The Federal Member for Cunningham, Sharon Bird, said today that pensioners will receive their sixth pension increase on Tuesday morning further boosting their incomes.

“I am proud that a Commonwealth Labor Government introduced historic pension reforms in 2009 and a fairer indexation system will see pensioners benefit for the sixth time.

“Single pensioners on the maximum rate will receive an extra $6.70 per fortnight and pensioner couples on the maximum rate will receive $10 per fortnight combined.

“Since 2009, the Commonwealth Labor Government has increased the maximum rate of pension by about $154 per fortnight for a single and about $156 per fortnight for a couple combined.

“Following this latest increase, the total pension payment for pensioners on the maximum rate, including the base rate and pension supplement, are $755.50 per fortnight for singles and $1139 per fortnight for couples combined.

“In May this year, the Government will also increase payments to pensioners and eligible self-funded retirees as part of the Clean Energy Future Package.

“Pensioners will receive an increase of about $338 per year and pensioner couples will receive an increase of about $510 per year combined”, Ms Bird said.

She said that the Liberal-National Party had voted against the increase in pension payments.

“The Liberal-National Party led by Tony Abbott have indicated that they will scrap these increased payments and take them back off pensioners leaving many pensioners at least $300 a year worse off.”