Centrelink indexation 2026: when rates change
Australian government payments are indexed on four dates a year, not two. Each date lifts a different set of payments, using a different measure. Here is the full schedule.
The four indexation dates
| Date each year | Next scheduled | What is indexed | Measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | 1 January 2027 | Student payments (Youth Allowance, Austudy, ABSTUDY), DSP under 21, Carer Allowance and Pharmaceutical Allowance | CPI |
| 20 March | 20 March 2027 | Pensions, allowances, Parenting Payment and Rent Assistance | Pensions: higher of CPI and PBLCI, benchmarked to MTAWE; allowances and Rent Assistance: CPI |
| 1 July | 1 July 2027 | Family Tax Benefit Part A and B, family income-test thresholds, pension income and assets free areas, and deeming thresholds | CPI |
| 20 September | 20 September 2027 | Pensions, allowances, Parenting Payment and Rent Assistance | Pensions: higher of CPI and PBLCI, benchmarked to MTAWE; allowances and Rent Assistance: CPI |
Indexation events
- September 2026 Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment…
- July 2026 Family Tax Benefit Part A, Family Tax Benefit Part B, Age Pension…
- March 2026 Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment…
- January 2026 Youth Allowance (students and apprentices), Youth Allowance (job seekers), Austudy…
The 4 events of 2026 side by side
| Date | Payments that changed (of 18) | Age Pension, single | JobSeeker, single |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | 5 | — | — |
| 20 March 2026 | 9 | +1.88% | +1.88% |
| 1 July 2026 | 2 | — | — |
| 20 September 2026 | 9 | +3.06% | +1.98% |
- 9 of the 18 payments changed on each of 20 March 2026 and 20 September 2026, more than on any other 2026 date; 2 changed on 1 July 2026.
- Over the year the single pension gained 5.01% against 3.90% for JobSeeker, a difference of 1.11 percentage points.
The measures explained: MTAWE, PBLCI, and CPI decide how much each payment rises. Pensions use the higher of CPI or PBLCI, benchmarked to MTAWE; allowances and family payments use CPI.
Figures include every indexation up to 20 September 2026; each shows the date it took effect. Next scheduled indexation 1 January 2027. Source: DSS / Services Australia. Last checked 23 September 2026.