As the country slowly gets back on its post-COVID feet, welfare agencies are increasingly concerned about people falling through the gaps, with hardship worsening as welfare payments drop off.
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Salvation Army Ballarat is seeing more people on JobSeeker asking for help since the coronavirus supplement was reduced in January and ended on March 31.
Salvation Army Ballarat team leader John Clonan said the number of people on JobSeeker presenting for help had increased gradually since January and about 5 per cent compared to this time last year.
The federal government ended the coronavirus supplement on March 31, bringing JobSeeker back to its previous Newstart rate, with a permanent increase of $50 a fortnight.
Coronavirus supplements were first introduced on April 27, 2020 as a response to a sharp rise in unemployment due to the pandemic, with a $550 boost to payments.
I've had to go without my medication, because I simply don't have the resources.
- Jobseeker recipient
The supplement was gradually reduced, with the last supplement a $150 boost until March 31.
More than 1000 people completed a survey and five people participated in interviews with The Salvation Army as part of their analysis of the impact of JobSeeker reductions.
A report revealed interviewees were able to afford nutritious food, meet their basic needs, engage in social activities and manage outstanding debt when receiving the full supplement.
But said they experienced food insecurity and had difficulty covering bills which lead to a decrease in mental health and social connections after the second payment reduction.
Four out of five interviewees said they would be in a dire predicament and unable to afford essentials like food on the new permanent JobSeeker rate.
One interviewee, a 23-year-old female said: "before the COVID supplement I was skipping meals and stuff like that, so [after the supplement reductions] I just went back to skipping meals again".
A 31-year-old male said 'I've had to go without my medication, because I simply don't have the resources'.
"The stress levels increased by a factor of at least 50 per cent because we didn't know what to do, or where we were going to get enough money to cover everything," he said.
"I will be evicted from this house...I've already faced eviction from this house previously because I haven't been able to afford the rent...I can pay rent or utilities...but not both. Do I want to have lights, gas and water, or do I want to keep a roof over our heads?"
Mr Clonan said people on JobSeeker were transitioning from being above the poverty line with the supplements, to below the poverty line.
"Families with kids at home during holidays puts more pressure on families who have had a reduction in their supplement," he said.
Mr Clonan said Salvation Army Ballarat was supporting about 80 people per week, offering meals, emergency relief, financial counselling and other services.
He said the organisation had helped 1300 people in Ballarat since July 1, equating to 3200 including their families and dependents.
Salvation Army Ballarat has provided close to 11,000 meals in that time.
Data showed people in Sebastopol, Wendouree, Ballarat, Ballarat East, Delacombe and Redan were most often presenting for help.
The most commonly cited reasons for needing help were financial difficulty due to job losses and family or relationship breakdown.
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Mr Clonan said women in all groups accessed financial counselling services in higher numbers than men in the past 12 months.
He said the future impact was unknown, with JobKeeper also ending.
"As people transition back out of the pandemic hopefully people will be able to regain their employment. There are a lot of unknowns in all of this," he said.
A Salvation Army survey revealed 78 per cent of people on JobSeeker would struggled to afford electricity, gas or telephone bills with the reduced payment.
Sixty-eight per cent of people said they would struggle to afford fresh fruit and vegetables and 63 per cent said they would struggle to have three meals a day.
Paying rent or mortgage is also an issue, with 62 per cent reporting difficulties and 57 per cent saying they would struggle to afford medical treatment if required.
"The financial assistance that is being provided even with the $50 increase a fortnight is going to be insufficient to support basic needs," Mr Clonan said.
"Therefore organisations like the Salvation Army are going to be impacted by people accessing services.
"It is unfortunate the government see us as that role rather than their role in supporting people accessing welfare services."
Help is available. Welfare agencies in Ballarat include Salvation Army, Uniting, CatholicCare, Anglicare and St Vincent de Paul.
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Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
