There have been recent calls for the benefit payments on Newstart, the government’s welfare system for the unemployed, to rise. Now a new study shows the average rent in the inner suburbs is so high that Newstart recipients simply do not have enough money leftover to pay for food and other basics.

How bad is the problem, and what can be done to alleviate it?

Today we are joined by Dr Simone Casey, volunteer policy adviser at the Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union.