In a ruling gazetted on Friday, the Parliamentary Remuneration Tribunal, which sets public sector remuneration and allowances each year, has blown the yearly budget for MPs' offices and entitlements by more than $5 million.

In addition to being granted the maximum possible increases to their allowances and salaries, lower house MPs have also secured an extra staff member after complaints that public contact in the digital age was overwhelming.

"Innovations in technology and communication have increased the number of interactions a member and his or her staff will have with electors and the wider community," the tribunal ruling read. "[MPs] have detailed the impact that interactions via these communication platforms have had on their workload, in particular the workload of staff.

"In addition, most if not all, [MPs now] have social media accounts."

Some of the MPs who informed the tribunal's ruling said it was not uncommon for their staff to forfeit their lunch break or work on weekends.

Volumes of traditional forms of correspondence to MPs' offices such as letters had remained stable over the past three years but email contact has doubled, the tribunal was told.

"[MPs] and staff have indicated that there has been an exponential increase in work," the tribunal report reads.

MPs' offices are also to be awarded an above-inflation increase of 2.5 per cent in most of their allowances including for travel, living more than 70 kilometres from Sydney and serving on committees.

MPs' basic salaries will increase, too, under the ruling.

A backbench MP in the NSW Parliament now makes in excess of $160,000 a year.

MPs are currently entitled to two full-time electorate staff, which will rise to three under the changes.

MPs will now also be allowed to use entitlements to take more than one nominated family member on official business.