Australia’s Disability Support Pension

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, almost one in five Australians, which amounts to approximately 4.3 million people, reported living with some kind of disability in  2016. In order to respond to the needs of this vulnerable group, the Government of Australia introduced the disability support pension for persons who are permanently blind or with physical, intellectual or psychiatric conditions that prevent them from working. The disability support pension is administered by the Department of Human Services.

Australia's disability support pension is a non-contributory, means tested monthly cash transfer available to Australian citizens and residents with disabilities between 16 years of age and the age of retirement. Claimants must provide evidence of disability that prevents them from working, or from being retrained to work at least 15 hours per week for two years following the impairment.  Claimants are entitled to receive a maximum payment of AUD 1,734 per month, or approximately USD 1,220. The amount received is calculated based on the claimant’s assets and income and can be combined with additional allowances for mobility, rent, utilities and pharmaceuticals. As of June 2014, over 800,000 Australians with disability were in receipt of Disability Support Pension according to the Australian National Audit Office.

The disability support pension represents a strong State commitment to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities in Australia, providing non-contributory basic income support to those in need. Schemes such as the disability support pension are essential in building a national social protection floor to ensure that all have access to basic income security, including persons with disabilities of working age.

 

Further Reading: