JobSeeker Payment Calculator AU 2026

What this calculator works out

This calculator estimates your fortnightly and annual JobSeeker Payment under the rates effective from 20 March 2026, including:

• The base rate for your situation (single, single with children, single 55+, partnered).
• The energy supplement that is added to the base rate.
• The personal income test with the two-band 50c / 60c taper.
• The partner income test with the 60c taper above the partner free area.

Numbers come from Services Australia — How much JobSeeker Payment you can get and the income test pages. Rates indexate twice a year on 20 March and 20 September. This is a general estimate, not a Centrelink determination.

The formula and where the rates come from

Maximum fortnightly rates from 20 March 2026 (base + $9.50 / $8.60 energy supplement):

Category	Base	+ Supplement	Maximum
Single, no children	$808.70	$9.50	$818.20
Single with dependent children	$866.00	$9.50	$875.50
Single, 55+ (after 9 mo)	$866.00	$9.50	$875.50
Partnered, each	$740.30	$8.60	$748.90

Personal income test:

free area              = $150 / fortnight
band 1: $150 to $256   reduction = (income − 150) × 50%
band 2: above $256     reduction = $53 + (income − 256) × 60%
                       (where $53 = ($256 − $150) × 50%)

Partner income test (partnered claimants only):

partner free area      = $1,378 / fortnight
partner reduction      = max(0, partner income − 1,378) × 60%

Final payment:

fortnightly payment    = max(0, max payment − personal reduction − partner reduction)
annual payment         = fortnightly × 26

How to read the inputs

• Your situation — single without children, single with dependent children, single 55+ (after 9 continuous months on JobSeeker), or partnered (each member of the couple is assessed individually).
• Personal income per fortnight — wages, business income, contractor income. Use the gross before tax. Some lump sums (back-pay, redundancy) trigger an income maintenance period and are not modelled here.
• Partner income per fortnight — gross fortnightly income from your partner. Only relevant for the partnered category.

Worked examples

1. Single, no children, no income. Maximum = $818.20/fn → $21,273.20/yr.

2. Single, no children, $200/fn casual work. Reduction = ($200 − $150) × 50% = $25 → payment = $818.20 − $25 = $793.20/fn.

3. Single, no children, $500/fn part-time work. Reduction = ($256 − $150) × 50% + ($500 − $256) × 60% = $53 + $146.40 = $199.40 → payment = $818.20 − $199.40 = $618.80/fn ≈ $16,088.80/yr.

4. Single with dependent children, $300/fn. Maximum = $875.50. Reduction = $53 + ($300 − $256) × 60% = $53 + $26.40 = $79.40 → payment = $796.10/fn.

5. Partnered (each), no income, partner earns $1,000/fn. Partner under $1,378 → no partner reduction. Each receives $748.90/fn.

6. Partnered (each), no income, partner earns $2,000/fn. Partner reduction = ($2,000 − $1,378) × 60% = $373.20 → your payment = $748.90 − $373.20 = $375.70/fn.

7. Single, no children, $1,540/fn personal income. Reduction = $53 + ($1,540 − $256) × 60% = $53 + $770.40 = $823.40 — payment is reduced to zero. JobSeeker cuts out at this income level for a single recipient.

Common pitfalls

• Confusing personal income with partner income. Your personal income tapers your JobSeeker through the 50c / 60c bands. Partner income tapers separately at 60c above $1,378/fn.
• Forgetting the energy supplement. Many calculators show only the base rate. The $9.50 / $8.60 energy supplement is paid every fortnight on top of the base.
• Single principal carer eligibility. If you are a single principal carer of a child under 14, you may qualify for Parenting Payment Single, which has a higher base rate ($1,058.40/fn from 20 March 2026 estimates). Apply through Services Australia.
• Liquid assets waiting period. If you have more than $5,500 (single without dependants) or $11,000 (with dependants) in liquid assets, you may face a 1-13 week waiting period before payment starts.
• Income maintenance period. If you received a redundancy payment, leave payout, or other lump sum, the value is treated as income spread over the period it covers — you may not be eligible for JobSeeker until that period ends.
• Mutual obligations. JobSeeker requires you to look for work, attend appointments and report your job-search activities through Workforce Australia. Failure to meet obligations leads to suspended or cancelled payments.
• Indexation timing. Rates change on 20 March and 20 September each year. Calculators using older rates are out of date.

Related calculators

• Commonwealth Rent Assistance Calculator — JobSeeker recipients who pay rent are usually also eligible.
• Parental Leave Pay Calculator — for new parents transitioning from JobSeeker.
• Age Pension Calculator — payment that replaces JobSeeker at Age Pension age.
• HECS-HELP Repayment Calculator — HECS still accrues indexation while on JobSeeker.
• Take Home Pay Calculator (AU) — model the take-home from a return-to-work job.

Sources:

• Services Australia — JobSeeker Payment
• Services Australia — How much JobSeeker Payment you can get
• Services Australia — Income test for JobSeeker Payment
• Services Australia — Partner income test
• DSS — Guide to Social Security Law