Budget impact on age pensioners and job seekers

Among the concerns set out by the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA) is the potential impact of changes to residency rules for access to the age pension and the disability support pension in the 2017 Federal Budget.

Paul Miller AAP Source: Paul Miller AAP

FECCA says extending the requirement to 15 years of continuous residency, inclusive of five years of a person's working life, would adversely affect many within the migrant and refugee community.

 

An exception would be made for people who've lived in Australia for at least a decade without claiming any social security payments.

 

The measure is projected to save the government 119-million-dollars over five years.

 

 

While the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) has criticised Budget's welfare measures.

 

Welfare recipients who fail to meet their job-seeking obligations will now risk major reductions in their fortnightly payments.

 

Manger of VASS Leila Alloush echos those concerns but urges people who are able to work to get off the social security benefits and find work.