Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

Since the coalition was elected, pensions have increased by $99 per fortnight for singles and by $149 per fortnight for couples combined. Last night's budget continues our strong commitment to support them.

This includes changes to improve the pension work bonus by increasing the bonus by $50 a fortnight to $300 a fortnight and extending the work bonus to include earnings from self-employment. Currently, the first $250 of employment income a fortnight is not counted in the pension income test and the work bonus does not currently apply to earnings from self-employment. Increasing the work bonus to $300 per fortnight will mean eligible pensioners get more benefit from working. The current bonus was set at $250 per fortnight when introduced in 2011 and has not been increased since.