston: I refer the member to the attached table, which provides the projected Supported Living Payment (single, 18+) net weekly benefit rate over the next four financial years, compared to the same benefit rate projected over the next four financial years before the change to indexation. These estimates are based on the Treasury’s Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update published on 12 September 2023. The Consumers Price Index (CPI) data will be released on 24 January 2024 and gross wage data will be released on 7 February 2024. These figures will be used to determine the actual benefit rates from 1 April 2024 and would affect the attached forecasts. As such, the attached figures are subject to change when updated forecasts and actual CPI and gross wage data is published for subsequent years.