Tuesday night's federal budget has locked in an additional $250 payment for pensioners in December and another $250 cheque in March next year.

The money will go to aged and disability pensioners, veterans, people on carer payments and family tax benefit recipients.

Commonwealth seniors health card and pensioner concession card holders are also in line for the cash.

Pensioners usually receive an automatic indexation increase twice a year.

But because the coronavirus pandemic has plunged inflation into negative territory, the pension has been frozen for the first time since 1997.

Labor has been calling on the Morrison government to reverse the freeze, arguing it is the worst possible time to put the squeeze on the household budgets of seniors and the most vulnerable.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg vowed to work through the issues facing pensioners in the lead-up to the federal budget, and made good on his promise Tuesday night.

Pensioners have already received two $750 cash payments since the virus swept the country.

Australian Associated Press