Australians are skipping meals, turning to Afterpay for groceries and even prioritising feeding their pets over themselves as the cost-of-living crisis pushes many to breaking point. That's according to new research published this week by the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), which surveyed people receiving JobSeeker and other income support payments. It comes as charities across the country also report surging demand. Volunteers warn people who have never previously sought support — including dual-income families — are increasingly turning to them for help . This week, a queue stretching dozens of metres and filled with people seeking support was spotted in Footscray, Melbourne . It's a confronting snapshot of a much broader crisis unfolding across the country. ACOSS Program Director of Social Security, Charmaine Crowe, told Yahoo News Australia an incredible 95 per cent of people on JobSeeker who were surveyed were struggling to cover grocery costs. The research found that three in four respondents (74 per cent) were cutting back on food, going without meals, eating smaller portions or redirecting money from elsewhere in their budget just to eat. A staggering three-quarters admitted they had less than $500 in their bank account. "It's extremely distressing for people every time they go to the supermarket," Crowe told Yahoo . "They have to make extremely difficult choices about what they put in their basket and what they have to leave behind. "We heard from people through the survey that sometimes they prioritise buying pet food over food for themselves because they at least want their pet to be able to eat, even if they don't." Are you struggling to make ends meet on JobSeeker? Contact newsroomau@yahoonews.com The confronting scenes are becoming more and more common across Australia. Devastating decisions Australians are forced to make Often parents are forgoing meals so that their kids can eat, Crowe added. "And we also heard from people who really struggle to buy things like hygiene products. They have to either borrow money from family or friends, or go without meals just so that they can purchase those hygiene products. "These are the kinds of decisions that people are having to make every time they do their weekly shop, and it's just not good enough in one of the wealthiest countries in the world that that's the situation we have." In Australia, JobSeeker payments sit at $404 a week, with Youth Allowance at $342 — both well below the poverty line of $584 per week and a national minimum wage of $1,005 a week.

ACOSS Program Director of Social Security Charmaine Crowe. "JobSeeker is sitting at about 40 per cent of the minimum wage at the moment, and I don't think anyone would argue that the minimum wage is a generous wage by any means," Crowe said. "And yet, if you lose your job and you end up on JobSeeker, you're forced to live on an income less than half of that, and so it's no wonder that people are left in deep financial stress." What needs to change? Crowe argues that these figures "won't change themselves." "This is why we need the government to change their position on JobSeeker and substantially lift it, particularly when we're seeing unemployment increase," she said. ACOSS is urging the federal government to lift JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment and other income support payments to at least $600 a week, bringing them in line with the pension and pension supplement. It also wants increases to Commonwealth Rent Assistance and additional support for people with disabilities and single parents, along with changes to Disability Support Pension eligibility. Free supermarket voucher unlocking $230 worth of groceries Free supermarket voucher unlocking $230 worth of groceries 2.7 million flies to be unleashed in suburb after pest jumps border 2.7 million flies to be unleashed in suburb after pest jumps border Aussies warned of strict holiday visa change for Thailand from today Aussies warned of strict holiday visa change for Thailand from today "One of the most astounding statistics that we found through the survey was that three quarters of people told us that they don't even have $500 in the bank for an emergency," Crowe said. "That just really demonstrates how much destitution people go into just by receiving JobSeeker because they literally don't have enough money week to week to cover the costs of things that we all need." With the number of unemployed Australians having risen by 150,000 since 2022, concerns have been raised that more people could be forced to rely on payments that were already insufficient to cover basic living costs. "If there is no change to these payments, then people receiving them will continue to fall further and further behind," Crowe said. You can also follow us on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , X and YouTube .