The Wire

A new report has found that young people on welfare payments are comparatively worse off than pensioners, due to the different ways the payments are indexed. The report, released this week by the National Welfare Rights Network, throws a spotlight on the inconsistencies and unfairness of income support to young people and their families. According to the report, income assistance payments such as Youth Allowance, Austudy and Newstart are also inadequate to ensure young adults, and their families, are above the poverty line.