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James Coyle
James has over 35 years experience in financial services with particular expertise in two of the key components of retirement finance - Superannuation and the Age Pension. He is passionate about providing the guidance and support that can help older Australians enjoy their best possible retirement. He lives in regional Victoria surrounded by dogs and chooks.
Definitely not enough to live on, once you take out rent or site fees, there isn’t much left to pay living expenses
it should be increased to the $750 per week.Tthis is what is needed for essential expenses, these days. I pay 2/3rds of my pension in rent, which does not leave me enough to survive and pay all other essentials. I have relied on my meager super to prop my income and a few casual jobs to survive and pay all the bills. If it was raised to 750 / week then a lot of pensioners could completely retire from the work force opening up more jobs for the younger people.
I was widower bringing up my children and did not enter the work force until ten years ago. Thus I have no substantial super.
I understand that the federal retirement fund is still very healthy.(unless the government has been spending on other things?) and that there is enough funds to do this for those who do not have a big superfund. I hope we get a significant rain this year.
Of course a pension rise is required, I do not think it has ever been sufficient to live on.
Maybe we should gear our percentage increases to the same as government employees.
The major problem the Government has is that there are too many baby-boomers now qualifying for the pension.
Too bad so many survived Covid. It doesn’t matter what party is in power, there is always an excuse to screw over the pensioner.
I find myself in the same predicament as a lot of others my age. Not enough Super to live on and a failed Marriage left me without a house. The majority of my pension goes to pay rent. What’s left is to pay other bills supported by a small Super payment that will not last forever.
I am sorry to say this but there is no politician in this current bunch I would vote for. I will get my name marked off the roll and put the same thing on the voting sheet we are provided with as the politicians give to the voters, nothing.
To William,
I understand your frustration, I look at elections as voting in, the lesser of two evils. There is more at stake then just the pension, there is Medicare, doctors bulk billing, A National Integrity Commission which is needed to investigate allegations and expose corruption in the federal government and public sector. If you opt out of voting you will get back exactly what you are giving to the politicians NOTHING. Add least vote to get in an NIC and make them sweat.