LIVING off $17 a day may sound impossible to most people but Greens senator Rachel Siewert will do just this for a week, in an attempt to highlight the struggle people on the dole face.

The Greens are calling for a $50 a week increase to the Newstart allowance. Such an increase would cost $1.2 billion in its first year but the Greens say this can be funded through abolishing fossil fuel industry subsidies, maintaining the 30 per cent tax rate for big business and a more comprehensive mining tax.

From tomorrow Senator Siewert will live on $17 a day, which is what the Australian Council of Social Services has worked out people on the dole have for daily living expenses, after rent has been factored in.

The $119 week budget includes $15 for electricity, $10 for petrol and $85 for all food. Senator Siewert will give up all her parliamentary entitlements for the week.

A Senator's base salary is $185,000 a year, and Senator Siewert is also entitled to extras because she is the chair of a parliamentary committee.