Characteristics of Disability Support Pension Customers, June 2001

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Disability Support Pension - Overview

Who is this Payment for?

Disability Support Pension (DSP) is paid to people who are unable to work for at least 30 hours per week, or be re-skilled for such work, for more than two years because of a disability. DSP is intended to ensure that people with disabilities have adequate levels of income and maximum opportunities to participate in society.

 

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for DSP a person must:

  • have turned 16; and
  • be permanently blind; or
  • have a physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment (assessed at 20 points or more under the Impairment Tables); and be unable to do any work, or be re-skilled for any work, for a period of at least two years; and
  • have become unable to work while in Australia, or have 10 years qualifying Australian residence.

 

Trends

As at June 2001, there were 623,926 people in receipt of DSP. Two thirds of these customers were aged over 45 years; 63% were male; 77% were born in Australia; only 9% had income from employment though 17% were on reduced rates due to their or their partner's income or assets; and they had an average duration of 7 years in receipt of DSP. The three largest medical conditions are musculo-skeletal or connective tissue conditions, representing 32% of the total DSP population, psychological/psychiatric conditions, representing 23%, and intellectual/learning disabilities, representing 10%.

Since 1977 the DSP customer population has been steadily increasing, with the greatest growth, of 13%, occurring in the 1991-92 financial year following the introduction of the Disability Reform Package. This growth has slowed in recent years to a rate of around 4% each year and the current trend suggests it will fall to a rate of around 3% per year up until at least 2005-06.

There were around over 77,000 new DSP customers in the 2000-01 financial year with 37% of these coming directly from Newstart or Youth Allowance, 6% from Parenting Payments and 2% from Sickness Allowance. 45% were not previously in receipt of another Centrelink payment.

The proportion of females is also increasing and females now represent 37% of the total DSP population.

This report was prepared by the Disability Payments and Services Section, Office of Disability Branch.

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1:Disability Support Pension Population Characteristics

1:Disability Support Pension Population Characteristics

1.1 Customers by Gender 1980 to 2001

As at June 2001, the number of people receiving Disability Support Pension (DSP) was 623,926 and has been steadily increasing since 1982, with the greatest growth period (13%) occurring in 1992 following the introduction of the Disability Reform Package.

The DSP population size is now growing at a slower rate. In June 2001 the population was 3.6% higher than it was in June 2000.

A number of factors have been suggested as contributing to the increases in the DSP customer numbers in the last decade:

  • changed eligibility criteria for disability payments following the introduction of the Disability Reform Package;
  • loss of access to other forms of support such as Veterans' Affairs Service Pension, Widow B and Wife Pension;
  • increases in the Age Pension qualifying age for females;
  • demographic effects such as the ageing of the population;
  • changes in the labour market which have resulted in a reduced capacity for people with disabilities to retain or find work.
  • increases in the Age Pension qualifying age for females;

The proportion of the DSP population that is female has been increasing, from a low of 26% in 1989 to the current figure of 37% of the DSP population. This is comparable to the trend of the proportion of females with disabilities in the Australian population, which has risen from 13% in 1981 to 17% in 1998.

Graph1.1: Disability Support Pension Customers by Gender: June 1980 to June 2001

Source: Characteristics of Disability Support Pension Customers (June 2000); Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

Table 1.1: Disability Support Pension Customers by Gender: 1980 to 2001
 
Males
Females
Total Persons
Year Count Change % of total Count Change % of total Count % Growth
1980 158,327 8,568 69.07% 70,892 808 30.93% 229,219 4.30%
1981 153,889 -4,438 69.33% 68,062 -2,830 30.67% 221,951 -3.17%
1982 151,146 -2,743 69.77% 65,503 -2,559 30.23% 216,649 -2.39%
1983 155,672 4,526 70.67% 64,617 -886 29.33% 220,289 1.68%
1984 173,063 17,391 71.94% 67,511 2,894 28.06% 240,574 9.21%
1985 188,713 15,650 72.82% 70,449 2,938 27.18% 259,162 7.73%
1986 200,898 12,185 73.37% 72,912 2,463 26.63% 273,810 5.65%
1987 213,290 12,392 73.79% 75,760 2,848 26.21% 289,050 5.57%
1988 219,168 5,878 73.82% 77,745 1,985 26.18% 296,913 2.72%
1989 227,285 8,117 73.84% 80,510 2,765 26.16% 307,795 3.67%
1990 233,251 5,966 73.65% 83,462 2,952 26.35% 316,713 2.90%
1991 244,699 11,448 73.21% 89,535 6,073 26.79% 334,234 5.53%
1992 273,697 28,998 72.30% 104,861 15,326 27.70% 378,558 13.26%
1993 291,471 17,774 71.69% 115,101 10,240 28.31% 406,572 7.40%
1994 309,123 17,652 70.86% 127,111 12,010 29.14% 436,234 7.30%
1995 324,672 15,549 69.91% 139,758 12,647 30.09% 464,430 6.46%
1996 340,256 15,584 68.16% 158,979 19,221 31.84% 499,235 7.49%
1997 352,607 12,351 66.84% 174,907 15,928 33.16% 527,514 5.66%
1998 361,539 8,932 65.34% 191,797 16,890 34.66% 553,336 4.90%
1999 373,340 11,801 64.63% 204,342 12,545 35.37% 577,682 4.40%
2000 382,351 9,011 63.48% 219,929 15,587 36.52% 602,280 4.26%
2001 392,354 10,003 62.88% 231,572 11,643 37.12% 623,926 3.59%

Source: Characteristics of Disability Support Pension Customers (June 2000); Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

1.2 Customers by Age and Gender

People age 55 years and over represent 39% of the overall DSP customer population. The very small proportion of females in the 60 to 64 years age group is due to the lower Age Pension qualifying age for women. As the qualifying age increases for females, it is expected that this age group will grow and eventually exceed the number in the 55 to 59 years age group. This trend in the graph below is consistent with the trend for all Australians with a disability, which shows that the occurrence of a disability increases with age.

Graph 1.2: Disability Support Pension Customers by Age and Gender: June 2001

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

Table 1.2: Disability Support Pension Customers by Age and Gender: June 2001
Age
Males
%
Females
%
Total
%
16-19 9,245 2.36% 6,148 2.65% 15,393 2.47%
20-24 13,967 3.56% 10,008 4.32% 23,975 3.84%
25-29 17,130 4.37% 11,875 5.13% 29,005 4.65%
30-34 22,619 5.76% 14,433 6.23% 37,052 5.94%
35-39 29,760 7.58% 17,977 7.76% 47,737 7.65%
40-44 36,391 9.28% 23,974 10.35% 60,365 9.68%
45-49 41,283 10.52% 30,784 13.29% 72,067 11.55%
50-54 52,553 13.39% 44,034 19.02% 96,587 15.48%
55-59 69,807 17.79% 53,662 23.17% 123,469 19.79%
60-64 96,851 24.68% 18,420 7.95% 115,271 18.48%
65+ 2,748 0.70% 257 0.11% 3,005 0.48%
Total 392,354 100.00% 231,572 100.00% 623,926 100.00%

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

 

1.3 Customers by Geographic State

As expected the majority of DSP customers can be found in the more populous Australian States. New South Wales is the largest with 34% of the DSP population, while the Northern Territory is the smallest with 0.8%.

When compared with the incidence of disability in the Australian population (as reported by the 1998 ABS Survey of Disability Ageing and Carers), DSP follows the same approximate State distribution.

Graph 1.3: Disability Support Pension Customers by State for June 2001 Compared to the Incidence of Disability in the Australian Population at June 1998

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

Table 1.3: Disability Support Pension Customers by State for June 2001. Compared to the incidence of Disability in the Australian Population at June 1998
STATE
Males
%
Females
%
Total DSP
DSP %
Aust pop. with Disabilities
Australian Capital Territory 3,660 0.93% 2,681 1.16% 6,341 1.02% 1.00%
New South Wales 131,012 33.39% 76,035 32.84% 207,047 33.19% 33.87%
Northern Territory 3,259 0.83% 1,754 0.76% 5,013 0.80% 0.81%
Queensland 74,416 18.97% 42,069 18.17% 116,485 18.67% 18.64%
South Australia 37,253 9.50% 22,687 9.80% 59,940 9.61% 9.71%
Tasmania 20,378 5.19% 9,974 4.31% 30,352 4.87% 3.54%
Victoria 89,824 22.90% 57,256 24.73% 147,080 23.58% 24.01%
Western Australian 32,510 8.29% 19,093 8.25% 51,603 8.27% 8.42%
Total 392,312 100.00% 231,549 100.00% 623,861 100.00% 100.00%

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001; ABS Survey of Disability Ageing and Carers 1998, 4430.0.

1.4 Customers by Country of Birth

The majority of DSP customers were born in Australia (71.9%). The next largest group was those born in the United Kingdom (6.1%).

When compared with ABS migration data collected in 1996, countries such as Greece, Italy, the former Yugoslavia, Lebanon and Malta are over-represented on DSP.

Graph 1.4: Disability Support Pension Customers by Country of Birth: June 2001

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

Table 1.4: Disability Support Pension Customers by Country of Birth: June 2001
COUNTRY OF BIRTH
Males
%
Females
%
Total DSP
DSP %
ABS 1996
Australia 276,527 70.48% 171,941 74.25% 448,468 71.88% 76.74%
UK (inc. Ireland) 24,951 6.36% 12,784 5.52% 37,735 6.05% 6.20%
Greece 10,258 2.61% 5,374 2.32% 15,632 2.51% 0.77%
Italy 10,121 2.58% 4,322 1.87% 14,443 2.31% 1.42%
Former Yugoslavia 10,120 2.58% 4,517 1.95% 14,637 2.35% 1.05%
New Zealand 5,447 1.39% 3,306 1.43 8,753 1.40% 1.72%
Lebanon 5,949 1.52% 2,266 0.98% 8,215 1.32% 0.42%
Malta 4,558 1.16% 1,496 0.65% 6,054 0.97% 0.30%
Turkey 3,320 0.85% 2,400 1.04% 5,720 0.92% N/A
Other 41,103 10.48% 23,166 10.00% 64,269 10.30% 11.23%
Total 392,354 100.00% 231,572 100.00% 623,926 100.00% 100.00%

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001; ABS Migration 3412.0, 1997-1998.

1.5 Customers by Marital Status and Gender

The majority of DSP customers are unmarried (61.4%) with females more likely to be unmarried then males (70.5% of the female population unmarried, compared to 56.0% of males). Proportionally, males and females are similar in the defacto and single categories. Males are more likely to be married while females are more likely to be divorced, separated or widowed.

The higher percentages of divorced, separated and widowed women could be the result of a number of factors:

  • Women who have separated from a spouse who was the main income earner which resulted in them having to seek income support;
  • The closing off of payments such as Widow B pension; and
  • The shorter lifespan of men increasing the probability of widowhood among women.

Graph 1.5: Disability Support Pension Customers by Marital Status and Gender: June 2001

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/200

Table 1.5: Disability Support Pension Customers by Marital Status and Gender: June 2001
MARITAL STATUS
Males
%
Females
%
Total
%
Defacto 14,184 3.62% 8,280 3.58% 22,464 3.60%
Divorced 17,247 4.40% 23,216 10.03% 40,463 6.49%
Married 158,482 40.39% 60,015 25.92% 218,497 35.02%
Separated 52,195 13.30% 44,211 19.09% 96,406 15.45%
Single 145,005 36.96% 82,387 35.58% 227,392 36.45%
Widow 5,241 1.34% 13,463 5.81% 18,704 3.00%
Total 392,354 100.00% 231,572 100.00% 623,926 100.00%

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

1.6 Customers by Gender and Home Ownership

The majority of DSP customers do not own their home (62.6%). Males receiving DSP are marginally more likely to own a home than females.

Graph 1.6: Disability Support Pension Customers by Gender and Home ownership: June 2001

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

Table 1.6: Disability Support Pension Customers by Gender and Homeownership: June 2001
HOUSING STATUS
Males
%
Females
%
Total
%
Home owner 149,444 38.09% 79,239 34.22% 228,683 36.65%
Non homeowner 239,929 61.15% 150,493 64.99% 390,422 62.58%
Not coded 2,981 0.76% 1,840 0.79% 4,821 0.77%
Total 392,354 100.00% 231,572 100.00% 623,926 100.00%

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

1.7 Customers by Age and Home Ownership

DSP customers who own their own home (36.7%) tend to be skewed towards the older age groups with the 55+ age groups containing more homeowners then non-homeowners.

raph 1.7: Disability Support Pension Customers by Age and Homeownership: June 2001

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

Table 1.7: Disability Support Pension Customers and Home ownership by Age: June 2001
AGE
Home owner
%
Non home owner
%
Not coded
%
Total
%
16-19 86 0.04% 15,302 3.92% 5 0.10% 15,393 2.47%
20-24 345 0.15% 23,599 6.04% 31 0.64% 23,975 3.84%
25-29 1,291 0.56% 27,667 7.09% 47 0.97% 29,005 4.65%
30-34 3,503 1.53% 33,459 8.57% 90 1.87% 37,052 5.94%
35-39 7,507 3.28% 40,082 10.27% 148 3.07% 47,737 7.65
40-44 13,818 6.04% 46,276 11.85% 271 5.62% 60,365 9.68%
45-49 22,072 9.65% 49,501 12.68% 494 10.25% 72,067 11.55%
50-54 40,183 17.57% 55,499 14.22% 905 18.77% 96,587 15.48%
55-59 65,617 28.69% 56,517 14.48% 1,335 27.69% 123,469 19.79%
60-64 72,622 31.76% 41,178 10.55% 1,471 30.51% 115,271 18.48%
65+ 1,639 0.72% 1,342 0.34% 24 0.50% 3,005 0.48%
Total 228,683 100.00% 390,422 100.00% 4,821 100.00% 623,926 100.00%

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

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2:Medical Condition

2.1 Customers by Medical Condition

With the introduction of the DSP in 1991, the medical condition of customers was collected and recorded on their administrative file. Many of those customers who were already on payment have had their condition recorded or have left payment, although a significant number still have their medical condition unclassified (such as Invalid Pensioners who were granted prior to 12.11.91 who comprise 9% of the DSP population as at June 2001).

The medical conditions reported here represent the primary condition that is recorded on a customer's record. A customer may have multiple medical conditions but only the primary condition will be recorded.

The three largest groups are customers with Musculo-skeletal, Psychological/ Psychiatric or Intellectual/Learning medical conditions. 9,798 DSP customers are identified as being blind.

Graph 2.1: Disability Support Pension Customers by Medical Condition: June 2001

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

2.2 Customers by Medical Condition and Gender

Males and females show a similar distribution of medical conditions. The only noticeable differences (ie. a greater than 3 percentage point difference) are in regards to Psychological/Psychiatric customers (25.3% female compared to 21.0% male) and those with circulatory conditions (6.7% male and 3.3% female).

There is also a greater percentage of males who were former Invalid Pension recipients than females and therefore do not have their medical condition coded. This needs to be taken into account when interpreting the data as this may contribute to situations where the percentage of females with a particular condition appears greater than the percentage of males.

Graph 2.2: Disability Support Pension Customers by Gender and Medical Condition: June 2001

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

Table 2.1: Disability Support Pension Customers by Gender and Medical Condition: June 2001
MEDICAL CONDITION
Males
%
Females
%
Total
%
Acquired brain impairment 11,522 2.94% 4,442 1.92% 15,964 2.56%
Amputation 1,350 0.34% 298 0.13% 1,648 0.26%
Cancer/tumour 6,801 1.73% 5,356 2.31% 12,157 1.95%
Chronic fatigue/post viral syndrome 2,313 0.59% 3,177 1.37% 5,490 0.88%
Congenital abnormality 5,558 1.42% 4,580 1.98% 10,138 1.62%
Chronic pain 1,960 0.50% 2,214 0.96% 4,174 0.67%
Circulatory system 26,103 6.65% 7,639 3.30% 33,742 5.41%
Endocrine and immune system 8,464 2.16% 5,241 2.26% 13,705 2.20%
Intellectual/learning 36,453 9.29% 26,715 11.54% 63,168 10.12%
Musculo-skeletal and connective tissue 131,414 33.49% 71,318 30.80% 202,732 32.49%
Nervous system 10,454 2.66% 8,816 3.81% 19,270 3.09%
Psychological/psychiatric 82,312 20.98% 58,653 25.33% 140,965 22.59%
Respiratory system 11,937 3.04% 7,219 3.12% 19,156 3.07%
Skin disorders and burns 973 0.25% 612 0.26% 1,585 0.25%
Sense organs 8,451 2.15% 5,445 2.35% 13,896 2.23%
Granted prior to 12.11.91 40,639 10.36% 15,786 6.82% 56,425 9.04%
Visceral disorder 5,438 1.39% 3,873 1.67% 9,311 1.49%
Not coded 212 0.05% 188 0.08% 400 0.06%
Total 392,354 100.00% 231,572 100.00% 623,926 100.00%

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

2.3 Customers by Musculo-skeletal, Psychological/Psychiatric and Intellectual Medical Conditions

The age distribution for Musculo-skeletal customers is skewed strongly towards the older age groups. This indicates a strong correlation between this type of condition and age.

Graph 2.3: Disability Support Pension, Musculo-skeletal Customers by Age: June 2001

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

Psychological/Psychiatric conditions also show a high representation in the older age groups but substantial numbers are in the younger age groups, leading to a more even distribution.

Graph 2.4: Disability Support Pension, Psychological/Psychiatric Customers by Age: June 2001

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

Customers with Intellectual or Learning disabilities vary again in that they are skewed towards the younger age groups. The majority of these customers are born with their condition and may suffer a reduced lifespan that causes them to be grouped in the younger categories.

Graph 2.5: Disability Support Pension, Intellectual Disabilities Customers by Age: June 2001

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

A comparison of the age distributions of the total DSP population to customers granted in the 12 months to June 2001 shows that:

  • new customers with musculo-skeletal conditions have similar age distributions to the overall DSP population with the same condition
  • new customers with psychological/psychiatric conditions tend to be in the younger age groups (less than 45 years old) than is shown in the distribution across the overall DSP population with the same conditions, which shows a majority of customers aged over 45 years; and
  • new customers with Intellectual/Learning difficulties show a higher proportion of young customers (less than 20 years) coming onto payment.

Graph 2.6: Disability Support Pension New Grants by Age and Medical Condition:June 2001

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

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3:Earnings, Payment Rates and Duration

3.1 Customers with Earnings from Employment

Only a small percentage of DSP customers have earnings related to work (9.1%). This has increased from 8.4% in June 2000.

The majority of customers have earnings in the lower income ranges. A small group of customers, comprising 18.0% of all those with earned income, earn in excess of $300 per week.

Graph 3.1a: Percentage of Disability Support Pension Customers Customers with Earnings: June 2001

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

Table 3.1: Disability Support Pension Customers by Earned Income Range: June 2001
Annual Earnings
Male
Earned
only %
Female
Earned
only %
Total
Earned
only %
Total %
0 357,296 na 209,575 na 566,871 na 90.86%
$1 to $1,299 (<$25pw) 5,155 14.70% 3,760 17.09% 8,915 15.63% 1.43%
$1,300 to $2,599 (<$50pw) 6,601 18.83% 4,373 19.88% 10,974 19.23% 1.76%
$2,600 to $3,899 (<$75pw) 4,774 13.62% 2,811 12.78% 7,585 13.29% 1.22%
$3,900 to $5,199 (<$100pw) 3,220 9.18% 1,594 7.25% 4,814 8.44% 0.77%
$5,200 to $7,799 (<$150pw) 3,440 9.81% 2,281 10.37% 5,721 10.03% 0.92%
$7,800 to $10,399 (<$200pw) 2,028 5.78% 1,448 6.58% 3,476 6.09% 0.56%
$10,400 to $12,999 (<$250pw) 1,671 4.77% 1,230 5.59% 2,901 5.08% 0.46%
$13,000 to $15,599 (<$300pw) 1,387 3.96% 1,014 4.61% 2,401 4.21% 0.38%
$15,600 or more 6,782 19.35% 3,486 15.85% 10,268 18.00% 1.65%
Total 392,354 100.00% 231,572 100.00% 623,926 100.00% 100.00%

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

Graph 3.1b: Disability Support Pension Customers with Earnings by Annual Earned Income Amount: June 2001

When comparing the characteristics of customers with earnings from employment to the characteristics of the overall DSP population it was found that:

  • Single customers represented 50% of the customers with employment earnings but represented only 36% of the total DSP population.
  • Customers with intellectual or learning disabilities represented 23% of customers with employment earnings but only represented 10% of the total DSP population. Even though this group was more likely to have employment earnings, the majority only had earnings of less than $75 per week.
  • Customers aged less than 50 years were more likely to have earnings from employment than older customers. 64% of customers aged less than 50 years had employment earnings but only represented 48% of the total population.

3.2 Customers with Maximum/Reduced Rates of Payment

The majority of DSP recipients (82.7%) receive a full rate of pension. Customers may be receiving a part rate of payment due to:

  • their income;
  • partner income;
  • repaying a debt; or
  • repaying an advance.

Graph 3.2a: Percentage of Disability Support Pension Customers with Reduced Rates of Payment: June 2001

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

Table 3.2: Disability Support Pension Customers by Maximum Rate Indicator: June 2001
MAX RATE IND.
Male
%
Female
%
Count
%
Maximum rate 324,985 82.83% 190,854 82.42% 515,839 82.68%
Reduced rate 67,369 17.17% 40,718 17.58% 108,087 17.32%
Total 392,354 100.00% 231,572 100.00% 623,926 100.00%

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

 

3.3 Customers by Current Duration on Payment and Gender

The distribution of duration on payment shows that the largest category is customers who have been continuously receiving DSP for 4 to 5 years, representing 15.2% of all DSP recipients. A third (33.4%) of DSP recipients have been on payment for 2 years or less.

Over half of the customers receiving DSP have been in continuous receipt of payment for 5 years or less. There is also a significant proportion of customers who have been in continuous receipt of DSP for 6 to 10 years (22% of all DSP customers).

Graph 3.3: Disability Support Pension Customers by Duration on Payment and Gender: June 2001

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

Table 3.3: Disability Support Pension Customers by Duration on Payment and Gender: June 2001
Duration
Male
%
Female
%
Total
%
< 1 year 49,121 12.52% 29,160 12.59% 78,281 12.55%
1 year 42,539 10.84% 27,690 11.96% 70,229 11.26%
2 years 36,275 9.25% 23,776 10.27% 60,051 9.62%
3 years 30,985 7.90% 20,029 8.65% 51,014 8.18%
4 to 5 years 59,759 15.23% 34,816 15.03% 94,575 15.16%
6 to 7 years 43,362 11.05% 23,355 10.09% 66,717 10.69
8 to 9 years 35,793 9.12% 18,375 7.93% 54,168 8.68%
10 years 11,729 2.99% 6,113 2.64% 17,842 2.86%
11 to 15 years 35,280 8.99% 18,564 8.02% 53,844 8.63%
16 to 20 years 20,732 5.28% 10,940 4.72% 31,672 5.08%
> 20 years 20,732 6.83% 18,754 8.10% 45,533 7.30%
Total 392,354 100.00% 231,572 100.00% 623,926 100.00%

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

3.4 Customers by Current Duration on Payment and Gender with a 50 Year Age Split

DSP customers aged 50 years or over make up just over half of the total DSP population. DSP customers over 50 years tend to have been on payment for longer periods than customers aged less than 50 years.

Graphs 3.4: Disability Support Pension Customers by Gender and Duration with a 50 Year Age Split: June 2001

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

Table 3.3: Disability Support Pension Customers by Duration on Payment and Gender: June 2001
 
<50 yrs
50+ yrs
Duration
Male
Female
Total
% of total <50 yrs
Male
Female Total
% of total 50+ yrs
< 1 year 26,004 16,129 42,133 14.75% 23,117 13,031 36,148 10.68%
1 year 21,219 14,665 35,884 12.56% 21,320 13,025 34,345 10.15%
2 years 16,446 11,640 28,086 9.83% 19,829 12,136 31,965 9.45%
3 years 13,615 9,616 23,231 8.13% 17,370 10,413 27,783 8.21%
4 to 5 years 22,905 15,679 38,584 13.51% 36,854 19,137 55,991 16.55%
6 to 7 years 16,521 10,714 27,235 9.54% 26,841 12,641 39,482 11.67%
8 to 9 years 14,205 8,349 22,554 7.90% 21,588 10,026 31,614 9.34%
10 years 4,736 2,825 7,561 2.65% 6,993 3,288 10,281 3.04%
11 to 15 years 14,042 9,339 23,381 8.19% 21,238 9,225 30,463 9.00%
16 to 20 years 8,879 6,389 15,268 5.35% 11,853 4,551 16,404 4.85%
> 20 years 11,823 9,854 21,677 7.59% 14,956 8,900 23,856 7.05%
Total 170,395 115,199 285,594 100.00% 221,959 116,373 338,332 100.00%

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

 

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4:New Claims

4.1 New Grants by Age and Gender

There were 78,281 new grants of DSP during the year to 1 June 2001.  New grants comprise 12.5% of the total DSP population.  Males make up 62.7% of new grants for DSP while females comprise 37.3%.  These proportions are similar to the percentage distribution of males and females in the overall DSP population.  Females currently make up 37.1% of the total DSP population.  The age distribution of new grants also shows more customers in the younger age groups than is found in the total DSP population.

 

Graph 4.1: Disability Support Pension New Grants by Age and Gender:June 2001

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

Table 4.1: Disability Support Pension New Grants by Age and Gender: June 2001
Age
Male
%
Female
%
Total
%
16-19 3,145 6.40% 1,965 6.74% 5,110 6.53%
20-24 2,394 4.87% 1,965 4.16% 3,608 4.61%
25-29 2,787 5.67% 1,519 5.21% 4,306 5.50%
30-34 3,596 7.32% 1,749 6.00% 5,345 6.83%
35-39 4,387 8.93% 2,185 7.49% 6,572 8.40%
40-44 4,737 9.64% 3,321 11.39% 8,058 10.29%
45-49 4,958 10.09% 4,176 14.32% 9,134 11.67%
50-54 6,147 12.51% 5,356 18.37% 11,503 14.69%
55-59 8,205 16.70% 6,027 20.67% 14,232 18.18%
60-64 8,614 17.54% 1,644 5.64% 10,258 13.10%
65+ 151 0.31% 4 0.01% 155 0.20%
Total 49,121 100.00% 29,160 100.00% 78,281 100.00%

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

 

4.2 Comparison of New Grants and Current Customers by Medical Condition

The distributions of new grants and current customers by medical condition are very similar.  A few notable exceptions are the slightly reduced percentage of new grants of customers with intellectual/learning disabilities and the increased number of new grants for customers with cancer, tumour or musculo-skeletal conditions.

When Invalid Pension ceased in November 1991, current customers were transferred to DSP.  These customers did not have a medical condition recorded on their Centrelink record.  They are being progressively reviewed and ascribed a medical condition, but as at June 2001, approximately 9% of the DSP population was still comprised of ex-Invalid Pension customers without a medical condition recorded.

By including these customers when looking at medical conditions, it has the effect of reducing the percentages in the other categories.  Therefore, ex-Invalid Pensioners have been excluded from this graph to provide a clearer picture of the relationship between current customers and new grants.

Graph 4.2: Percentage Comparison of Disability Support Pension News Grants and Total Customers by Medical Condition: June 2001

Source: Superstar Pensions Database 01/06/2001

Table 4.2: New Grants and Current Customers by Medical Condition: June 2001
MEDICAL CONDITION
Male
%
Female
%
New Grants
%
Total customers
%
Acquired brain impairment 1,306 2.69% 442 1.52% 1,748 2.25% 15,964 2.82%
Amputation 159 0.33% 39 0.13% 198 0.26% 1,648 0.29%
Cancer/tumour 2,001 4.12% 1,434 4.95% 3,435 4.43% 12,157 2.14%
Chronic fatigue/post viral syndrome 393 0.81% 562 1.94% 955 1.23% 5,490 0.97%
Congenital abnormality 417 0.86% 324 1.12% 741 0.96% 10,138 1.79%
Chronic pain 408 0.84% 441 1.52% 849 1.09% 4,174 0.74%
Circulatory system 3,696 7.61% 1,175 4.05% 4,871 6.28% 33,742 5.95%
Endocrine and immune system 1,403 2.89% 792 2.73% 2,195 2.83% 13,705 2.42%
Intellectual/learning 3,285 6.76% 1,582 5.46% 4,867 6.28% 63,168 11.14%
Musculo-skeletal and connective tissue 18,600 38.29% 11,177 38.56% 29,777 38.39% 202,732 35.75%
Nervous system 1,178 2.43% 997 3.44% 2,175 2.80% 19,270 3.40%
Psychological/psychiatric 12,306 25.33% 7,879 27.18% 20,185 26.03% 140,965 24.86%
Respiratory system 1,664 3.43% 966 3.33% 2,630 3.39% 19,156 3.38%
Skin disorders and burns 136 0.28% 97 0.33% 233 0.30% 1,585 0.28%
Sense organs 964 1.98% 616 2.13% 1,580 2.04% 13,896 2.45%
Visceral disorder 658 1.35% 462 1.59% 1,120 1.44% 9,311 1.64%
Total 48,574 100.00% 28,985 100.00% 77,559 100.00% 567,101 100.00%

*Excludes customers granted prior to 12/11/91 and customers whose medical condition is not coded.

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5:Where DSP Customers Are Coming From And Going To

5.1 Where DSP customers are coming from

The largest group of people entering DSP are those who were not previously receiving an income support payment. These comprise 44.8% of new clients on payment. The next largest source of DSP customers is transfers from Newstart Allowance with 34.4% of new customers, followed by Parenting Payment (both Single and Partnered) with 5.6% of new DSP customers. A large group of customers (15.3%) have their origins from a range of other payments such as Youth Allowance, Carer Payment and Special Benefit although the numbers from each payment are small.

It should be noted that figures for customer transfers do not exactly match those for new grants and cancellations due to the different business rules used in extracting these data sets.

Graph 5.1: People Entering Disability Support Pension: June 2000 to June 2001

Source: Information Strategies Branch, FaCS
Table 5.1: People Entering onto Disability Support Pension: June 2000 to June 2001
Origin
Count
%
Non Client 34,554 44.76%
Newstart Allowance 26,543 34.38%
Parenting Payments 4,314 5.59%
Sickness Allowance 1,736 2.25%
Youth Allowance 1,825 2.36%
Other payments 8,227 10.66%
Total 77,199 100.00%

Source: Information Strategies Branch, FaCS

5.2 Where DSP customers are going to

The majority of customers who were on DSP in June 2000 but were not on DSP in June2001 moved on to Age Pension (58.3%). As customers reach Age Pension eligibility age the vast majority transfer across although a small percentage of customers choose to remain on DSP. A further 19.1% of customers left payments entirely. A substantial proportion (18.2%) of exits from DSP was because of the death of the customer.

Graph 5.2: Disability Support Pension Customers Leaving Payment:June 2000 to June 2001

Source: Information Strategies Branch, FaCS

Table 5.2: Disability Support Pension Customers Exiting Payment: June 2000 to June 2001
Destination
Count
%
Age Pension 30,028 58.30%
Non Client 9,814 19.05%
Deceased 9,397 18.24%
Other payments 2,268 4.40%
Total 51,507 100.00%

Source: Information Strategies Branch, FaCS

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