WELFARE recipients will get an extra payment in March and September from next year, once new legislation passes federal parliament.

A bill put to the lower house on Thursday meets a government commitment made in the May budget.

It provides for a supplementary allowance of $210 a year for singles and $350 for couples, split into two allowances.

It will go to people receiving Newstart, youth allowances, Austudy, Abstudy, parenting payments, sickness allowances, exceptional circumstances relief payments, transitional farm family payments and special benefits.

The payments will be tax free and indexed twice yearly in line with the consumer price index.

The government hoped the extra payments, on top of existing welfare allowances, would help people manage unexpected costs such as urgent car repairs or unforeseeable medical bills, Employment Minister Bill Shorten told parliament.

Originally published as Bonus payments for people on welfare