The Labor Party has called on the government to extend the Coronavirus Supplement, which is an add-on to the JobSeeker payment, until March, in line with when the JobKeeper wage subsidy is slated to end.
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Bendigo MP Lisa Chesters said ending the support payment in December isn't fair.
"Don't punish people at this time of the year," Ms Chesters said.
"The government should support people through the summer and into the New Year."
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Peter Austin, 65, is worried that when the supplement ends on December 31, he will be left struggling to pay his bills and put food on the table.
A Knowesley resident, Mr Austin said the original $550 supplement, which has been reduced to $250 since late September, has been his saviour.
"I don't have to juggle things and struggle to pay bills," he said.
"Instead of buying noodles and two dollar microwave meals, I can buy better food."
ABS data showed Victoria's unemployment rate of 7.1 per cent is above the national average of 6.9 per cent.
"We are just getting back to normal and people need this extra support to get them through to the other side," Ms Chesters said.
"Jobs are hard to come by and often require specific skills and experience.
"There are a lot of jobseekers that don't quality for those roles and are unemployed due to this health crisis."
Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson said the government is providing unprecedented support to Australians in response to the pandemic.
"As the economy reopens, it is vital we strike the right balance between temporary enhanced support and incentives to work," Senator Henderson said.
"With the benefit of the latest labour force data as a key indicator of our economic recovery, we will make further decisions about JobSeeker and the supplement later in the year."
