Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Politics
Poppy Johnston

EXPLAINED: Never been harder job seekers barely scraping by | Rare Historical Photos

A cost-of-living index shows welfare recipients barely have enough money to cover basic expenses. (Alan Porritt/AAP PHOTOS)

Covering the cost of weekly essentials is leaving Australians on JobSeeker and other welfare payments with little left over to pay bills or other incidental expenses.

A single person out of work and living in a shared house would have just $127 of income each week after covering three core weekly expenses - rent, transport and food.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.