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.
Next indexation
20 September 2026
Rates change across the affected payments on this date.
The four indexation dates
| Date each year | What is indexed | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 20 March | Pensions, allowances, Parenting Payment and Rent Assistance | Pensions: higher of CPI and PBLCI, benchmarked to MTAWE; allowances and Rent Assistance: CPI |
| 1 July | Family Tax Benefit Part A and B, family income-test thresholds, pension income and assets free areas, and deeming thresholds | CPI |
| 20 September | Pensions, allowances, Parenting Payment and Rent Assistance | Pensions: higher of CPI and PBLCI, benchmarked to MTAWE; allowances and Rent Assistance: CPI |
| 1 January | Student payments (Youth Allowance, Austudy, ABSTUDY), DSP under 21, Carer Allowance and Pharmaceutical Allowance | CPI |
Indexation events
- January 2026 Youth Allowance (students and apprentices), Youth Allowance (job seekers), Austudy…
- March 2026 Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment…
- July 2026 Family Tax Benefit Part A, Family Tax Benefit Part B, Age Pension…
- September 2026 (preview)Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment…
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.
Rates current as of 17 July 2026. Source: DSS / Services Australia. Last checked 17 July 2026.