Australians on Centrelink will have a little extra when money hits accounts after payments rose with indexation on 20 March but the debate continues about whether it is enough.

Single JobSeeker recipients with no kids will receive an extra $13.50 per fortnight, now capped at $762.70.

People on the age pension, disability support pension and carer payment will get $19.60 for singles and $29.40 for couples combined each fortnight. Payments will go up by $17.50 a fortnight for single parents under pension age, $12.30 for partnered parents. 

Social security payments are indexed regularly throughout the year to inflation but some advocates say the current payments fall far short of what is required.

The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) called for JobSeeker, formerly Newstart, to be lifted to $80 a day, or $1120 a fortnight. The current rate sits at about $55 a day. 

“It is completely insufficient for people who are barely surviving, forced to ration food and medicine or suffer through sweltering heat because they cannot afford to cool their homes,” ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie said.

“It is vital the government immediately lifts the rate of JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, and related payments to the new pension rate of $80 a day so that people can cover basic costs.”

Local federal Parkes MP Mark Coulton said he opposes the idea because it would make it “more attractive to stay at home than actually go to work.”  

“Nearly all councils in my electorate have opportunities for jobs. We need aged care workers, which people can take up with some training,” Mr Coulton said.

“If you have a disability and you can’t work there are payments and this government looks after people like that, but I don’t think we should be making the Newstart payments that attractive.

“The idea that Newstart is somehow a permanent payment to live on is not what it’s designed for.”

However, agencies and advocates who work regularly with Centrelink payment recipients say that the few extra dollars each fortnight is definitely needed to help people cover essential costs.

Non-profit job agency VERTO, which operates in various locations across the western plains, says any increase helps.

"VERTO welcomes any increase in payments to pensioners, job seekers and students in Coonamble," VERTO CEO Ron Maxwell said.

"We understand that there’s a lot of extra financial pressure and stress on people who live in regional and remote communities, especially travel for employment and medical reasons, so any extra financial assistance to help the people who need it most is very important and will have a positive impact for many."