As a resume writer working across SA but especially the northern and western suburbs of Adelaide, I know how hard it is for people to survive on the unemployment benefit. I hear their stories everyday.

That’s why the Australian Council of Social Services is again urging the Federal government to raise the long-term rate of JobSeeker, with the payment set to drop back to $40 a day in April.

Unemployment support is currently being boosted by $150 a fortnight but the higher rate is slated to finish on 31 March.

The Federal opposition, welfare and business groups – as well as former Liberal prime minister John Howard – have previously called for the $40-a-day rate to be increased.

The Playford, Salisbury, Port Adelaide Enfield, Gawler and Prospect Councils, the SA Anti-Poverty Network and St Vincent de Paul, support a permanent increase to the JobSeeker payment.

Late last year, about 118,611 South Australians were receiving JobSeeker and Youth Allowance payments.

In real terms, twice that number were either unemployed or under employed.

More than 1.56 million Australians are receiving the payments.

Welfare advocates have long called for the JobSeeker unemployment benefit, previously known as Newstart (the Dole), to be boosted after it had barely budged for more than 25 years prior to the pandemic.

Anti-Poverty Network SA spokesperson Eileen Darley said the advocacy group wanted the JobSeeker rate to be made $550 a week permanently.

“The recent and devastating $300 a fortnight cut has caused huge stress for people who, even with the full supplement, were only just surviving,” Darley said.

“It has meant people have had to cut back on fresh food, medicines, and are finding it harder to cover their rent and bills. Any cuts will not only make life harder for those who are already not coping, but will also do further damage to our fragile economic state.”