nearly 1 million Aussie households are set to receive a bit more relief from their rental payments the fortnightly Commonwealth rent assistance payment will go up by 10% costing taxpayers $1.9 billion over the next 5 years this is on top of the 15% hike in the payment that was contained in last year's budget in a statement the government said this will take maximum rates over 40% higher than in May 2022 nearly 1 million households will benefit the Commonwealth rent assistance program is accessible to Aussie's receiving certain Social Security payments to access the payment there's a minimum amount you need to pay in rent and that threshold changes depending on your circumstances