I've appreciated the handouts that have been given by the Government, but what really is needed is an increase in the basic pension rate. We really can't be expected to live well on the very low pension we now receive.

Next Pension day we get the 1/4 payment and the CPI

The recent government handouts were a great help to people, but many fail to realise that there were a great many Australians who MISSED OUT. I did not qualify for either of them.

In my opinion, lump sum payments are not the way to go as (1) many may miss out, (2) they can be withdrawn at any time, (3) you spend it and it is GONE and (4) the cost of living is ALWAYS increasing.

Government benefits are, in the main, paid to people who NEED them.......the rate of payment needs to be regularly adjusted to ensure that recipients can live in dignity, if not in comfort.

Hi There,

thanks for commenting I never meant to imply that the $500 stimulus continue without making it set in stone, I meant ... create a set in stone extra $1,00 a year... paid in 6 monthly lump sums...To my mind would be preferable to a weekly increase, which would just disappear, with rising costs.

I also meant that the 2x $500 payments be CPI adjusted.

I don't see that any weekly increase in base rate will enable a pensioner to save for the big ticket items. as soon as the base rate of pensions go up so will rents and other stuff,

Just look at what has happened in the Green slip area, Insurance companies jump in when things are tough and think no one will notice they almost doubled the price of a Green slip, and the rising cost of grocery items in ever shrinking packaging would eat up a weekly increase as if it hadn't happened.

I am afraid that do not hold your breath about any pension increase. Mr Swan and Mr Rudd(when he is in Australia) are now saying that not all they talked about doing in the budget will happen. I still say though that if the pension increases do go through somebody in government has to have the guts to say we will increase the widow allowance too. The problem we have is we are tied to the Newstart-the dole- rates of pay and so if they do not put up the dole then the widow allowance does not go up. So in saying that we need somebody in government to have the guts to change the widow allowance back to a pension so that we get the pension rate of benefit then we may at least hit the poverty line instead of being way under it. In the meantime those of us on the widow allowance who manage to get some of the bonuses will take it gratefully as it usually means we can catch up on bills and sometimes actually put food into the house that has not come from one of the charities.

chickywah i still cant get how you think $19 a week (or $500 twice a year )is better than a rise in the base rate of even $35 per week. After all its because pensioners on the base rate cannot keep up with things on a regular bases the they need the $500x2 but if they had a decent weekly allowance (which we incidently earned)_we would not need the handouts. We would be like Ordinary people and get paid a proper weekly wage and we would be able to manage on it just like we did when we were the people that counted.

I would rather have the amount per week--you never know what is down the track and I would rather be able to have the use of it

er Both would be nice and even necessary until folks catch up anyway.................

Everyone needs a decent salary.

A Bonus would also be nice to recognise Seniors achievements to the Country :)

Roll on May - exciting.......Maybe? Well could be.........:)

Surely will be yes! that's the one I need "will be".......................

Phyl.

I think we will call you "Polyanna " Phyl :-)