Local families will this week start receiving a boost to their family payments,Member for Throbsy Stephen Jones said today.

About 11,500 local families are receiving higher payments from Federal Labor to help them make ends meet, said Jones.

This is a result of indexation and the new Clean Energy Supplement, which is part of Labors Household Assistance Package.

The Household Assistance Package is delivering higher payments and tax cuts to thousands of locals, helping them keep up with their bills and meet the modest impacts of the carbon price.

From 1July the maximum rates of Family Tax Benefit Part A will increase by:

• $153.30 a year per child under 13, to $5,303.45 a year, including a Clean Energy Supplement of $87.60;
• $200.75 a year per child aged between 13 and 15, to $6,679.50 a year, including a Clean Energy Supplement of $113.15; and
• $200.75 a year per child aged between 16 and 19 attending school, to $6,679.50 a year, including a Clean Energy Supplement of $113.15.

The rate of Family Tax Benefit Part B will also increase by:

• $124.10 a year where the youngest child is aged under five, to $4,241.30 a year, including a Clean Energy Supplement of $69.35; and
• $91.25 a year where the youngest child is aged between five and 18, to $3,069.65 a year, including a Clean Energy Supplement of $51.10.

About 2,200 local students and young people in training will also begin receiving their second lump sum Clean Energy Advance payment from this week, worth up to $130, before receiving their regular Clean Energy Supplement from January 2014.

Federal Labor is delivering record levels of assistance to low and middle income families in the Illawarra and Southern Highlands, Jones said.

Our support includes Australias first national Paid Parental Leave scheme, and increase to the Child Care Rebate and the Schoolkids Bonus.

Tony Abbott likes to say he supports families, but the fact is he voted against the Household Assistance Package.

He is also promising to axe the Schoolkids Bonus, which is helping thousands of local families with the costs of getting their kids through school.

And his unfair and costly paid parental leave policy will drive up prices at the supermarket, hurting all families.