Couple say they 'won't survive' as JobSeeker payments slashed

A Sydney couple say they will struggle to survive on reduced JobSeeker payments which come into effect today.

Richard Lawrence was Chief Executive Officer at a not-for-profit company in the medical field before losing his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He has since applied for 136 jobs, without success.

His partner Christine Johnson told Today that while 2020 had taught the couple to live carefully on a budget, they would struggle to meet their financial commitments with benefits being slashed by $100 per person per fortnight.

"What we are facing with the new withdrawal of funding is a time when we are really going to struggle to move from one bill to the next," she said.

"Eventually (we will) have to face the reality that those bills are just going to become too much for us.

"It just takes one expense, like a new pair of glasses, and your whole budget is blown."

Mr Lawrence and Ms Johnson are among more than one million Australians whose welfare payments are being slashed from today as the Federal Government continues to wind back coronavirus assistance.

Their payments will fall from $760.80 per per person per fortnight to $660.80 per person per fortnight - an amount which Mr Lawrence points out is less than the aged pension.

Mr Lawrence described the job hunting process as disheartening.

"To begin with you come out with a sort of confidence (and think) I'll get my next job reasonably quickly, then three months down the track you realise it's not happening quite as quickly as you thought it would," he said.

"By the time you get to five months you realise it's time to go on the dole."

Mr Lawrence says it is the first time "since leaving school" that he had been on unemployment benefits.

He said he is not "precious" when it comes to searching for work, but it is difficult to secure the right role.

"There is workaround, I'm not saying there's not, but my skill set is quite specific, so to find the right job in the right area is tough," he said.

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The information provided on this website is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The information has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information on this website you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

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