University student Jamie Caulfield has had a better quality of life thanks to the JobSeeker coronavirus payment but that is about to change.
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The additional $540 per fortnight has allowed the Wollongong resident to buy almost double the food than while on the old Newstart allowance.
"I have been able to eat more and healthier food," the 20-year-old said.
"On my Newstart payment, of $560 a fortnight, I was spending between $20-$25 on groceries a week and would buy cheap or tin food.
"Now I can buy fresh vegetables. I am grateful for the additional money each week. The increase has been a Godsend."
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the JobSeeker payment would fall from $1,100 to $800 a fortnight in September.
Recipients currently receiving $550 a week, will have their payment reduced to $250 from the end of September until the end of the year, at which time a review will take place.
JobSeeker recipients will be able to earn $300 a fortnight without it affecting their payment and mutual obligation requirements for people on JobSeeker will return from August 4, with the assets test to be reintroduced from the end of September.
Mr Caulfield said the JobSeeker cut was an "attack on unemployed people" and welfare recipients should not have to settle for a "half-assed measure".
The UOW student would have liked to see the coronavirus supplement become a permanent increase to the unemployment benefit.
"The coronavirus supplement was the only significant increase in Centrelink payment since 1994.
"The base rate should be higher than what it is."
Mr Caulfield has tried to save as much money as possible, knowing the increase would only be temporary.
"The extra money has meant I have some money in the bank rather than living from paycheck to paycheck.
"Receiving welfare payments shouldn't be enough just to keep you alive. It should be enough that you have a quality of life."
Mr Caulfield said it was difficult to find a job, being relatively unskilled, and the COVID-19 lockdown made finding work nearly impossible in Wollongong.
"I applied for a low-level office job at the uni just before the outbreak but then the uni essentially closed down and the job was no longer on offer."
A protest against the reductions in JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments has been called by the Wollongong University Student Association for Saturday at 1pm in Crown Street Mall.
WUSA education officer Robin Pierson said the cuts were "a blatant attack upon the most vulnerable in our society".
"The payment reductions mean that poor and working class people are being forced to shoulder the burden of the coming economic crisis," she said.
"Many university students are either casual workers or rely on welfare payments to some extent."
Community Industry Group, the peak body for community service organisations in south east NSW, executive officer Nicky Sloan said the group was pleased the supplement had been extended but disappointed the amount had been reduced.
"Even more concern is the lack of security about what people living on JobSeeker will receive from December," she said.
"This is a missed opportunity to announce a permanent, adequate increase to a rate of income support which is widely condemned as insufficient to maintain a decent, fair lifestyle.
"We encourage the government to stop dithering about with supplements and lock in a rate of JobSeeker which enables people to live with dignity and respect."
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