Wendy Morgan has a degree in science, 40 years of work experience and even a forklift licence.

Key points: A Senate committee looking into the Newstart payment scheme is hearing submissions in Adelaide

A Senate committee looking into the Newstart payment scheme is hearing submissions in Adelaide Singles on Newstart receive about $278 a week, less than $40 a day

Singles on Newstart receive about $278 a week, less than $40 a day According to Anglicare, the number of entry-level jobs in SA is diminishing

She applies for more than 100 jobs a week but is consistently turned down.

Ms Morgan lives on Newstart and spoke to the Senate inquiry into the unemployment payment scheme in Adelaide's north on Wednesday.

She told ABC Radio Adelaide she wanted the payment to be increased.

She said she applied for as many jobs as she could each week.

"I only have to supply Centrelink with 20 jobs a month as evidence, but I apply for absolutely everything," she said.

"I walk around the shops putting in my resume, in all the factories on foot."

Ms Morgan has a science degree, and a forklift licence, but cannot find work. ( ABC News: Lincoln Rothall )

Ms Morgan, who studied a double major in physics and chemistry, said most employers tell her she is "over-qualified" for the job.

"I even have a forklift licence and yet I can't even get a cleaning job at the moment," she said.

"I stopped putting my age on my resume, but when they see all of my experience and, if I did get an interview, as soon as I walk in the door they can see I'm not 25 anymore."

There are roughly 722,000 people on Newstart in Australia.

Single people receive about $278 a week, which equates to less than $40 a day.

Ms Morgan said finding accommodation that she could afford was a challenge.

"The biggest problem I have had is just keeping a stable home because with the private rental market the rent is much too high," Ms Morgan said.

"There has been more than one occasion where I have had to put all my possessions into storage and sleep in my car simply because there is no place available where the rent is low enough.

"It's not just paying rent, if there's nothing left over you can't pay electricity.

"How do you find work if you've got no electricity because everything is done online these days?"

Living off Newstart is 'such a struggle'

Anglicare SA chief executive the Reverend Peter Sandeman said Ms Morgan's story was not uncommon.

"It's such a struggle if you're on Newstart," he said.

"The Government says it's a short-term situation, it's not. Many people are on Newstart for up to five years before they can find a job."

Mr Sandeman said the number of entry-level jobs in South Australia was diminishing.

"For people reliant on Newstart, competing effectively for extremely scarce entry-level jobs as well as surviving and being able to provide for their kids is nearly impossible," he said.

"In SA, nine entry-level jobseekers are competing for every suitable job — almost double the national figure."

Mr Sandeman said many people receiving Newstart were jobseekers aged in their fifties.

"They are really doing it tough," he said.

"The people I'm most worried about are the single parents who, when their youngest child turns eight, they are thrown onto Newstart and that's really tough."

Rita Sacchetta also appeared before the inquiry, which has held hearings in Sydney and Canberra. ( ABC News: Lincoln Rothall )

Wednesday's Senate hearing took place in Elizabeth in Adelaide's northern suburbs, where hundreds of people lost their jobs when the Holden plant closed two years ago.

It also heard from nine other Newstart recipients, including Rita Sacchetta who said she was forced to live on $34 per fortnight.

"I pay my rent and bills there's very little money left over," she told the inquiry.

"I don't eat everyday. I ration my medications, my insulin."

Another public hearing for the Senate inquiry will be held in Alice Springs on November 1, after hearings in Canberra and Sydney earlier this month.