PREMIER Barry O'Farrell has been urged not to raise rents for 4538 pensioners living in public housing in the Chifley electorate when the federal government increases pensions in May and June this year.
Chifley MP Ed Husic is worried Mr O'Farrell will use the pension boost as another excuse to increase rents for local pensioners.
UNITINGCARE Australia supports the call for an increase of $50 a week in unemployment benefits.
National director Lin Hatfield Dodds said inadequate support was forcing vulnerable people into deeper poverty and making it more difficult for them to get a job.
She said its research this year found growing numbers of people on unemployment payments seeking financial assistance and help to deal with debt.
Ms Dodds said the current rate of unemployment payments would barely cover housing and energy bills, let alone rising costs.