Characteristics of Disability Support Pension Recipients June 2007
Attachments
Characteristics of Disability Support Pension Recipients June 2007
Table of Contents
- Overview
- 1. Disability Support Pension Population Characteristics
- 2. Medical Condition
- 3. Earnings and Duration on Income Support
- 4. New Claims
- 5. Where DSP Recipients are Coming From and Going To
Disability Support Pension - Overview
Who is this Payment for?
From June 2006 Centrelink Disability Support Pension (DSP) is paid to people who are unable to work for at least 15 hours per week, or be re-skilled for such work, within two years because of their 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 be 16 or over and be under Age Pension age (currently 63.5 for women and 65 for men); 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 of at least 15 hours a week, 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 2007, there were 714 156 people receiving DSP, an increase of 0.3 per cent over the June 2006 population of 712 163.
Of the total DSP population 57.8 per cent were male and 42.2 per cent female. The proportion of male recipients numbers have steadily been declining since June 2003; 73.8 per cent of DSP recipients were born in Australia; and, on average, they had been in receipt of an income support payment for 10.2 years.
The DSP population is primarily represented by four main medical conditions which are musculo-skeletal and connective tissue conditions 31.9 per cent, psychological/psychiatric conditions 27.3 per cent, intellectual/learning difficulties, 11.2 per cent and circulatory systems 5.0 per cent.
Since 1982 the DSP population has been steadily increasing, with the greatest growth, of 13.3 per cent, occurring in 1992 following the introduction of the Disability Reform Package (DSP replaced the Invalid Pension and Sheltered Employment Allowance in November 1991). Between 1996 and 2001 the growth rate reduced gradually from 7.5 per cent to 3.6 per cent. It increased to 5.6 per cent in 2002, dropped to 2.2 per cent in 2003 (with the introduction of the AWT Better Assessment and Early Intervention initiative) and increased again in 2004 to 3.5 per cent and 1.4 per cent in 2005. In 2006 the DSP population increased by 0.8 per cent and the growth in the DSP population from June 2006 to June 2007 was 0.3 per cent.
There were 101 642 claims for DSP in 2006-07, with 62 608 grants (61.6 per cent) and 39 034 rejections (38.4 per cent). The main rejection reason was disability short term which accounted for 28.5 per cent of total rejections.
Comparing June 2006 to June 2007 over half of the new DSP recipients came from other income support payments (32.8 per cent from Newstart, 7.3 per cent from Parenting Payments, 2.5 per cent from Youth Allowance and 1.7 per cent from Sickness Allowance), while 45.9 per cent had not been in receipt of an income support payment.
Of the people who were on DSP at June 2006, and had left the payment by June 2007, 53.3 per cent went to Age Pension, 24.1 per cent went off income support payment.
Source of Data
The information contained in this report has been sourced from Centrelink administration data using the Bluebook dataset as at 29 June 2007. If an alternate source for data has been used it will be noted with the relevant table.
1. Disability Support Pension Population Characteristics
1.1 Recipients by Gender 1972 to 2007
As at June 2007, the number of people receiving Disability Support Pension (DSP) was 714 156 and has been increasing since 1982, with the greatest growth (13.3 per cent) occurring in 1992 following the introduction of the Disability Reform Package. The growth in DSP for 2006-07 was 0.3 per cent, down on the 0.8 per cent in 2005-06. There has been fewer claims for payment and a reduction in the proportion of claims being granted due to the new continuing inability to work change from 30 hours per week to15 hours per week effective from 1 July 2006. There have been several factors suggested as contributing to the increases in the DSP recipient numbers from the early 1990's:
- 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; and
- changes in the labour market which have resulted in a reduced capacity for people with disabilities to retain or find work.
However, with a strong labour market the DSP growth slowed to 0.3 per cent from 2005-06 to 2006-07.
From 1972 to the introduction of the Disability Reform Package in 1991 the number of male recipients more than tripled (77,133 to 244,699). In the same period of time the number of female recipients increased by less than half (61,685 to 89,535).
At June 2007 males represent 57.8 per cent of the DSP population. When comparing June 2006 to June 2007 the overall trend is showing a change in the gender split with the female population increasing by 1.5 per cent and the male population decreasing by 0.6 per cent.
At June each year |
Males
|
Females
|
Total
|
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Count
|
Change
|
% of Total
|
Count
|
Change
|
% of Total
|
Count
|
Change
|
% Growth
|
|
1972 | 77,133 | 55.6% | 61,685 | 44.4% | 138,818 | ||||
1973 | 85,305 | 8,172 | 57.0% | 64,304 | 2,619 | 43.0% | 149,609 | 10,791 | 7.8% |
1974 | 92,140 | 6,835 | 58.8% | 64,643 | 339 | 41.2% | 156,783 | 7,174 | 4.8% |
1975 | 102,817 | 10,677 | 60.9% | 65,967 | 1,324 | 39.1% | 168,784 | 12,001 | 7.7% |
1976 | 116,118 | 13,301 | 63.2% | 67,669 | 1,702 | 36.8% | 183,787 | 15,003 | 8.9% |
1977 | 133,209 | 17,091 | 65.6% | 69,754 | 2,085 | 34.4% | 202,963 | 19,176 | 10.4% |
1978 | 137,245 | 4,036 | 67.0% | 67,699 | -2,055 | 33.0% | 204,944 | 1,981 | 1.0% |
1979 | 149,759 | 12,514 | 68.1% | 70,084 | 2,385 | 31.9% | 219,843 | 14,899 | 7.3% |
1980 | 158,327 | 8,568 | 69.1% | 70,892 | 808 | 30.9% | 229,219 | 9,376 | 4.3% |
1981 | 153,889 | -4,438 | 69.3% | 68,062 | -2,830 | 30.7% | 221,951 | -7,268 | -3.2% |
1982 | 151,146 | -2,743 | 69.8% | 65,503 | -2,559 | 30.2% | 216,649 | -5,302 | -2.4% |
1983 | 155,672 | 4,526 | 70.7% | 64,617 | -886 | 29.3% | 220,289 | 3,640 | 1.7% |
1984 | 173,063 | 17,391 | 71.9% | 67,511 | 2,894 | 28.1% | 240,574 | 20,285 | 9.2% |
1985 | 188,713 | 15,650 | 72.8% | 70,449 | 2,938 | 27.2% | 259,162 | 18,588 | 7.7% |
1986 | 200,898 | 12,185 | 73.4% | 72,912 | 2,463 | 26.6% | 273,810 | 14,648 | 5.7% |
1987 | 213,290 | 12,392 | 73.8% | 75,760 | 2,848 | 26.2% | 289,050 | 15,240 | 5.6% |
1988 | 219,168 | 5,878 | 73.8% | 77,745 | 1,985 | 26.2% | 296,913 | 7,863 | 2.7% |
1989 | 227,285 | 8,117 | 73.8% | 80,510 | 2,765 | 26.2% | 307,795 | 10,882 | 3.7% |
1990 | 233,251 | 5,966 | 73.6% | 83,462 | 2,952 | 26.4% | 316,713 | 8,918 | 2.9% |
1991 | 244,699 | 11,448 | 73.2% | 89,535 | 6,073 | 26.8% | 334,234 | 17,521 | 5.5% |
1992 | 273,697 | 28,998 | 72.3% | 104,861 | 15,326 | 27.7% | 378,558 | 44,324 | 13.3% |
1993 | 291,471 | 17,774 | 71.7% | 115,101 | 10,240 | 28.3% | 406,572 | 28,014 | 7.4% |
1994 | 309,123 | 17,652 | 70.9% | 127,111 | 12,010 | 29.1% | 436,234 | 29,662 | 7.3% |
1995 | 324,672 | 15,549 | 69.9% | 139,758 | 12,647 | 30.1% | 464,430 | 28,196 | 6.5% |
1996 | 340,256 | 15,584 | 68.2% | 158,979 | 19,221 | 31.8% | 499,235 | 34,805 | 7.5% |
1997 | 352,607 | 12,351 | 66.8% | 174,907 | 15,928 | 33.2% | 527,514 | 28,279 | 5.7% |
1998 | 361,539 | 8,932 | 65.3% | 191,797 | 16,890 | 34.7% | 553,336 | 25,822 | 4.9% |
1999 | 373,340 | 11,801 | 64.6% | 204,342 | 12,545 | 35.4% | 577,682 | 24,346 | 4.4% |
2000 | 382,351 | 9,011 | 63.5% | 219,929 | 15,587 | 36.5% | 602,280 | 24,598 | 4.3% |
2001 | 392,354 | 10,003 | 62.9% | 231,572 | 11,643 | 37.1% | 623,926 | 21,646 | 3.6% |
2002 | 406,892 | 14,538 | 61.8% | 252,021 | 20,449 | 38.2% | 658,913 | 34,987 | 5.6% |
2003 | 412,777 | 5,885 | 61.3% | 260,557 | 8,536 | 38.7% | 673,334 | 14,421 | 2.2% |
2004 | 418,829 | 6,052 | 60.1% | 277,913 | 17,356 | 39.9% | 696,742 | 23,408 | 3.5% |
2005 | 420,073 | 1,244 | 59.4% | 286,709 | 8,796 | 40.6% | 706,782 | 10,040 | 1.4% |
2006 | 415,618 | -4,455 | 58.4% | 296,545 | 9,836 | 41.6% | 712,163 | 5,381 | 0.8% |
2007 | 413,033 | -2,585 | 57.8% | 301,123 | 4,578 | 42.2% | 714,156 | 1,993 | 0.3% |
1.2 Recipients by Age and Gender
People aged 55 years and over represent 41.1 per cent of the overall DSP population. The proportion of females in the 60-64 years age group has increased by 1 per cent since June 2006. This is due to the Age Pension qualifying age for women increasing to 63.5 years from 1 July 2007. As the Age Pension qualifying age increases for females, it is expected that this age group will grow and eventually exceed the number in the 55-59 years age group.
Age |
Males
|
%
|
Females
|
%
|
Total
|
%
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16-19 | 10,536 | 2.6% | 6,663 | 2.2% | 17,199 | 2.4% |
20-24 | 16,685 | 4.0% | 12,129 | 4.0% | 28,814 | 4.0% |
25-29 | 18,664 | 4.5% | 13,246 | 4.4% | 31,910 | 4.5% |
30-34 | 22,908 | 5.5% | 15,380 | 5.1% | 38,288 | 5.4% |
35-39 | 30,730 | 7.4% | 20,792 | 6.9% | 57,522 | 8.1% |
40-44 | 38,394 | 9.3% | 26,713 | 8.9% | 65,107 | 9.1% |
45-49 | 47,665 | 11.5% | 37,663 | 12.5% | 85,328 | 11.9% |
50-54 | 53,974 | 13.1% | 48,227 | 16.0% | 102,201 | 14.3% |
55-59 | 68,668 | 16.6% | 65,280 | 21.7% | 133,948 | 18.8% |
60-64 | 97,582 | 23.6% | 53,009 | 17.6% | 150,591 | 21.1% |
65+ | 7,227 | 1.7% | 2,021 | 0.7% | 9,248 | 1.3% |
Total | 413,033 | 100.0% | 301,123 | 100.0% | 714,156 | 100.0% |
1.3 Recipients by State
The majority of DSP recipients can be found in the more populous Australian States. New South Wales is the largest with 31.8 per cent of the DSP population, while the Northern Territory is the smallest with 0.9 per cent.
When comparing the ABS Census 2006 state populations, the proportion of DSP recipients by state generally aligns with the census proportions for the total Australian population by state.
Overseas recipients are included in the not specified group due to the extract source that was used.
STATE |
Males
|
%
|
Females
|
%
|
Total
|
State as
% of Total |
ABS Census 2006 |
ABS Census 2006 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NSW | 132,529 | 32.1% | 94,426 | 31.4% | 226,955 | 31.8% | 33.0% | 6,549,177 |
VIC | 94,733 | 22.9% | 74,961 | 24.9% | 169,694 | 23.8% | 24.8% | 4,932,422 |
QLD | 80,331 | 19.4% | 55,532 | 18.4% | 135,863 | 19.0% | 19.7% | 3,904,534 |
SA | 38,937 | 9.4% | 29,222 | 9.7% | 68,159 | 9.5% | 7.6% | 1,514,336 |
WA | 33,562 | 8.1% | 24,905 | 8.3% | 58,467 | 8.2% | 9.9% | 1,959,086 |
TAS | 14,571 | 3.5% | 10,377 | 3.4% | 24,948 | 3.5% | 2.4% | 476,480 |
NT | 3,762 | 0.9% | 2,576 | 0.9% | 6,338 | 0.9% | 1.0% | 192,899 |
ACT | 3,776 | 0.9% | 3,162 | 1.1% | 6,938 | 1.0% | 1.6% | 324,034 |
Not Specified | 10,832 | 2.6% | 5,962 | 2.0% | 16,794 | 2.4% | 0.01% | 2,320 |
Total | 413,033 | 100.0% | 301,123 | 100.0% | 714,156 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 19,855,288 |
1.4 Recipients by Country of Birth
The ten countries of birth with the highest numbers of DSP recipients are outlined below:
The majority of DSP recipients were born in Australia (70.9 per cent). The second largest group was the United Kingdom (including Ireland) (5.2 per cent). When compared with ABS Census 2006 country of birth data, 9 out of the top 10 countries are over-represented on DSP (the exception being New Zealand). Refer to Table 1.4 below.
COUNTRY OF BIRTH |
Males
|
%
|
Females
|
%
|
Total DSP
|
DSP %
|
ABS Census
2006 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | 304,696 | 73.8% | 222,369 | 73.8% | 527,065 | 73.8% | 70.9% |
UK (inc. Ireland/Eire) | 23,144 | 5.6% | 15,887 | 5.3% | 39,031 | 5.5% | 5.2% |
Greece | 6,534 | 1.6% | 5,184 | 1.7% | 11,718 | 1.6% | 0.6% |
New Zealand | 6,681 | 1.6% | 4,919 | 1.6% | 11,600 | 1.6% | 2.0% |
Yugoslavia | 6,753 | 1.6% | 4,493 | 1.5% | 11,246 | 1.6% | 0.2% |
Italy | 6,388 | 1.5% | 4,538 | 1.5% | 10,926 | 1.5% | 1.0% |
Lebanon | 6,157 | 1.5% | 3,595 | 1.2% | 9,752 | 1.4% | 0.4% |
Vietnam | 3,940 | 1.0% | 2,762 | 0.9% | 6,702 | 0.9% | 0.8% |
Turkey | 3,137 | 0.8% | 2,836 | 0.9% | 5,973 | 0.8% | 0.2% |
Malta | 4,045 | 1.0% | 1,812 | 0.6% | 5,857 | 0.8% | 0.2% |
Other | 41,558 | 10.1% | 32,728 | 10.9% | 74,286 | 10.4% | 18.6% |
Total | 413,033 | 100.0% | 301,123 | 100.0% | 714,156 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
1.5 Recipients by Marital Status and Gender
The majority of DSP recipients are not partnered. The largest group by marital status and gender of DSP recipients are single males 41 per cent males.
Proportionally, males and females are similar in the de facto category (4.8 per cent and 4.9 per cent respectively). Information shows that males are more likely than females to be in the married or single categories while the proportion of females are more likely to be in the divorced, separated or widowed category.
Marital Status |
Males
|
%
|
Females
|
%
|
Total
|
%
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Married | 130,730 | 31.7% | 80,590 | 26.8% | 211,320 | 29.6% |
Defacto | 19,678 | 4.8% | 14,868 | 4.9% | 34,546 | 4.8% |
Single | 169,153 | 41.0% | 100,864 | 33.5% | 270,017 | 37.8% |
Separated | 69,029 | 16.7% | 61,037 | 20.3% | 130,066 | 18.2% |
Divorced | 19,154 | 4.6% | 28,917 | 9.6% | 48,071 | 6.7% |
Widow | 5,289 | 1.3% | 14,847 | 4.9% | 20,136 | 2.8% |
Total | 413,033 | 100.0% | 301,123 | 100.0% | 714,156 | 100.0% |
1.6 Recipients by Gender and Home Ownership
The majority of DSP recipients are non-home owners (65.8 per cent). Females receiving DSP are marginally more likely to own a home, including paying it off, than males (34.6 per cent compared to 32.3 per cent).
The proportion of homeowners increased from 34.4 per cent in 1975 to 43.8 per cent in 1989. Since 1989 the proportion has been steadily decreasing and stands at 33.3 per cent at June 2007.
Housing Status |
Males
|
%
|
Females
|
%
|
Total
|
%
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Home Owner | 133,437 | 32.3% | 104,088 | 34.6% | 237,525 | 33.3% |
Non-Home Owner | 276,151 | 66.9% | 194,015 | 64.4% | 470,166 | 65.8% |
Other | 3,445 | 0.8% | 3,020 | 1.0% | 6,465 | 0.9% |
Total | 413,033 | 100.0% | 301,123 | 100.0% | 714,156 | 100.0% |
Of those who are non-homeowners 112,642 are residing in government housing (59,093 males and 53,549 females).
1.7 Recipients by Age and Home Ownership
DSP recipients who own their own home (either own their home outright or are paying it off) tend to be skewed towards the older age groups, with the 60-64 age groups being the only group containing more homeowners than non-homeowners.
Age Group |
Home
Owner |
%
|
Non Home
Owner |
%
|
Other
|
%
|
Total
|
%
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16-19 | 123 | 0.1% | 17,031 | 3.6% | 45 | 0.7% | 17,199 | 2.4% |
20-24 | 463 | 0.2% | 28,340 | 6.0% | 11 | 0.2% | 28,814 | 4.0% |
25-29 | 1,307 | 0.6% | 30,584 | 6.5% | 19 | 0.3% | 31,910 | 4.5% |
30-34 | 3,247 | 1.4% | 35,000 | 7.4% | 41 | 0.6% | 38,288 | 5.4% |
35-39 | 7,114 | 3.0% | 44,214 | 9.4% | 194 | 3.0% | 51,522 | 7.2% |
40-44 | 12,974 | 5.5% | 51,979 | 11.1% | 154 | 2.4% | 65,107 | 9.1% |
45-49 | 22,556 | 9.5% | 62,218 | 13.2% | 554 | 8.6% | 85,328 | 11.9% |
50-54 | 35,624 | 15.0% | 65,531 | 13.9% | 1,046 | 16.2% | 102,201 | 14.3% |
55-59 | 62,901 | 26.5% | 69,387 | 14.8% | 1,660 | 25.7% | 133,948 | 18.8% |
60-64 | 86,984 | 36.6% | 61,122 | 13.0% | 2,485 | 38.4% | 150,591 | 21.1% |
65+ | 4,232 | 1.8% | 4,760 | 1.0% | 256 | 4.0% | 9,248 | 1.3% |
Total | 237,525 | 100.0% | 470,166 | 100.0% | 6,465 | 100.0% | 714,156 | 100.0% |
2. Medical Condition
2.1 Recipients by Medical Condition
The medical conditions reported in chart 2.1 below represent the primary condition that is recorded on a recipient's record.
With the introduction of the Disability Reform Package in November 1991those on the Invalid Pension were transferred to DSP. These recipients did not have a medical condition recorded on their Centrelink record. While they are being progressively reviewed and ascribed a medical condition, at June 2007 ex-Invalid Pension recipients without a medical condition recorded on their Centrelink record made up 2.7 per cent of the total DSP population.
The four largest groups are recipients with musculo-skeletal/connective tissue (31.9 per cent), psychological/ psychiatric (27.3 per cent), intellectual/learning medical conditions (11.2 per cent) and circulatory system (5 per cent).
11 342 (1.6per cent) of DSP recipients are identified as being blind, a slight increase from 11 063 at June 2006 (1.6 per cent of all DSP recipients).
2.2 Recipients by Medical Condition and Gender
Males and females show a similar distribution of medical conditions. The only noticeable differences (ie. a greater than 2 percentage point difference) are for recipients with circulatory conditions (6.1 per cent male and 3.5 per cent female). Table 2.2 provides a list of all medical categories by gender.
More males were former Invalid Pension recipients (granted prior to 1991) 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.
For both males and females, the most common medical condition was musculo-skeletal and connective tissue and psychological / psychiatric conditions, followed by intellectual / learning conditions. This is consistent with June 2006.
Of the medical condition groups listed in Table 2.2, females outnumbered males in four groups. These groups are chronic fatigue/post viral syndrome (57.9 per cent), chronic pain (55.8 per cent), gastro-intestinal system (57.7 per cent), reproductive system (87.7 per cent) and poorly define cause (1.3 per cent).
Male recipients make up 80.3 per cent of the amputation medical condition group. The next highest male dominated group is acquired brain impairment with 71.8 per cent followed by circulatory system with 70.7 per cent.
Medical Condition |
Males
|
%
|
Females
|
%
|
Total
|
%
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acquired brain impairment | 12,086 | 2.9% | 4,741 | 1.6% | 16,827 | 2.4% |
Amputation | 1,260 | 0.3% | 308 | 0.1% | 1,568 | 0.2% |
Cancer/tumour | 6,765 | 1.6% | 6,268 | 2.1% | 13,033 | 1.8% |
Poorly defined cause | 1,650 | 0.4% | 3,922 | 1.3% | 5,572 | 0.8% |
Chronic pain | 3,552 | 0.9% | 4,044 | 1.3% | 7,596 | 1.1% |
Circulatory system | 24,991 | 6.1% | 10,470 | 3.5% | 35,461 | 5.0% |
Congenital abnormality / Inherited Disorders | 5,790 | 1.4% | 5,104 | 1.7% | 10,894 | 1.5% |
Endocrine and immune system | 9,502 | 2.3% | 7,228 | 2.4% | 16,730 | 2.3% |
Gastro-intestinal system | 1,307 | 0.3% | 1,673 | 0.6% | 2,980 | 0.4% |
Infectious Diseases | 787 | 0.2% | 398 | 0.1% | 1,185 | 0.2% |
Intellectual/learning | 46,614 | 11.3% | 33,646 | 11.2% | 80,260 | 11.2% |
Musculo-skeletal and connective tissue | 132,596 | 32.1% | 95,538 | 31.7% | 228,134 | 31.9% |
Nervous system | 15,787 | 3.8% | 15,140 | 5.0% | 30,927 | 4.3% |
Psychological/psychiatric | 111,398 | 27.0% | 83,661 | 27.8% | 195,059 | 27.3% |
Reproductive system | 10 | 0.0% | 227 | 0.1% | 237 | 0.0% |
Respiratory system | 10,662 | 2.6% | 8,879 | 2.9% | 19,541 | 2.7% |
Sense organs | 10,470 | 2.5% | 8,109 | 2.7% | 18,579 | 2.6% |
Skin disorders and burns | 265 | 0.1% | 184 | 0.1% | 449 | 0.1% |
Urogenital system | 1,216 | 0.3% | 1,064 | 0.4% | 2,280 | 0.3% |
Visceral disorder | 4,350 | 1.1% | 3,297 | 1.1% | 7,647 | 1.1% |
Not Coded | 11,975 | 2.9% | 7,222 | 2.4% | 19,197 | 2.7% |
Total | 413,033 | 100.0% | 301,123 | 100.0% | 714,156 | 100.0% |
Medical Condition |
16-19
|
20-24
|
25-29
|
30-34
|
35-39
|
40-44
|
45-49
|
50-54
|
55-59
|
60-64
|
65+
|
total
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acquired brain impairment | 229 | 627 | 885 | 1195 | 1560 | 1911 | 2376 | 2504 | 2684 | 2699 | 157 | 16827 |
Amputation | 13 | 32 | 51 | 56 | 86 | 197 | 228 | 255 | 301 | 329 | 20 | 1568 |
Cancer/tumour | 104 | 208 | 234 | 288 | 473 | 805 | 1337 | 1970 | 3276 | 4158 | 180 | 13033 |
Poorly defined cause | 84 | 277 | 317 | 307 | 418 | 659 | 988 | 940 | 971 | 602 | 9 | 5572 |
Chronic pain | 17 | 75 | 131 | 283 | 519 | 883 | 1217 | 1347 | 1635 | 1438 | 51 | 7596 |
Circulatory system | 107 | 206 | 295 | 385 | 695 | 1277 | 2502 | 4536 | 9170 | 15425 | 863 | 35461 |
Congenital abnormality / Inherited Disorders |
923 | 1551 | 1214 | 1194 | 1283 | 1195 | 1088 | 877 | 857 | 695 | 18 | 10894 |
Endocrine and immune system | 83 | 267 | 401 | 591 | 1180 | 1765 | 2461 | 2917 | 3432 | 3492 | 141 | 16730 |
Gastro-intestinal system | 74 | 109 | 92 | 168 | 256 | 340 | 423 | 402 | 536 | 573 | 7 | 2980 |
Infectious Diseases | 4 | 9 | 26 | 62 | 99 | 187 | 333 | 285 | 123 | 55 | 2 | 1185 |
Intellectual/learning | 9744 | 13655 | 10128 | 8076 | 8535 | 8038 | 7706 | 6171 | 5075 | 3065 | 67 | 80260 |
Musculo-skeletal and connective tissue |
580 | 1357 | 2076 | 4059 | 8358 | 14872 | 24739 | 37071 | 58455 | 73096 | 3471 | 228134 |
Nervous system | 1034 | 1307 | 1738 | 1911 | 2466 | 3146 | 3982 | 4432 | 5444 | 5191 | 276 | 30927 |
Psychological /psychiatric |
3295 | 7602 | 12378 | 16456 | 21129 | 24181 | 28545 | 29023 | 28763 | 22808 | 879 | 195059 |
Reproductive system | 5 | 13 | 18 | 29 | 30 | 35 | 36 | 27 | 23 | 21 | 0 | 237 |
Respiratory system | 92 | 223 | 259 | 297 | 469 | 866 | 1569 | 2833 | 5162 | 7382 | 389 | 19541 |
Sense organs | 726 | 1049 | 1072 | 1173 | 1492 | 1735 | 2018 | 2363 | 3080 | 3603 | 268 | 18579 |
Skin disorders and burns | 14 | 11 | 22 | 25 | 50 | 55 | 73 | 58 | 75 | 65 | 1 | 449 |
Urogenital system | 51 | 93 | 72 | 138 | 190 | 226 | 317 | 324 | 444 | 411 | 14 | 2280 |
Visceral disorder | 19 | 98 | 161 | 297 | 466 | 733 | 1070 | 1401 | 1637 | 1693 | 72 | 7647 |
Not Coded | 1 | 45 | 340 | 1299 | 1768 | 2003 | 2320 | 2465 | 2805 | 3790 | 2363 | 19197 |
Total | 17199 | 28814 | 31910 | 38288 | 51522 | 65107 | 85328 | 102201 | 133948 | 150591 | 9248 | 714156 |
2.3 Recipients by Musculo-skeletal/Connective tissue Medical Conditions
The age distribution for recipients with musculo-skeletal/connective tissue conditions is skewed strongly towards the older age groups. This indicates a strong correlation between this type of condition and age.
2.4 Recipients by Psychological/Psychiatric Medical Conditions
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 compared to the other main medical conditions.
2.5 Recipients by Intellectual Medical Conditions
Recipients with intellectual/learning disabilities are predominately in the 16 to 29 year age bracket. The majority of these recipients are born with their condition and may have a reduced lifespan as a result of their condition. This is reflected in information on duration on DSP for recipients with these disabilities.
2.6 Recipients by Circulatory Medical Conditions
The age distribution for recipients with Circulatory conditions is skewed strongly towards the older age groups. This indicates a strong correlation between this type of condition and age.
2.7 Recipients by Blind Indicator
There were 11,063 recipients identified as permanently blind (1.6% of the total DSP population). Of these, 55.9% were male, compared to the total DSP population where 58.4% were male.
Recipients who are blind tend to be slightly younger than the total DSP population with nearly half (47.1%) aged 35-54.
Age |
Blind Recipients
|
Total DSP recipients
|
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Males
|
%
|
Females
|
%
|
Total
|
%
|
Total
|
%
|
|
16-19 | 196 | 3.1% | 162 | 3.2% | 358 | 3.2% | 17,199 | 2.4% |
20-24 | 356 | 5.6% | 254 | 5.1% | 610 | 5.4% | 28,814 | 4.0% |
25-29 | 378 | 6.0% | 286 | 5.7% | 664 | 5.9% | 31,910 | 4.5% |
30-34 | 477 | 7.5% | 398 | 7.9% | 875 | 7.7% | 38,288 | 5.4% |
35-39 | 647 | 10.2% | 525 | 10.5% | 1,172 | 10.3% | 51,522 | 7.2% |
40-44 | 647 | 10.2% | 585 | 11.7% | 1,232 | 10.9% | 65,107 | 9.1% |
45-49 | 733 | 11.6% | 651 | 13.0% | 1,384 | 12.2% | 85,328 | 11.9% |
50-54 | 824 | 13.0% | 677 | 13.5% | 1,501 | 13.2% | 102,201 | 14.3% |
55-59 | 907 | 14.3% | 844 | 16.8% | 1,751 | 15.4% | 133,948 | 18.8% |
60-64 | 1004 | 15.9% | 597 | 11.9% | 1,601 | 14.1% | 150,591 | 21.1% |
65+ | 155 | 2.5% | 39 | 0.8% | 194 | 1.7% | 9,248 | 1.3% |
Total | 6,324 | 55.8% | 5,018 | 44.2% | 11,342 | 1.6% | 714,156 | 100.0% |
3. Earnings and Duration on Income Support
3.1 Recipients with Earnings from Employment
In June 2007, 9.9 per cent of DSP recipients declared income from employment. This is a decrease of 0.3 percentage points from June 2006. Of DSP earners, 22.1 per cent report earnings of less than $100 per fortnight and 19.5 per cent report earnings of between $500 to less than $1000 per fortnight.
Under the current income test, a single DSP recipient can earn up to $132 per fortnight without their payment being reduced. A couple can have a combined income of up to $232 per fortnight before the payment rate is affected.
Due to a change in extract source for June 2007, DSP earnings from employment are now reported as fortnightly income.
Fortnightly Earnings
|
Total
|
Earned only %
|
Total %
|
---|---|---|---|
No Earnings | 643,303 | na | 90.1% |
Less than $100 | 15,677 | 22.1% | 2.2% |
$100 to < $200 | 16,226 | 22.9% | 2.3% |
$200 to < $300 | 9,293 | 13.1% | 1.3% |
$300 to < $400 | 5,945 | 8.4% | 0.8% |
$400 to < $500 | 4,684 | 6.6% | 0.7% |
$500 to < $1000 | 13,785 | 19.5% | 1.9% |
$1000 to < $1500 | 3,975 | 5.6% | 0.6% |
Over $1500 | 1,268 | 1.8% | 0.2% |
Total | 714,156 | 9.9% | 100.0% |
3.2 Recipients by Duration on Income Support and Gender
Note: Duration on income support includes the period of time a recipient has been on DSP together with the period of time the recipient may have spent on any other income support payment/s prior to being granted DSP. This differs to the methodology used for reports pre 2004. Duration data contained in the 2004 version of this report counted the time spent on any pension rather than the time spent on any income support payment.
The distribution of DSP recipients by duration in income support is evenly spilt across less than 1 year to the less than 10 year periods. 23.3 per cent have been in receipt of an income support payment for less than 5 years with 26.3 per cent having duration of between 5 years to less than 10 and overall 49.6 per cent have been in receipt of an income support payment for less than 10 years.
The average duration on income support for male recipients was 10.0 years, female recipients 10.6 years and 10.2 years for all DSP recipients.
Duration
|
Males
|
%
|
Females
|
%
|
Total
|
%
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
< 1 year | 13,877 | 3.4% | 10,276 | 3.4% | 24,153 | 3.4% |
1 to < 2 Years | 18,698 | 4.5% | 12,911 | 4.3% | 31,609 | 4.4% |
2 to < 3 Years | 20,463 | 5.0% | 14,577 | 4.8% | 35,040 | 4.9% |
3 to < 4 Years | 21,936 | 5.3% | 15,637 | 5.2% | 37,573 | 5.3% |
4 to < 5 Years | 22,956 | 5.6% | 14,999 | 5.0% | 37,955 | 5.3% |
5 to < 6 Years | 23,688 | 5.7% | 16,091 | 5.3% | 39,779 | 5.6% |
6 to < 7 Years | 23,483 | 5.7% | 15,597 | 5.2% | 39,080 | 5.5% |
7 to < 8 Years | 20,965 | 5.1% | 14,493 | 4.8% | 35,458 | 5.0% |
8 to < 9 Years | 19,935 | 4.8% | 14,256 | 4.7% | 34,191 | 4.8% |
9 to < 10 Years | 22,831 | 5.5% | 16,395 | 5.4% | 39,226 | 5.5% |
10 to < 15 Years | 107,227 | 26.0% | 85,303 | 28.3% | 192,530 | 27.0% |
15 to < 20 years | 54,147 | 13.1% | 35,558 | 11.8% | 89,705 | 12.6% |
20+ years | 42,827 | 10.4% | 35,030 | 11.6% | 77,857 | 10.9% |
Total | 413,033 | 100.0% | 301,123 | 100.0% | 714,156 | 100.0% |
Duration is based on Income Support Duration.
3.3 Recipients by Duration on Income Support and Gender by those aged less than 50 and those aged 50 and over
Note: Duration on income support includes the period of time a recipient has been on DSP together with the period of time the recipient may have spent on any other income support payment/s prior to being granted DSP. This differs to the methodology used for reports pre 2004. Duration data contained in the 2004 version of this report counted the time spent on any pension rather than the time spent on any income support payment.
DSP recipients aged 50 years or over make up 55.4 per cent of the DSP population, these recipients also tend to have been on an income support payment for longer periods than recipients aged less than 50 years. The average duration on income support is current 10.2 years.
Duration
|
<50 yrs
|
50+ yrs
|
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Males
|
Females
|
Total |
% of total
<50 yrs |
Male
|
Female
|
Total
|
% of total
50+ yrs |
|
< 1 year | 6,191 | 4,323 | 10,514 | 3.3% | 7,686 | 5,953 | 13,639 | 3.4% |
1 to < 2 Years | 8,933 | 5,585 | 14,518 | 4.6% | 9,765 | 7,326 | 17,091 | 4.3% |
2 to < 3 Years | 9,796 | 6,290 | 16,086 | 5.1% | 10,667 | 8,287 | 18,954 | 4.8% |
3 to < 4 Years | 10,556 | 6,797 | 17,353 | 5.5% | 11,380 | 8,840 | 20,220 | 5.1% |
4 to < 5 Years | 10,490 | 6,736 | 17,226 | 5.4% | 12,466 | 8,263 | 20,729 | 5.2% |
5 to < 6 Years | 10,830 | 7,097 | 17,927 | 5.6% | 12,858 | 8,994 | 21,852 | 5.5% |
6 to < 7 Years | 11,159 | 7,091 | 18,250 | 5.7% | 12,324 | 8,506 | 20,830 | 5.3% |
7 to < 8 Years | 10,171 | 6,609 | 16,780 | 5.7% | 10,794 | 7,884 | 18,678 | 4.7% |
8 to < 9 Years | 9,587 | 6,513 | 16,100 | 5.1% | 10,348 | 7,743 | 18,091 | 4.6% |
9 to < 10 Years | 11,938 | 8,420 | 20,358 | 6.4% | 10,893 | 7,975 | 18,868 | 4.8% |
10 to < 15 Years | 47,169 | 37,233 | 84,402 | 26.5% | 60,058 | 48,070 | 108,128 | 27.3% |
15 to < 20 years | 22,618 | 15,566 | 38,184 | 12.0% | 31,529 | 19,992 | 51,521 | 13.0% |
> 20 years | 16,144 | 14,326 | 30,470 | 9.6% | 26,683 | 20,704 | 47,387 | 12.0% |
Total | 185,582 | 132,586 | 318,168 | 100.0% | 227,451 | 168,537 | 395,988 | 100.0% |
4. New Claims
4.1 New Claims Granted by Age and Gender
During the period July 2006 to June 2007, there were 99,418 new claims for DSP processed. Of these, 62,608 were granted (63 per cent).
Males make up 54.2 per cent of new grants for DSP while females comprise 45.8 per cent, this compares with 56 per cent for males and 44 per cent for females in 2005-06. These proportions are similar to the percentage distribution of males and females in the overall DSP population (males currently make up 57.8 per cent of the total DSP population and females 42.2 per cent. The age distribution of new grants shows a higher percentage of recipients in the age groups 50- 64 years which aligns with the 2005-06 financial year.
Age |
New grants
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Male
|
%
|
Female
|
%
|
Total
|
%
|
|
16-19 | 3,248 | 9.6% | 2,187 | 7.6% | 5,435 | 8.7% |
20-24 | 1,196 | 3.5% | 819 | 2.9% | 2,015 | 3.2% |
25-29 | 1,320 | 3.9% | 895 | 3.1% | 2,215 | 3.5% |
30-34 | 1,757 | 5.2% | 1,278 | 4.5% | 3,035 | 4.8% |
35-39 | 2,351 | 6.9% | 1,945 | 6.8% | 4,296 | 6.9% |
40-44 | 2,967 | 8.7% | 2,801 | 9.8% | 5,768 | 9.2% |
45-49 | 3,461 | 10.2% | 3,841 | 13.4% | 7,302 | 11.7% |
50-54 | 4,083 | 12.0% | 4,602 | 16.1% | 8,685 | 13.9% |
55-59 | 6,036 | 17.8% | 6,308 | 22.0% | 12,344 | 19.7% |
60-64 | 7,483 | 22.0% | 3,992 | 13.9% | 11,475 | 18.3% |
65+ | 37 | 0.1% | 1 | 0.0% | 38 | 0.1% |
Unknown | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Total | 33,939 | 100.0% | 28,669 | 100.0% | 62,608 | 100.0% |
4.2 Comparison of New Grants and Current Recipients by Medical Condition
The overall grant numbers by medical condition for 2006-07 continues to highlight the four main categories with the inclusion of cancer/ tumor at 7.8 per cent of the total grants slightly higher than intellectual / learning 5.9 per cent and circulatory system 6.8 per cent. Musculo-skeletal continues to be the main medical condition for grants with 30 per cent followed by psychological / psychiatric with 24 per cent.
However, when comparing grants for 2005-06 to 2006-07 there has been an increase in chronic pain 1.6 percentage points, gastro-intestinal system 0.9 percentage points and nervous system 1.3 percentage points.
Medical Condition |
Male
|
%
|
Female
|
%
|
New Grants
|
%
|
Total Recipients
|
%
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acquired brain impairment | 763 | 2.2% | 352 | 1.2% | 1,115 | 1.8% | 16,827 | 2.4% |
Amputation | 121 | 0.4% | 28 | 0.1% | 149 | 0.2% | 1,568 | 0.2% |
Cancer/tumour | 2,790 | 8.2% | 2,099 | 7.3% | 4,889 | 7.8% | 13,033 | 1.8% |
Poorly Defined Cause | 368 | 1.1% | 956 | 3.3% | 1,324 | 2.1% | 5,572 | 0.8% |
Chronic Pain | 751 | 2.2% | 767 | 2.7% | 1,518 | 2.4% | 7,596 | 1.1% |
Circulatory system | 2,943 | 8.7% | 1,305 | 4.6% | 4,248 | 6.8% | 35,461 | 5.0% |
Congenital abnormality / Inherited Disorders | 388 | 1.1% | 354 | 1.2% | 742 | 1.2% | 10,894 | 1.5% |
Endocrine and immune system | 705 | 2.1% | 656 | 2.3% | 1,361 | 2.2% | 16,730 | 2.5% |
Gastro-intestinal system | 328 | 1.0% | 420 | 1.5% | 748 | 1.2% | 2,980 | 0.4% |
Intellectual/learning | 2,235 | 6.6% | 1,439 | 5.0% | 3,674 | 5.9% | 80,260 | 11.2% |
Infectious Diseases | 174 | 0.5% | 87 | 0.3% | 261 | 0.4% | 1,185 | 0.2% |
Musculo-skeletal and connective tissue | 9,637 | 28.4% | 9,170 | 32.0% | 18,807 | 30.0% | 228,134 | 31.9% |
Nervous system | 1,699 | 5.0% | 1,744 | 6.1% | 3,443 | 5.5% | 30,927 | 4.3% |
Psychological/psychiatric | 8,140 | 24.0% | 6,880 | 24.0% | 15,020 | 24.0% | 195,059 | 27.3% |
Reproductive system | 3 | 0.0% | 71 | 0.2% | 74 | 0.1% | 237 | 0.0% |
Respiratory system | 1,288 | 3.8% | 1,105 | 3.9% | 2,393 | 3.8% | 19,541 | 2.7% |
Sense organs | 41 | 0.2% | 729 | 2.5% | 1,606 | 2.6% | 18,579 | 2.6% |
Skin disorders and burns | 877 | 2.6% | 51 | 0.2% | 92 | 0.1% | 449 | 0.1% |
Urogenital system | 374 | 1.1% | 300 | 1.0% | 674 | 1.1% | 2,280 | 0.3% |
Visceral disorder | 294 | 0.9% | 145 | 0.5% | 439 | 0.7% | 7,647 | 1.1% |
Not Coded | 20 | 0.1% | 11 | 0.0% | 31 | 0.0% | 19,197 | 2.7% |
Total | 33,939 | 100.0% | 28,669 | 100.0% | 62,608 | 100.0% | 714 156 | 100.0% |
4.3 DSP Grants by Age for the 5 main Medical Categories in 2006-07.
DSP grants for the 5 main medical conditions in the 2006-07 financial year shows that:
- new recipients with musculo-skeletal/connective tissue conditions increases for recipients aged 40 years and above, this aligns with the overall DSP population with the same condition;
- new recipients with psychological/psychiatric conditions is evenly spread across all of the age brackets. The incidence does increase from 40 years and over this aligns with the overall DSP population with the same condition;
- new recipients with intellectual / learning difficulties shows a higher incidence of grant in the 16 – 19 year age bracket. The grant numbers for this condition significantly drop from 20 years onwards.
- New recipients with cancer / tumor shows a higher incidence in the 55 – 64 age bracket this is consistent with the overall DSP population.
Refer to Table 2.2.1 for Medical Categories by age for total DSP population.
Age |
Musculo-Skeletal /
Connective Tissue |
Psychological
/ Psychiatric |
Caner
/ Tumor |
Circulatory
System |
Intellectual
/ Learning |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
16-19 | 145 | 1268 | 74 | 42 | 2716 |
20-24 | 166 | 1043 | 57 | 26 | 243 |
25-29 | 274 | 1197 | 71 | 44 | 132 |
30-34 | 528 | 1474 | 133 | 53 | 101 |
35-39 | 994 | 1803 | 214 | 106 | 110 |
40-44 | 1591 | 1938 | 350 | 204 | 113 |
45-49 | 2276 | 1942 | 606 | 371 | 113 |
50-54 | 3140 | 1750 | 851 | 603 | 63 |
55-59 | 5013 | 1566 | 1280 | 1197 | 56 |
60-64 | 4688 | 1036 | 1248 | 1596 | 27 |
65+ | 12 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
Total | 18 807 | 15 020 | 4889 | 4248 | 3674 |
4.4 New Claims Rejected by Reason and Gender
During the period July 2006 to June 2007, there were 99,418 new claims for DSP processed. Of these, 36,810 were rejected (37 per cent). The main reason for medical rejections of DSP claims was disability short-term (28.57 per cent) followed by less than 20% impairment (27.65 per cent).
The non medical rejections are 33.7 per cent of total rejections with the main rejection reason being failed to supply requested information (15.66 per cent).
In 2006-07 male rejections were 54.6 per cent with females 45.4 per cent.
Medical Rejection Reasons |
Males
|
%
|
Female
|
%
|
Total
|
%
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Less than 20% impaired | 5,414 | 26.95% | 4,765 | 28.49% | 10,179 | 27.65% |
Disability is short term | 5,703 | 28.39% | 4,814 | 28.79% | 10,517 | 28.57% |
Manifest - temporary | 538 | 2.68% | 533 | 3.19% | 1,071 | 2.91% |
>20% impaired/can work full time | 47 | 0.23% | 25 | 0.15% | 72 | 0.20% |
>20% impaired/can work 15+ hours per week | 976 | 4.86% | 702 | 4.20% | 1,678 | 4.56% |
>20% impaired/can be re-skilled | 59 | 0.29% | 34 | 0.20% | 93 | 0.25% |
Manifest - can work 15 HRS P/W | 92 | 0.46% | 81 | 0.48% | 173 | 0.47% |
Manifest - can work 30 HRS P/W | 86 | 0.43% | 50 | 0.30% | 136 | 0.37% |
Manifest - not sufficient impairment | 209 | 1.04% | 216 | 1.29% | 425 | 1.15% |
Not permanently blind | 14 | 0.07% | 15 | 0.09% | 29 | 0.08% |
Non-medical Rejection Reasons | ||||||
Failed to supply requested information | 3,225 | 16.06% | 2,540 | 15.19% | 5,765 | 15.66% |
Fail to attend assess/medical exam/interview | 529 | 2.63% | 442 | 2.64% | 971 | 2.64% |
Excess income/Assets no medical exam | 33 | 0.16% | 42 | 0.25% | 75 | 0.20% |
Assets over limit | 240 | 1.19% | 144 | 0.86% | 384 | 1.04% |
Other | 2,922 | 14.5% | 2,320 | 13.87% | 5,242 | 14.24% |
Total | 20,087 | 100% | 16,723 | 100% | 36,810 | 100% |
5. Where DSP Recipients are Coming From and Going To
5.1 Where DSP Recipients Are Coming From
There were 61,063 people receiving DSP in June 2007 who were not receiving DSP in June 2006. These "new recipients" represent 8.6 per cent of the total DSP population as at June 2007. The largest group of people entering DSP are those who were not previously receiving an income support payment 44.2 per cent, followed by Newstart 34.1 per cent which is up from 32.8 per cent in 2005-06.
21.6 per cent of recipients moving onto DSP have their origins from a range of other payments, being Parenting Payment (Single & Partnered), Youth Allowance, Sickness Allowance and Partner Allowance. The numbers from each payment are small and these proportions have remained fairly static for at least the last few financial years.
It should be noted that figures for recipient transfers do not exactly match those for new grants due to the different business rules used in extracting these data sets, for example, some new grants can be for the same recipient or a recipient may be granted DSP and then leave DSP within the same year.
Origin | Count | % |
---|---|---|
Non Client | 27,008 | 44.2% |
Newstart Allowance | 20,839 | 34.1% |
Parenting Payments | 4,471 | 7.3% |
Youth Allowance | 1,276 | 2.1% |
Sickness Allowance | 958 | 1.6% |
Partner Allowance | 617 | 1.0% |
Other payments | 5,894 | 9.7% |
Total | 61,063 | 100.0% |
5.2 Where DSP Recipients Are Going To
The majority of recipients who were on DSP in June 2006 but were not on DSP in June 2007 moved on to Age Pension (53.3 per cent).
Of the people who left DSP, 24.1 per cent left payments entirely. A substantial proportion (16.6 per cent) of exits from DSP was because of the death of the recipient.
Origin |
Count
|
%
|
---|---|---|
Age Pension | 32,160 | 53.3% |
Non Client | 14,507 | 24.1% |
Deceased | 9,987 | 16.6% |
Newstart/Youth Allowance | 784 | 1.3% |
Other payments | 2,857 | 4.7% |
Total | 61,063 | 100.0% |
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