Single pensioners living in public housing in New South Wales take a temporary relief from paying more rent as the federal government intervenes in their case.

Federal Housing Minister Jenny Macklin has written to Housing New South Wales regarding the increase of $18.60 per fortnight in rent supposedly to be implemented today. “It isn't fair, it certainly isn't fair to New South Wales pensioners who are living in public housing in New South Wales,” she said.

The single age pension increased by $30 per week in 2009. The New South Wales Government took the pension hike as an opportunity to earn more out of public housing rents.

Macklin insisted, “We think that it's pensioners who should get the pension rise from last year not state government public housing authorities.”

Charmaine Crowe of the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association of New South Wales supported Macklin's move. She said, “The $30 per week increase was to help pensioners cover the cost of living.”

According to Crowe, “pensioners renting privately are often paying 60 to 70 percent of their entire income just on rent alone... So while that extra $15 a fortnight for a single person is going to help out, it is not going to be enough to ensure they can cover the cost of essential goods and services.”

Welfare payments for more than 4 million Australians will increase today. Single people on the full age pension will be receiving an extra $15 a fortnight.