Six million Australians set to receive one-off $250 payment in their bank accounts within days

More than six million Australians will begin receiving one-off payments of $250 within days as part of a government plan to ease the cost of living.

The payment will be given to pensioners, carers, veterans, job seekers, eligible self-funded retirees and concession card holders.

The measure is one of the key components of Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s fourth budget, which was delivered in March and included plans to ease cost of living pressures for millions. 

The first payments are set to hit bank accounts on Thursday, according to Services Australia, days after Liberal MPs were briefed on how to deal with accusations that they are trying to bribe voters.

Six million Australians will start getting a $250 payment in their bank accounts from Thursday

Eligible Australians do not need to apply, and the money will be issued automatically into bank accounts. 

Recipients will only receive the $250 once, regardless of whether they’re under the list of vulnerable Australians and also a concession card holder. 

Another 10 million Australians will get up to $1,500 back in their next tax return under the government’s pre-election cash-splash Budget which also slashed petrol excise. 

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (pictured) unveiled his fourth budget in March, which includes a range of measures to ease the cost of living pressures for millions

Australians earning less than $126,000 will from July 1 get an existing tax offset of up to $1,080 plus a bonus $420 to help manage the rising cost of living in a $4.1billion policy.  

The government is also foregoing $3billion to slash fuel duty in half for six months – saving an average household $300 over six months and families with two cars $700.

But there could be more cost of living pain on the horizon with interest rates predicted to rise from June, pushing up mortgages – and inflation set to hit 4.25 per cent, the highest in 14 years.

Mr Fyrdenberg said the government’s plan to help the economy recover after the Covid-19 pandemic was working, with unemployment predicted to reach 3.75 per cent in September, the lowest level since 1974.

‘Three years ago we said to the Australian people that under the Coalition, the economy would be stronger. We delivered,’ he said in his budget night speech.

With the federal election being held just over three weeks after the $250 lands in bank accounts, the Coalition is open to accusations of bribing a large proportion of voters.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) is worried about accusations of voter bribery, with the government giving around six million people $250 just weeks out from the federal election

A leaked Liberal campaign email obtained by Daily Mail Australia this week showed Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his team are nervous of such an accusation. 

The email was sent by Liberal advisers to prepare MPs on how to answer questions from journalists about a mobile coverage grant scheme.

It briefed Liberal MPs on how to answer potential tricky questions suggesting a campaign announcement was just an election bribe.  

The note details how MPs should respond to questions about whether a particular commitment is a ‘bribe’ or ‘another example of pork barrelling’.

The bombshell leaked document obtained by Daily Mail Australia, showing that the Liberal Party is greatly concerned about being seen as trying to bribe the electorate