A single unemployed person is entitled to a maximum Newstart payment of $555.70 a fortnight or $601.10 if they have a dependent child.

An unemployed couple is entitled to $501.70 each a fortnight.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average Tasmanian wage sits around $72,000 a year - or $2183.50 a fortnight after tax.

A Senate committee has been tasked with looking at the adequacy of Newstart payments.

Social service groups in 2012, when a similar inquiry was held, argued for a $50 a week increase to the payment.

Seven years later, there are calls for a $75 per week increase.

Youth Network of Tasmania chief executive Tania Hunt said young people were particularly vulnerable to the inadequate level of payments.

She said the payment forced young people to live well below the poverty line with more than half of their fortnightly payment dedicated toward accommodation costs.

" Many young people receiving income support experience financial stress resulting in an inability to pay for essential services such as health care, food, utilities and public transport, and may experience poor physical and mental health outcomes," Ms Hunt said.

"It's hard to find employment when you haven't got a secure roof over your head, are unable to afford appropriate clothes for an interview or you can't afford transport to get there.

"Raising the rate by $75 per week will help young job seekers access the resources they need to find employment and will go some way to reducing poverty and inequality in Australia."

The Senate committee will accept submissions for the inquiry until September 30.