Average jobseeker has $135 weekly shortfall on basic costs, report finds

Often nothing left for other necessities or emergencies, Anglicare says, with Centrelink payment levels trapping people in poverty'

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Australians on income support are structurally unable to afford the basics of life" and are unable to absorb any more cost of living increases, according to a new report.

The average jobseeker recipient has a shortfall of $135 a week on just the basic weekly cost of food, housing and transport, and no ability to budget for lump-sum payments such as utilities, household goods or emergency expenses, Anglicare's most recent cost-of-living index has found.