Disability Support Pensioners
Support for people with a disability
Alan has a severe disability and is unable to work. He receives the maximum rate of Disability Support Pension.
As part of the pension reforms, the Government will increase Alan's Disability Support Pension and Pension Supplement payment by $32.49 a week, an increase to his total pension of $1,689 per year.
The Government recognises that Disability Support Pensioners have not always received the same level of support as other pensioners and are among the most vulnerable in society. The Government has moved to address this.
In March 2008, the Government extended the Utilities Allowance to recipients of the Disability Support Pension (DSP) for the first time, now valued at $518.80 per year.
Disability Support Pensioners also received one‑off payments for the first time as part of the Economic Security Strategy announced in October 2008.
The pension reform package ensures that Disability Support Pensioners benefit from the pension increases, and the simpler and fairer system of pension payments.
At the same time, the Government will improve the assessment process for new DSP claimants to ensure the DSP eligibility rules appropriately recognise the capacity of people with disability to engage in the workforce.
The combination of the extension of the Utilities Allowance and pension increases means that single Disability Support Pensioners are around $2,208 per annum better off due to changes introduced by this Government.
