In 2022, as Anthony Albanese campaigned on a platform promising a new social contract in Australia with the motto “no one held back and no one left behind,” many viewed the pledge with optimism. However, three years later, some recipients of jobseeker payments say the reality falls short of this vision.

Travis Gilbert, writing from suburban Canberra, shared his experience of living on jobseeker payments for the first time in two decades. After paying $46 weekly rent, he was left with just $45.95 for all other expenses, a sum he said was insufficient to cover basic necessities such as food, medical care, and transport. According to Gilbert, this financial shortfall left him struggling to afford essentials despite prioritizing costs related to internet access, mobile phone, and electricity.

Gilbert emphasized the challenges posed by the current welfare system’s conditions. Recipients must attend fortnightly face-to-face appointments with government-contracted employment agencies, maintain phone and internet access to upload compliance evidence, and meet set monthly activity “points targets.” Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including suspension of payments. Gilbert described the requirement to travel 8 kilometers each way to these appointments as particularly burdensome, especially given limited funds for transportation.

Foodbank Australia’s recent report on food insecurity highlights that up to 900,000 people in the country live on roughly $58 per day, including many in private rentals where housing costs are high. The report places jobseeker recipients among those vulnerable to food insecurity, further underscoring the difficulties of meeting basic living costs on current benefit levels.

Statistics from the Department of Social Services show half of jobseeker recipients rely on payments for more than two years, challenging the perception that unemployment is typically short-term. Gilbert noted that the payment level is about $120 per week below what would be needed to cover essentials such as food, medical appointments, medications, and contents insurance.

The reliance on charities and food pantries has increased for many in this situation, raising concerns about the adequacy of the social safety net to support people transitioning back into the workforce. Gilbert called for a substantive and permanent increase to the jobseeker payment, citing evidence from welfare advocacy groups, business organizations, community legal centers, the OECD, and parliamentary advisory bodies. These sources argue that current payments do not sufficiently support recipients’ ability to re-engage with employment opportunities and maintain their dignity.

As it stands, some recipients argue that the payment system’s conditions and low rates place them at risk of falling deeper into hardship, indicating a disconnect between policy promises and lived realities on the ground.