Tuesday 27 September 2022 08:23 AM Cost of living: Australians on Centrelink are having to choose between rent and ... trends now
4
View
comments
Australians on welfare are being forced to choose between paying rent, buying groceries and getting medical care amid soaring cost of living pressures.
New research by the nation's peak welfare body The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) found those on Centrelink payments were skipping meals and even foregoing hot showers to save on electricity bills.
ACOSS surveyed 449 people on Jobseeker, youth allowance and parenting payments and found 70 per cent were cutting back on fresh food like fruit, vegetables and meat as they scrape to make ends meet.
Almost as many said they were eating less or skipping meals entirely at 60 per cent and a worrying 62 per cent of those surveyed said they weren't able to afford medication or medical care.
A new survey has revealed the extent that inflation is affecting those on welfare payments with many struggling to buy basics (pictured: people outside a Centrelink office)
Rising petrol and electricity costs were another big concern with 70 per cent saying they have had difficulty getting to work or medical appointments because they couldn't afford petrol and the same amount cutting back on heating over winter to save electricity.
A whopping 96 per cent of the respondents were found to be in rental distress, classified as spending more than a third of income on rent.
NSW single mother Leilani Sinclair said she 'goes to sleep worrying about how much money she has to do the groceries tomorrow and make school lunches'.
'Money is always on my mind, within a week of my benefits being paid I've got nothing left,' Ms Sinclair, who is on Jobseeker, told 9News.
Leilani Sinclair (pictured) said her welfare payment was recently cut by $180 and she