As well, pensions are scheduled to go up with the rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The Federal Member for Melbourne Ports, Michael Danby, today said local pensioners, carers, disability support pensioners and self-funded retirees would all be better off with increases in the Utilities Allowance, Seniors Concession Allowance and Telephone Allowance.
"Labor went to the election promising to help make ends meet for seniors, people with disability and carers and that's what we are delivering," Mr Danby said.
"For Utilities Allowance recipients in Melbourne Ports, the payments will rise from $107.20 a year to $500 a year for singles or couples combined.
"And because bills arrive in the letterbox every three months that's how often we'll be paying the allowance - quarterly instalments to meet quarterly utilities bills.
"This will mean a $125 payment, every three months, for eligible carers, pensioners and people with disability.
"Eligible recipients in Melbourne Ports will begin receiving this payment in the fortnight starting Thursday, 20 March 2008.
"The Government is also extending the allowance to Carer Payment recipients on Disability Support Pension recipients under Age Pension age in Melbourne Ports.
Bill Shorten, Michael Danby & Kevin Rudd
"Widow B Pension, Wife Pension, Bereavement Allowance and veterans and their partners receiving invalidity service pension, partner service pension or an income support supplement will also receive the payments of $125 each quarter.
"Telephone Allowance will also increase, from $88 to $132 a year, for those with a home internet connection. Recipients should contact Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs with details of their home internet service provider.
"The Seniors Concession Allowance will also rise, from $218 a year, to $500 a year for local Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card holders, and will also be paid quarterly.f
And people receiving payments such as the Age Pension, Carer Payment, Special Benefit and Disability Support Pension will receive a 1.7 per cent boost to their pensions in line with the rise in the CPI.
"People on Newstart, Partner Allowance, Parenting Payment (partnered), Mature Age Allowance, Widow Allowance and Sickness Allowance, will also see a rise in payments through the CPI indexation.
"The maximum single rate of pension will rise by $9.10, to $546.80 a fortnight, while the maximum partnered pension will increase by $7.70 to $456.80 a fortnight for each member of a couple.
Jenny Macklin Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
"This equates to annual increases of $236.60 for single pensioners and $200.20 for each member of a pensioner couple.
"This announcement will provide enhanced assistance to many Australians, including many in Melbourne Ports, helping them better budget for regular bills throughout the year, through quarterly, increased payments," Mr Danby said.
Deeming rates for social security payments will rise by half of one per cent from 20 March.
The new deeming rates are: four per cent for the first $39,400 of a single pensioner's financial investments ($65,400 for pensioner couples and $32,700 for each member of an allowee couple), and six per cent for financial investments above those amounts.
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