Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services
OCCASIONAL PAPER NO. 7
Income support customers:
A statistical overview 2001
Corporate Information and Mapping Services
Strategic Policy and Knowledge Branch
Department of Family and Community Services

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© Commonwealth of Australia 2003
ISSN 1444-965x
This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be
reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth available from the
Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Requests and inquiries
concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Manager, Copyright Services, Info Access,
GPO Box 1920, Canberra ACT 2601 or by e-mail xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx.xx.
March 2003
The opinions, comments and/or analysis expressed in Occasional Papers are those of the authors and do
not necessarily represent the views of the Minister for Family and Community Services or the Department
of Family and Community Services, and cannot be taken in any way as expressions of Government policy.
Contact person for the statistical overview
Edward Black
Corporate Information and Mapping Services
Strategic Policy and Knowledge Branch (TOP CW2)
Department of Family and Community Services
Box 7788
Canberra Mail Centre ACT 2610
Phone: (02) 6244 1384
Fax:
(02) 6244 7020
Email: xxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
For more information
Publications Unit
(RC&C Section)
Strategic Policy and Knowledge Branch (TOP CW2)
Department of Family and Community Services
Box 7788
Canberra Mail Centre ACT 2610
Phone: (02) 6244 5458
Fax:
(02) 6244 7020
Email: xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
ii

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link to page 9 link to page 11 link to page 11 link to page 11 link to page 15 link to page 15 link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 22 link to page 26 link to page 26 link to page 29 link to page 29 link to page 29 link to page 29 link to page 35 link to page 35 link to page 37 link to page 41 link to page 41 link to page 50 link to page 51 link to page 53 link to page 55 link to page 58 link to page 61 link to page 62 link to page 63 link to page 63 link to page 64 link to page 64 link to page 64 link to page 64 link to page 65 link to page 65 link to page 69 link to page 69 Contents
List of tables and figures
v
1
Introduction
1
2
Payments for older people, the sick, and people
with disabilities or their carers
3
2.1 Age Pension
3
2.2 Disability Support Pension
7
Summary
7
2.3 Wife Pension
11
Summary
11
2.4 Carer Payment
14
2.5 Sickness Allowance
18
Summary
18
2.6 Mobility Allowance and Carer Allowance
21
Mobility Allowance
21
Summary
21
Carer Allowance
21
3
Labour market allowances and parenting program
27
3.1 Austudy
27
3.2 Youth Allowance
29
3.3 Newstart Allowance
33
Jobseekers
33
3.4 Mature Age Allowance
42
3.5 Widow Allowance
44
3.6 Partner Allowance
46
3.7 Special Benefit
48
3.8 Parenting Payment
51
3.9 Jobs, Education and Training (JET)
54
4
Family Assistance
55
4.1 Family Tax Benefit
55
Family Tax Benefit, Part A
55
Family Tax Benefit, Part B
56
Other allowances
56
Large Family Supplement
56
Multiple Birth Allowance
56
Rent Assistance
57
Summary
57
4.2 Double Orphan Pension
61
Summary
61
iii

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link to page 72 link to page 72 link to page 72 link to page 73 link to page 75 link to page 75 link to page 75 link to page 76 link to page 77 link to page 77 link to page 79 link to page 80 link to page 80 link to page 80 link to page 82 link to page 82 link to page 83 4.3 Maternity Allowance and Maternity Immunisation Allowance
64
Summary
64
4.4 Child care support
64
5
Other income support payments
67
5.1 Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment and Farm Family Restart Scheme 67
Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment
67
Farm Family Restart Scheme
67
5.2 Widow B Pension, Widow Allowance and Bereavement Allowance
69
Widow B Pension
69
Bereavement Allowance
69
5.3 Rent Assistance
72
Rent Assistance and the GST
72
Customers who go overseas temporarily
72
Summary
73
6
Expenditure and pensioners paid overseas
75
Payment expenditure
75
Pensioners paid overseas
75
iv

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List of tables and figures
Table 1:
Age Pension customers: Sex, June 1981 to June 2001
4
Table 2:
Age Pension customers: State by sex, June 2001
5
Table 3:
Age Pension customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
6
Table 4:
Disability Support Pension customers: Sex, June 1981 to June 2001
8
Table 5:
Disability Support Pension customers: State by sex, June 2001
9
Table 6:
Disability Support Pension customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
10
Table 7:
Wife Pension customers: Pension type, June 1981 to June 2001
11
Table 8:
Wife Pension customers: State by pension type, June 2001
12
Table 9:
Wife Pension customers: Characteristics by pension type, June 2001
13
Table 10: Carer Payment customers: Pension type, June 1984 to June 2001
15
Table 11:
Carer Payment customers: State by pension type of person being
cared for, June 2001
16
Table 12:
Carer Payment customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
17
Table 13:
Sickness Allowance customers: Sex, June 1981 to June 2001
18
Table 14:
Sickness Allowance customers: State by sex, June 2001
19
Table 15:
Sickness Allowance customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
20
Table 16: Mobility Allowance customers: Sex, June 1983 to June 2001
23
Table 17:
Mobility Allowance customers: State by sex, June 2001
24
Table 18: Carer Allowance: Customers, June 1982 to June 2001
24
Table 19: Carer Allowance: Customers by state and carer type, June 2001
25
Table 20: FaCS labour market-related payments: June 1981 to June 2001
27
Table 21:
Austudy payment customers: Characteristics by gender, June 2001
28
Table 22: Youth Allowance (full-time student) customers: Characteristics by sex,
June 2001
30
Table 23: Youth Allowance (other) customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
31
Table 24: Youth Allowance customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
32
Table 25: Short-term Newstart Allowance customers: Characteristics by sex,
June 2001
34
Table 26: Long-term Newstart Allowance customers: Characteristics by sex,
June 2001
35
Table 27:  Total Newstart Allowance customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
36
Table 28: Short-term unemployed customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
37
Table 29: Long-term unemployed customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
38
Table 30: Total unemployed customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
39
Table 31:
Unemployed customers: State, June 2001
40
v

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Table 32: Monthly average number of unemployed customers: Allowance type and
duration, June 1981 to June 2001
41
Table 33: Mature Age Allowance and Mature Age Partner Allowance customers:
Characteristics by sex, June 2001
43
Table 34: Widow Allowance customers: Characteristics, June 2001
45
Table 35: Partner Allowance customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
47
Table 36: Special Benefit customers: Special Benefit category by sex, June 2001
48
Table 37: Special Benefit customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
49
Table 38: Special Benefit customers: State by sex, June 2001
50
Table 39: Special Benefit customers: By sex, June 1981 to June 2001
50
Table 40: Parenting Payment (single) customers: Sex, June 1981 to June 2001
51
Table 41:
Parenting Payment (single) customers: State by sex, June 2001
52
Table 42: Parenting Payment (single) customers: Characteristics by sex,
June 2001
52
Table 43: Parenting Payment (partnered) customers: State by payment category,
June 2001
53
Table 44: Parenting Payment (partnered) customers: Characteristics by sex,
June 2001
53
Table 45: Family Tax Benefit: Customers and children, June 2001
57
Table 46: Family Tax Benefit Part A: Customers and children by rate type,
June 2001
58
Table 47: Family Tax Benefit Part A: Customers and children by age of child,
June 2001
58
Table 48: Family Tax Benefit Part B: Customers by rate type and age of youngest
child, June 2001
58
Table 49: Family Tax Benefit: Customers and children by state, June 2001
59
Table 50: Family Tax Benefit customers: Characteristics by payment type,
June 2001
60
Table 51:
Double Orphan Pension: Customers and children, June 1981 to June 2001
62
Table 52: Double Orphan Pension: Customers and children, state and age of
children, June 2001
63
Table 53: Maternity Allowance customers: June 2001
64
Table 54: Customers using approved child care benefit services: State,
2000 to 2001
65
Table 55: Customers using approved child care benefit services: Service type,
2000 to 2001
65
Table 56: Customers using approved child care benefit services: Rate type,
2000 to 2001
65
Table 57: Customers using registered care: Quarter, 2000 to 2001
65
Table 58: Exceptional Circumstance Payment And Farm Family Restart customers:
Customer Service Centre, June 2001
68
vi

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Table 59: Widow B Pension customers: State, June 1998 to June 2001
69
Table 60: Widow B Pension customers: Characteristics, June 2001
70
Table 61: Bereavement Allowance customers: Sex, June 1991 to June 2001
71
Table 62: Commonwealth Senior Health Card holders: Characteristics by sex,
June 2001
71
Table 63: Rent Assistance customers: Average Rent Assistance and rent paid,
June 2001
73
Table 64: Rent Assistance customers: Payment type by sex, June 2001
74
Table 65: Persons paid overseas by Australia: Payment type, June 1981 to
June 2001
76
Table 66: Persons paid overseas by Australia: Country of residence by
payment type, June 2001
76
Table 67: Persons paid by Australia under a Social Security Agreement:
Agreement country by country of residence by payment type, June 2001
78
Table 68: Number of Centrelink customers residing in Australia receiving a foreign
payment: Payment country by payment type, December 2001
79
Table 69: Number of Centrelink customers residing overseas receiving a foreign
payment: Payment country by payment type, December 2001
80
Figure 1:
Age Pension customers: Sex, June 1982 to June 2001
4
Figure 2:
Disability Support Pension customers: Sex, June 1981 to June 2001
8
Figure 3:
Wife Pension customers: Pension type, June 1981 to June 2001
12
Figure 4:
Carer Payment customers: Pension type, June 1991 to 2001
15
Figure 5:
Sickness Allowance customers: Sex, June 1981 to June 2001
19
Figure 6:
Mobility Allowance customers: Sex, 1987 to 2001
23
Figure 7:
Family Tax Benefit: Customers, July 2000 to June 2001
57
Figure 8:
Double Orphan Pension: Customers and children, June 1980 to June 2001
62
vii

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viii

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Introduction
1 Introduction
The vision of FaCS is to create a fair and cohesive Australian society by strengthening
the capacity of individuals, families and communities to contribute to, and benefit from,
greater involvement in all aspects of life.
The Family and Community Services portfolio is responsible for a broad range of social
policy issues affecting Australian society and the living standards of Australian families,
communities and individuals. The portfolio consists of the Commonwealth Department
of Family and Community Services (FaCS), Child Support Agency, CRS Australia,
Centrelink, the Social Security Appeals Tribunal, and the Australian Institute of Family
Studies. Key responsibilities include income support, housing policy, disability
services, child care services and family issues, including family payments, child support
and family relationships.
FaCS advises the Government on all policy issues within the portfolio, and manages the
delivery of FaCS services through a range of service providers. As part of its core
business, FaCS works in many areas that affect the living standards of Australians—
income, housing, taxation, superannuation, savings, and so on. As well as families,
FaCS focuses on groups with differing needs such as young people and students,
people living in rural and remote areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,
and people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
This statistical overview covers all FaCS income support customers, and unless otherwise
indicated, the statistics relate to the relevant pay periods closest to 30 June 2001. These
periods will generally be within a fortnight either side of that date.
Key sections of the overview are:
◗ payments for older people, the sick, and people with disabilities and their carers
◗ labour market allowances and Parenting Program
◗ family assistance
◗ other income support payments
◗ expenditure and pensioners paid overseas.
Payment and allowance details, including eligibility criteria, are included within each
section. Further information to assist with the interpretation of statistics is available in
the glossary.
If you require further information about this publication, please contact the FaCS Data
Helpdesk on (02) 6244 7882 or email xxxxxxxx.xxxx.xxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx.
1

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
2

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Payments for older people, the sick, and people with disabilities or their carers
2 Payments for older people, the sick, and people
with disabilities or their carers
2.1 Age Pension
To qualify for the Age Pension a male must be aged 65 years, while the age at which a
female may qualify depends upon her birth date. The qualifying age for females is being
increased gradually to 65 years between 1 July 1995 and 2013. The following table shows
the age at which females qualify for the Age Pension.
Dates of birth
Qualifying age
1 Jul 35 to 31 Dec 36
60.5
1 Jan 37 to 30 Jun 38
61
1 Jul 38 to 31 Dec 39
61.5
1 Jan 40 to 30 Jun 41
62
1 Jul 41 to 31 Dec 42
62.5
1 Jan 43 to 30 Jun 44
63
1 Jul 44 to 31 Dec 45
63.5
1 Jan 46 to 30 Jun 47
64
1 Jul 47 to 31 Dec 48
64.5
1 Jan 49 and over
65
Other eligibility requirements specify that the person claiming must have been:
◗ an Australian resident for at least 10 years continuously, or
◗ an Australian resident continuously for at least five years and have in total lived in
Australia, on and off, for more than ten years, or
◗ a refugee, or
◗ a woman widowed in Australia and living in Australia for at least two years before
claiming.
It should also be noted that certain absences from Australia count towards residence
and other age pensioners may qualify under agreements Australia has with other
countries.
3

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 1: Age Pension customers: Sex, June 1981 to June 2001 (a)
MALES
FEMALES
TOTAL
AS AT JUNE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
1981
450 959
33.5
896 471
66.5
1 347 430
100.0
1982
456 145
33.4
910 890
66.6
1 367 035
100.0
1983
460 667
33.1
930 171
66.9
1 390 838
100.0
1984
436 925
32.2
921 204
67.8
1 358 129
100.0
1985
419 714
31.5
912 068
68.5
1 331 782
100.0
1986
412 373
31.1
912 227
68.9
1 324 600
100.0
1987
407 698
30.8
914 476
69.2
1 322 174
100.0
1988 (b)
404 922
30.5
923 892
69.5
1 328 814
100.0
1989
403 339
30.2
930 971
69.8
1 334 310
100.0
1990
404 486
30.2
935 982
69.8
1 340 468
100.0
1991
418 383
30.4
957 466
69.6
1 375 849
100.0
1992
447 888
31.0
998 280
69.0
1 446 168
100.0
1993
481 196
31.7
1 034 486
68.3
1 515 682
100.0
1994
514 217
32.5
1 067 657
67.5
1 581 874
100.0
1995
544 571
34.5
1 034 127
65.5
1 578 698
100.0
1996
570 328
35.6
1 032 506
64.4
1 602 834
100.0
1997
597 859
35.6
1 082 355
64.4
1 680 214
100.0
1998
618 607
36.6
1 072 987
63.4
1 691 594
100.0
1999
639 008
37.1
1 085 581
62.9
1 724 589
100.0
2000
659 188
37.9
1 079 027
62.1
1 738 215
100.0
2001
688 563
38.4
1 104 863
61.6
1 793 426
100.0
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders (c)
2001
97 848
43.3
128 292
56.7
226 140
100.0
(a) Includes Age Pension payments administered by Centrelink and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
(b) Overseas customers have been included since 1988. For years prior to 1988, the data on overseas
customers broken down by gender are unavailable.
(c) The CSHC is issued to people of Age Pension age who failed to qualify for the pension because of their
income or assets levels but whose income is below the applicable cut-offs for the CSHC. See table 62
for characteristics.
Figure 1: Age Pension customers: Sex, June 1982 to June 2001
2 000 000
1 800 000
1 600 000
1 400 000
1 200 000
1 000 000
800 000
600 000
400 000
200 000
0
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
Males
Females
Total
4

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Payments for older people, the sick, and people with disabilities or their carers
Table 2: Age Pension customers: State by sex, June 2001 (a)
MALES
FEMALES
TOTAL
STATE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
New South Wales
221 338
32.3
367 593
33.4
588 931
33.0
Victoria
170 578
24.9
281 125
25.5
451 703
25.3
Queensland
115 289
16.8
183 302
16.6
298 591
16.7
South Australia
63 207
9.2
104 408
9.5
167 615
9.4
Western Australia
54 975
8.0
91 331
8.3
146 306
8.2
Tasmania
18 202
2.7
30 016
2.7
48 218
2.7
Northern Territory
2 311
0.3
3 193
0.3
5 504
0.3
Australian Capital Territory
5 602
0.8
10 137
0.9
15 739
0.9
Unknown
35
0.0
53
0.0
88
0.0
Overseas (b)
32 682
4.8
30 177
2.7
62 859
3.5
Total
684 219
100.0
1 101 335
100.0
1 785 554 100.0
(a) Excludes Age Pension payments administered by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
(b) Includes all overseas pensioners, regardless of their length of stay overseas.
5

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 3: Age Pension customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001 (a)
MALE
FEMALE
TOTAL
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Age Pension customers
684 219
100.0
1 101 335
100.0
1 785 554 100.0
Age (years)
60–64
–
–
173 828
15.8
173 828
9.7
65–69
229 299
33.5
252 999
23.0
482 298
27.0
70–74
230 060
33.6
229 166
20.8
459 226
25.7
75–79
115 492
16.9
175 930
16.0
291 422
16.3
80–84
59 225
8.7
130 974
11.9
190 199
10.7
85–89
36 225
5.3
90 600
8.2
126 825
7.1
90–94
11 740
1.7
38 010
3.5
49 750
2.8
95 or more
2 178
0.3
9 828
0.9
12 006
0.7
Status
Couple
no dependants
490 672
71.7
474 810
43.1
965 482
54.1
with dependants
360
0.1
1 359
0.1
1 719
0.1
Total
491 032
71.8
476 169
43.2
967 201
54.2
Single
no dependants
192 773
28.2
623 143
56.6
815 916
45.7
with dependants
414
0.1
2 023
0.2
2 437
0.1
Total
193 187
28.2
625 166
56.8
818 353
45.8
Rate
Maximum rate
420 031
61.4
726 372
66.0
1 146 403
64.2
Reduced rate
264 188
38.6
374 963
34.0
639 151
35.8
Home ownership
Home owner
501 633
73.3
733 766
66.6
1 235 399
69.2
Non home owner
159 419
23.3
291 896
26.5
451 315
25.3
Other
23 167
3.4
75 673
6.9
98 840
5.5
Paid under income test
Income as assessed ($pw)
Single
Nil
17 048
2.5
55 887
5.1
72 935
4.1
$0.01–$53.00
120 102
17.6
398 413
36.2
518 515
29.0
Over $53.00
57 567
8.4
160 227
14.5
217 794
12.2
Partnered (each)
Nil
11 399
1.7
10 602
1.0
22 001
1.2
$0.01–47.00
267 597
39.1
257 656
23.4
525 253
29.4
Over $47.00
152 118
22.2
148 376
13.5
300 494
16.8
Non-home owners paid under assets test
Assets as assessed ($) (b)
Single
More than 228 750 to less than 364 750
455
0.1
823
0.1
1278
0.1
Partnered (each)
More than 142 500 to less than 255 500
435
0.1
423
0.0
858
0.0
Home owners paid under assets test
Assets as assessed ($)
Single
More than 133 250 to less than 269 250
8 709
1.3
18 568
1.7
27 277
1.5
Partnered (each)
More than 94 750 to less than 207 750 (b) 44 956
6.6
45 223
4.1
90 179
5.1
Not coded (b)
3 833
0.6
5 137
0.5
8 970
0.5
Country of birth (top five countries)
Australia
400 263
58.5
717 656
65.2
1 117 919
62.6
UK/Eire/Ireland
80 235
11.7
123 602
11.2
203 837
11.4
Italy
52 840
7.7
51 823
4.7
104 663
5.9
Greece
20 377
3.0
25 762
2.3
46 139
2.6
Netherlands
13 122
1.9
15 704
1.4
28 826
1.6
Other
117 382
17.2
166 788
15.1
284 170
15.9
(a) Excludes age pension payments administered by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
(b) The values indicated are the assets test upper and lower allowable limits. The pensioner population
indicated includes only pensioners with assessable assets between the two allowable assets test limits
who receive a part-rate pension based on the application of the assets test. All pensioners paid a full rate
of pension are classified as income tested and included in the ‘Paid under income test’ population
above. Note that for couples separated by illness, the upper limits are higher than those indicated.
6

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Payments for older people, the sick, and people with disabilities or their carers
2.2 Disability Support Pension
Disability Support Pension is intended to ensure that people with disabilities have
adequate levels of income and maximum opportunities to participate in society.
To be eligible for Disability Support Pension, a person must have a permanent physical,
intellectual or psychiatric impairment of at least 20 points under the Impairment Tables.
An impairment is defined as permanent under the Social Security Act 1991 if it is fully
diagnosed, treated and stabilised and likely to last for at least two years without
significant functional improvement. They must also be unable to do any full time work,
or be re-skilled for work, for at least 30 hours per week at award wages for at least the
next two years because of that impairment; or be permanently blind.
To qualify for the Disability Support Pension a person must be aged 16 years or over and
have not reached Age Pension age. The person must also be an Australian resident,
living in Australia at the time they claim and have 10 years qualifying residence.
There is no period of residence qualification required if the inability to work or blindness
occurs while the person is an Australian resident.
Summary
◗ The number of Disability Support Pension customers has been steadily increasing,
with the greatest growth occurring as a result of the Disability Reform Package. Other
factors contributing to continued growth include: a general trend in the Australian
population which shows that the incidence of disabilities increases with age,
increases to the age which women qualify for Age Pension, the general decline in the
proportion of mature age workers participating in the workforce, and wider
demographic changes. In June 2001 the number of customers receiving a Disability
Support Pension was 623 926.
◗ 63 per cent of the total Disability Support Pension recipients were males. The
proportion of females is increasing and now represents 37 per cent of the total
population.
◗ 54 per cent of the total number of Disability Support Pension recipients were aged
50 years and over at June 2001.
◗ At June 2001, 61 per cent of people on Disability Support Pension were single.
◗ 83 per cent of Disability Support Pension customers were on a maximum rate of
payment.
◗ 63 per cent of Disability Support Pension customers did not own their own home.
◗ The majority of Disability Support Pension customers were Australian born (71%).
European countries such as United Kingdom/Ireland, Greece, Yugoslavia and Italy
were the next largest categories.
7

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 4: Disability Support Pension customers: Sex, June 1981 to June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
AS AT JUNE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
1981
153 889
69.3
68 062
30.7
221 951 100.0
1982
151 146
69.8
65 503
30.2
216 649 100.0
1983
155 672
70.7
64 617
29.3
220 289 100.0
1984
173 063
71.9
67 511
28.1
240 574 100.0
1985
188 713
72.8
70 449
27.2
259 162 100.0
1986
200 898
73.4
72 912
26.6
273 810 100.0
1987
213 290
73.8
75 760
26.2
289 050 100.0
1988
219 168
73.8
77 745
26.2
296 913 100.0
1989
227 285
73.8
80 510
26.2
307 795 100.0
1990 (a)
233 251
73.7
83 462
26.4
316 713 100.0
1991
244 699
73.2
89 535
26.8
334 234 100.0
1992
273 697
72.3
104 861
27.7
378 558 100.0
1993
291 471
71.7
115 101
28.3
406 572 100.0
1994
309 123
70.9
127 111
29.1
436 234 100.0
1995
324 672
69.9
139 758
30.1
464 430 100.0
1996
340 256
68.2
158 979
31.8
499 235 100.0
1997
352 607
66.8
174 907
33.2
527 514 100.0
1998
361 539
65.3
191 797
34.7
553 336 100.0
1999
373 340
64.6
204 342
35.4
577 682 100.0
2000
382 351
63.5
219 929
36.5
602 280 100.0
2001
392 354
62.9
231 572
37.1
623 926 100.0
(a)
Figures revised.
Note: Disability Support Pension replaced Invalid Pension, Sheltered Employment Allowance and
Rehabilitation Allowance from November 1991 as part of the Disability Reform Package.
Figure 2: Disability Support Pension customers: Sex, June 1981 to June 2001
450 000
400 000
350 000
300 000
250 000
200 000
150 000
100 000
50 000
0
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
Males
Females
8

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Payments for older people, the sick, and people with disabilities or their carers
Table 5: Disability Support Pension customers: State by sex, June 2001
MALE
FEMALE
TOTAL
STATE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
New South Wales
131 012
33.4
76 035
32.8
207 047
33.2
Victoria
89 824
22.9
57 256
24.7
147 080
23.6
Queensland
74 416
19.0
42 069
18.2
116 485
18.7
South Australia
37 253
9.5
22 687
9.8
59 940
9.6
Western Australia
32 510
8.3
19 093
8.2
51 603
8.3
Tasmania
20 378
5.2
9 974
4.3
30 352
4.9
Northern Territory
3 259
0.8
1 754
0.8
5 013
0.8
Australian Capital Territory
3 660
0.9
2 681
1.2
6 341
1.0
Overseas
42
0.0
23
0.0
65
0.0
Total
392 354
100.0
231 572
100.0
623 926 100.0
9

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 6: Disability Support Pension customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
MALE
FEMALE
TOTAL
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Disability Support Pension Customers
392 354
100.0
231 572
100.0
623 926 100.0
Age (years)
Under 20
9 245
2.4
6 148
2.7
15 393
2.5
20–29
31 097
7.9
21 883
9.4
52 980
8.5
30–39
52 379
13.3
32 410
14.0
84 789
13.6
40–49
77 674
19.8
54 758
23.6
132 432
21.2
50–59
122 360
31.2
97 696
42.2
220 056
35.3
60–64
96 851
24.7
18 420
8.0
115 271
18.5
65 and over
2 748
0.7
257
0.1
3 005
0.5
Status
Couple
no dependants
171 166
43.6
55 603
24.0
226 769
36.3
with dependants
1 500
0.4
12 692
5.5
14 192
2.3
Total
172 666
44.0
68 295
29.5
240 961
38.6
Single
no dependants
215 896
55.0
151 871
65.6
367 767
58.9
with dependants
3 792
1.0
11 406
4.9
15 198
2.4
Total
219 688
56.0
163 277
70.5
382 965
61.4
Rate
Maximum rate
324 985
82.8
190 854
82.4
515 839
82.7
Reduced rate
67 369
17.2
40 718
17.6
108 087
17.3
Home ownership
Home owner
149 444
38.1
79 239
34.2
228 683
36.7
Non home owner
239 929
61.2
150 493
65.0
390 422
62.6
Not coded
2 981
0.8
1 840
0.8
4 821
0.8
Paid under income test
Income as assessed ($pw)
Single
Nil
55 535
14.2
32 862
14.2
88 397
14.2
$0.01–$53.00
137 844
35.1
111 249
48.0
249 093
39.9
Over $53.00
21 375
5.4
16 987
7.3
38 362
6.1
Partnered (each)
Nil
14 652
3.7
5 404
2.3
20 056
3.2
$0.01–47.00
108 944
27.8
38 745
16.7
147 689
23.7
Over 47.00
40 423
10.3
20 812
9.0
61 235
9.8
Partner rate not coded
142
0.0
9
0.0
151
0.0
Non-home owners paid under assets test
Assets as assessed ($)
Single
More than 228 750 to less than 364 750
172
0.0
76
0.0
248
0.0
Partnered (each)
More than 142 500 to less than 278 500
65
0.0
34
0.0
99
0.0
Home owners paid under assets test
Assets as assessed ($)
Single
More than 133 250 to less than 269 250
1 356
0.3
829
0.4
2 185
0.4
Partnered (each)
More than 94 750 to less than 230 750
5 427
1.4
2 273
1.0
7 700
1.2
Not coded (a)
6 419
1.6
2 292
1.0
8 711
1.4
Country of birth (top five countries)
Australia
276 527
70.5
171 941
74.2
448 468
71.9
UK/Eire/Ireland
26 215
6.7
13 353
5.8
39 568
6.3
Italy
10 121
2.6
4 322
1.9
14 443
2.3
Greece
10 258
2.6
5 374
2.3
15 632
2.5
Former Yugoslavia
10 120
2.6
4 517
2.0
14 637
2.3
Other
59 113
15.1
32 065
13.8
91 178
14.6
(a) At least one variable required to determine the customers asset test category was not coded
(partnership category, home ownership type, income or asset tested).
10

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Payments for older people, the sick, and people with disabilities or their carers
2.3 Wife Pension
The Wife Pension is gradually being phased out. No new grants have been made from
1 July 1995. However, women who received a Wife Pension at that date can continue to
receive this payment. To qualify for Wife Pension a woman must be the wife of an Age or
Disability Support pensioner and not receiving a pension in her own right.
Partners of new applicants for Age or Disability Support Pension (DSP) need to apply for
another type of payment such as Age Pension, Parenting Payment, Partner Allowance,
Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, Newstart Allowance.
Summary
◗ The number of Wife Pension customers has decreased significantly as a result of the
gradual phasing out of this pension in 1995. At June 2001 the number of customers
receiving a Wife Pension (DSP) was 51 225.
◗ Wife Pensioners of Disability Support Pension customers comprised the majority of
all Wife Pension customers (66% at June 2001).
Table 7: Wife Pension customers: Pension type, June 1981 to June 2001
DISABILITY
SHELTERED
AGE
SUPPORT
REHABILITATION
EMPLOYMENT
PENSION
PENSION
ALLOWANCE (a)
ALLOWANCE (b)
TOTAL (c)
AS AT JUNE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
1981
29 241
33.8
57 092
65.9
..
..
304
0.4
86 637
100.0
1982
27 516
33.3
54 804
66.3
..
..
295
0.4
82 615
100.0
1983
26 380
31.3
57 011
67.8
458
0.5
300
0.4
84 149
100.0
1984
24 129
26.5
65 984
72.4
771
0.8
306
0.3
91 190
100.0
1985
22 931
23.5
73 770
75.5
736
0.8
319
0.3
97 756
100.0
1986
22 208
21.5
80 167
77.5
699
0.7
308
0.3
103 382
100.0
1987
22 106
20.2
86 304
78.9
611
0.6
306
0.3
109 327
100.0
1988
22 128
20.0
87 742
79.3
486
0.4
308
0.3
110 664
100.0
1989
22 609
20.0
89 890
79.3
482
0.4
315
0.3
113 296
100.0
1990
23 766
20.5
91 068
78.7
583
0.5
278
0.2
115 695
100.0
1991
26 537
21.8
94 006
77.1
1 128
0.9
262
0.2
121 933
100.0
1992
30 902
23.2
101 731
76.4
561
0.4
..
..
133 194
100.0
1993
33 520
23.6
108 327
76.3
166
0.1
..
..
142 013
100.0
1994
36 539
23.9
116 036
76.0
45
0
..
..
152 620
100.0
1995
39 611
24.5
121 839
75.5
7
0
..
..
161 457
100.0
1996
41 125
27.6
107 803
72.4
3
0
..
..
148 931
100.0
1997
36 577
28.6
91 307
71.4
1
0
..
..
127 885
100.0
1998
36 233
31.2
79 892
68.8
..
..
..
..
116 125
100.0
1999
32 196
32.0
68 523
68.0
..
..
..
..
100 719
100.0
2000
31 406
32.0
59 935
68.0
..
..
..
..
91 341
100.0
2001
26 476
34.1
51 225
65.9
..
..
..
..
77 701
100.0
(a) Rehabilitation Allowance began in March 1983 and was phased out in November 1991 as part of the
Disability Reform Package. Rehabilitation allowees continue on their payment until completing their
program.
(b) Sheltered Employment Allowance customers were transferred to Disability Support Pension in
November 1991.
(c) Excludes Wife Disability Wage Supplement. From 1 January 1998, there were no further grants of
Disability Wage Supplement.
11

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Figure 3: Wife Pension customers: Pension type, June 1981 to June 2001
125 000
100 000
75 000
50 000
25 000
0
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
Age
Disability
Table 8: Wife Pension customers: State by pension type, June 2001
STATE
PENSION AGE
DISABILITY SUPPORT
TOTAL
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
New South Wales
8 122
30.7
16 797
32.8
24 919
32.1
Victoria
6 612
25.0
11 867
23.2
18 479
23.8
Queensland
4 678
17.7
9 150
17.9
13 828
17.8
South Australia
2 641
10.0
4 884
9.5
7 525
9.7
Western Australia
2 154
8.1
4 455
8.7
6 609
8.5
Tasmania
1 979
7.5
3 576
7.0
5 555
7.1
Northern Territory
139
0.5
224
0.4
363
0.5
Australian Capital Territory
151
0.6
268
0.5
419
0.5
Unknown (a)
0
0.0
4
0.0
4
0.0
Total
26 476
100.0
51 225
100.0
77 701 100.0
12

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Payments for older people, the sick, and people with disabilities or their carers
Table 9: Wife Pension customers: Characteristics by pension type, June 2001
DISABILITY SUPPORT
AGE PENSION
 PENSION
TOTAL
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Wife Pension Customers
26 476
100.0
51 225
100.0
77 701 100.0
Age (years)
Under 40
317
1.2
4 319
8.4
4 636
6.0
40–49
1 849
7.0
13 434
26.2
15 283
19.7
50–59
14 740
55.7
28 548
55.7
43 288
55.7
60–64
8 301
31.4
4 829
9.4
13 130
16.9
65 and over
1 269
4.8
95
0.2
1 364
1.8
Status
Couple
no dependants
24 768
93.5
39 797
77.7
64 565
83.1
with dependants
1 564
5.9
11 285
22.0
12 849
16.5
Total
26 332
99.5
51 082
99.7
77 414
99.6
Single
no dependants
132
0.5
122
0.2
254
0.3
with dependants
12
0.0
21
0.0
33
0.0
Total
144
0.5
143
0.3
287
0.4
Rate
Maximum rate
18 769
70.9
39 556
77.2
58 325
75.1
Reduced rate
7 707
29.1
11 669
22.8
19 376
24.9
Home ownership
Home owner
20 372
76.9
34 497
67.3
54 869
70.6
Non home owner
6 070
22.9
16 707
32.6
22 777
29.3
Not coded
34
0.1
21
0.0
55
0.1
Paid under income test
Income as assessed ($pw)
Single
Nil
39
0.1
60
0.1
99
0.1
$0.01–$53.00
220
0.8
207
0.4
427
0.5
Over $53.00
100
0.4
112
0.2
212
0.3
Partnered (each)
Nil
1 356
5.1
5 421
10.6
6 777
8.7
$0.01–47.00
16 976
64.1
32 920
64.3
49 896
64.2
$47.01–$53.15
791
3.0
1 184
2.3
1 975
2.5
Over $53.15
5 964
22.5
9 965
19.5
15 929
20.5
Partner rate not coded
74
0.3
129
0.3
203
0.3
Non-home owners paid under assets test
Assets as assessed ($)
Single
More than 228 750 to less than 364 750
–
1
1
0.0
Partnered (each)
0.0
More than 142 500 to less than 255 500
13
0.0
15
0.0
28
0.0
Home owners paid under assets test
Assets as assessed ($)
Single
More than 133 250 to less than 269 250
2
0.0
14
0.0
16
0.0
Partnered (each)
More than 94 750 to less than 207 750
880
3.3
781
1.5
1661
2.1
Not Coded (a)
60
0
413
1
473
0.6
Country of birth (top five countries)
Australia
12 667
47.8
30 809
60.1
43 476
56.0
Italy
2 681
10.1
2 270
4.4
4 951
6.4
UK/Ireland/Eire
1 878
7.1
3 154
6.2
5 032
6.5
Greece
1 656
6.3
2 734
5.3
4 390
5.6
Former Yugoslavia
613
2.3
1 984
3.9
2 597
3.3
Other
6 981
26.4
10 274
20.1
17 255
22.2
(a)
At least one of the variables required in determine the customers’ asset test category was not coded
(partnership category, home ownership type or whether income or asset tested).
Notes: Wife pensioners over age 65 years (and those aged 61 to 64 years) are most likely to be women who
are not residentially qualified for Age Pension in their own right. Wife Pension can be paid at the single
pension rate if the couple are living apart because of ill health—the ‘partnered’ income and assets test
still apply.
13

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
2.4 Carer Payment
To qualify for Carer Payment a person must be caring for someone who has a severe
disability or medical condition and who:
◗ is receiving a social security or Veterans’ Affairs Income Support payment, or
◗ is not receiving payment solely for reasons of lack of sufficient period of residence in
Australia, or
◗ is not receiving a social security or Veterans’ Affairs Income Support payment but
satisfies the special care receiver income and assets tests.
The person claiming must:
◗ be personally providing constant care to a care receiver who satisfies eligibility
requirements, and
◗ not be in receipt of any other pension or benefit, and
◗ be in Australia at the time the care is given and be a permanent resident of Australia.
A care receiver satisfies the eligibility requirements if they:
◗ have a physical, intellectual or psychiatric disability, and
◗ are a person who is being provided with constant care, and
◗ are likely to suffer from that disability permanently or for an extended period, and
◗ have been assessed, rated and given a score of at least 25 under the Adult Disability
Assessment Tool (ADAT), or
◗ have been assessed, rated and given a score of at least 20 under the ADAT, and have
a Carer Allowance child under the age of 16 or a child under the age of six, or
◗ are a child that meets the definition of a profoundly disabled child, or
◗ are two or more children with disabilities and/or medical conditions who together
require a level of care that is at least equivalent to the level of care required by a
profoundly disabled child.
Prior to 1 July 1997, Carer Payment was known as Carer Pension.
Eligibility for Carer Payment for carers of children under 16 years of age was introduced
on 1 July 1998.
14

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Payments for older people, the sick, and people with disabilities or their carers
Table 10: Carer Payment customers: Pension type, June 1984 to June 2001
DISABILITY SUPPORT
AGE PENSION
 PENSION
OTHER (a)
TOTAL
AS AT JUNE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
1984
432
25.1
1 289
74.9
..
..
1 721
100.0
1985
627
23.1
2 085
76.9
..
..
2 712
100.0
1986
1 975
39.3
3 045
60.7
..
..
5 020
100.0
1987
2 644
40.7
3 853
59.3
..
..
6 497
100.0
1988
3 162
42.8
4 231
57.2
..
..
7 393
100.0
1989
3 579
44.7
4 431
55.3
..
..
8 010
100.0
1990
4 025
45.8
4 771
54.2
..
..
8 796
100.0
1991
4 619
45.5
5 478
53.9
64
0.6
10 161
100.0
1992
5 574
44.1
6 790
53.8
267
2.1
12 631
100.0
1993
6 507
43.3
8 056
53.5
482
3.2
15 045
100.0
1994
7 441
42.0
9 450
53.4
808
4.6
17 699
100.0
1995
8 324
41.4
10 633
52.9
1 141
5.7
20 098
100.0
1996
9 500
37.9
13 483
53.9
2 054
8.2
25 037
100.0
1997
10 954
37.1
15 735
53.2
2 869
9.7
29 558
100.0
1998
11 740
34.6
18 556
54.6
3 683
10.8
33 979
100.0
1999
13 407
33.5
21 392
53.4
5 271
13.2
40 070
100.0
2000
15 346
32.3
24 500
51.5
7 704
16.2
47 550
100.0
2001
18 097
31.6
28 171
49.3
10 922
19.1
57 190
100.0
(a) Includes those caring for a person on a FaCS payment other than Age Pension or Disability Support
Pension. It also includes those caring for a non-FaCS customer.
Figure 4: Carer Payment customers: Pension type, June 1991 to 2001
30 000
25 000
20 000
15 000
10 000
5 000
0
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Age Pension
Disability Support Pension
Other
15

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 11: Carer Payment customers: State by pension type of person being cared for,
June 2001
DISABILITY SUPPORT
AGE PENSION
PENSION
OTHER (a)
TOTAL
STATE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
New South Wales
6 639
36.7
9 619
34.1
3 854
35.3
20 112
35.2
Victoria
4 857
26.8
6 854
24.3
2 814
25.8
14 525
25.4
Queensland
3 405
18.8
6 002
21.3
2 225
20.4
11 632
20.3
South Australia
1 301
7.2
2 296
8.2
766
7.0
4 363
7.6
Western Australia
1 178
6.5
1 856
6.6
732
6.7
3 766
6.6
Tasmania
520
2.9
1 113
4.0
392
3.6
2 025
3.5
Northern Territory
78
0.4
191
0.7
35
0.3
304
0.5
Australian Capital Territory
118
0.7
238
0.8
103
0.9
459
0.8
Other (b)
1
0.0
2
0.0
1
0.0
4
0.0
Total
18 097 100.0
28 171 100.0
10 922
100.0
57 190 100.0
(a) Includes those caring for a person on a FaCS payment other than Age Pension or Disability Support
Pension. It also includes those caring for a non-FaCS customer.
(b) Includes unknown postcodes and overseas recipients.
16

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Payments for older people, the sick, and people with disabilities or their carers
Table 12: Carer Payment customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Carer Payment Customers
21 895
100.0
35 295
100.0
57 190 100.0
Age (years)
Under 20
262
1.2
475
1.3
737
1.3
20–29
1 270
5.8
2 021
5.7
3 291
5.8
30–39
3 245
14.8
4 758
13.5
8 003 14.0
40–49
5 347
24.4
10 176
28.8
15 523
27.1
50–59
7 457
34.1
14 497
41.1
21 954 38.4
60–64
3 785
17.3
2 600
7.4
6 385
11.2
65 and over
529
2.4
768
2.2
1 297
2.3
Status
Couple
no dependants
13 424
61.3
14 683
41.6
28 107 49.1
with dependants
331
1.5
6 262
17.7
6 593
11.5
Total
13 755
62.8
20 945
59.3
34 700 60.7
Single
no dependants
7 995
36.5
12 898
36.5
20 893 36.5
with dependants
145
0.7
1 452
4.1
1 597
2.8
Total
8 140
37.2
14 350
40.7
22 490 39.3
Rate
Maximum rate
17 837
81.5
24 802
70.3
42 639 74.6
Reduced rate
4 058
18.5
10 493
29.7
14 551 25.4
Home ownership
Home owner
9 426
43.1
18 106
51.3
27 532 48.1
Non home owner
12 457
56.9
17 182
48.7
29 639
51.8
Other
12
0.1
7
0.0
19
0.0
Paid under income test
Income as assessed ($pw)
Single
Nil
1 749
8.0
1 918
5.4
3 667
6.4
$0.01–$53.00
5 251
24.0
9 904
28.1
15 155 26.5
Over $53.00
969
4.4
2 304
6.5
3 273
5.7
Partnered (each)
Nil
1 125
5.1
1 218
3.5
2 343
4.1
$0.01–$47.00
9 456
43.2
11 358
32.2
20 814 36.4
Over $47.00
2 562
11.7
7 354
20.8
9 916
17.3
Partner rate not coded
4
0.0
1
0.0
5
0.0
Non-home owners paid under assets test
Assets as assessed ($)
Single
More than 228 750 to less than 364 750
30
0.1
38
0.1
68
0.1
Partnered (each)
More than 142 500 to less than 278 500
11
0.1
20
0.1
31
0.1
Home owners paid under assets test
Assets as assessed ($)
Single
More than 133 250 to less than 269 250
96
0.4
151
0.4
247
0.4
Partnered (each)
More than 94 750 to less than 230 750
493
2.3
852
2.4
1 345
2.4
Not coded (a)
149
0.7
177
0.5
326
0.6
Country of birth (top five countries)
Australia
15 121
69.1
24 841
70.4
39 962 69.9
UK/Eire/Ireland
1 689
7.7
2 021
5.7
3 710
6.5
Italy
419
1.9
768
2.2
1 187
2.1
Lebanon
374
1.7
638
1.8
1 012
1.8
Greece
433
2.0
532
1.5
965
1.7
Other
3 859
17.6
6 495
18.4
10 354
18.1
(a) At least one variable required to determine the customers asset test category was not coded
(partnership category, home ownership type, income or asset tested).
17

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
2.5 Sickness Allowance
Sickness Allowance is a payment that provides assistance for people who are employed
or studying full time and who are temporarily unable to work or study due to a medical
condition and have a job or study to return to.
To qualify for the Sickness Allowance a person must be 21 years of age or over and not
have reached Age Pension age.
Sickness Allowance can be paid for up to three months when a customer is temporarily
absent from Australia in order to seek medical treatment of a kind that is not available
in Australia.
Summary
◗  As at June 2001 there were 10 942 people receiving Sickness Allowance.
◗ Sickness Allowance clients received payment for an average of 35 weeks.
◗ Around 87 per cent of Sickness Allowance recipients are aged between 20 and 54.
Of these, 69 per cent are male and 31 per cent female.
Table 13: Sickness Allowance customers: Sex, June 1981 to June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
JUNE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
(a)
1981
37 063
75.8
11 812
24.2
48 875
100.0
1982
38 185
75.8
12 165
24.2
50 350
100.0
1983
48 284
77.0
14 384
23.0
62 668
100.0
1984
47 338
75.7
15 163
24.3
62 501
100.0
1985
46 060
74.3
15 970
25.7
62 030
100.0
1986
47 114
73.5
17 022
26.5
64 136
100.0
1987
51 421
73.2
18 811
26.8
70 232
100.0
1988
54 609
72.6
20 580
27.4
75 189
100.0
1989
56 904
72.0
22 097
28.0
79 001
100.0
1990
56 674
71.6
22 521
28.4
79 195
100.0
1991
50 991
71.4
20 408
28.6
71 399
100.0
1992
30 844
69.8
13 328
30.2
44 172
100.0
1993
31 802
68.3
14 777
31.7
46 579
100.0
1994
31 274
66.4
15 858
33.6
47 132
100.0
1995
31 131
65.8
16 180
34.2
47 311
100.0
1996
22 254
67.0
10 961
33.0
33 215
100.0
1997
10 721
68.0
5 038
32.0
15 759
100.0
(b)
1998
11 166
68.6
5 119
31.4
16 285
100.0
1999
7 799
69.8
3 382
30.2
11 181
100.0
2000
7 443
69.3
3 290
30.7
10 733
100.0
2001
7 504
68.6
3 438
31.4
10 942
100.0
a)
These figures are an average of the weekly payments for the month ending June each year. Sex
breakdown for this table was estimated based on the proportion of males and females receiving this
allowance from a point in time in the relevant quarter.
(b)
Break in series. Data from 1998 onward are derived from a point in time in the relevant quarter.
Notes:Sickness Allowance replaced Sickness Benefit from November 1991 as part of the Disability Reform
Package. This resulted in some customers transferring to the Disability Support Pension. From March
1996, unemployed people who became ill did not transfer to Sickness Allowance after 13 weeks.
They continued to be paid Youth Training Allowance, Job Search Allowance or Newstart Allowance,
subject to Sickness Allowance conditions.
18

---

Payments for older people, the sick, and people with disabilities or their carers
Figure 5: Sickness Allowance customers: Sex, June 1981 to June 2001
60 000
50 000
40 000
30 000
20 000
10 000
0
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
Male
Female
Table 14: Sickness Allowance customers: State by sex, June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
STATE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
New South Wales
2 226
29.7
984
28.6
3 210
29.3
Victoria
1 989
26.5
945
27.5
2 934
26.8
Queensland
1 583
21.1
743
21.6
2 326
21.3
South Australia
608
8.1
278
8.1
886
8.1
Western Australia
768
10.2
321
9.3
1 089
10.0
Tasmania
201
2.7
86
2.5
287
2.6
Northern Territory
57
0.8
34
1.0
91
0.8
Australian Capital Territory
72
1.0
47
1.4
119
1.1
Total
7 504
100.0
3 438
100.0
10 942
100.0
19

---

Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 15: Sickness Allowance customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Sickness Allowance customers
7 504
100.0
3 438
100.0
10 942
100.0
Age (years)
21–24
772
10.3
376
10.9
1 148
10.5
25–34
2 071
27.6
872
25.4
2 943
26.9
35–44
1 984
26.4
805
23.4
2 789
25.5
45–54
1 614
21.5
1 036
30.1
2 650
24.2
55–59
680
9.1
306
8.9
986
9.0
60–64
383
5.1
43
1.3
426
3.9
Status
Couple
no dependants
3 084
41.1
501
14.6
3 585
32.8
with dependants
49
0.7
170
4.9
219
2.0
Total
3 133
41.8
671
19.5
3 804
34.8
Single
no dependants
4 318
57.5
2 665
77.5
6 983
63.8
with dependants
53
0.7
102
3.0
155
1.4
Total
4 371
58.2
2 767
80.5
7 138
65.2
Income
Nil
3 123
41.6
3 029
88.1
10 181
93.0
$0.01–$31.00 pw
3 797
50.6
20
0.6
64
0.6
Over $31.00 pw
584
7.8
241
7.0
488
4.5
Duration
Up to 1 year
6 208
82.7
2 826
82.2
9 034
82.6
Up to 7 weeks
1 616
21.5
788
22.9
2 404
22.0
Over 7 weeks to 3 months
1 438
19.2
641
18.6
2 079
19.0
Over 3 months to 6 months
1 661
22.1
717
20.9
2 378
21.7
Over 6 months to 1 year
1 493
19.9
680
19.8
2 173
19.9
Over 1 year
1 296
17.3
612
17.8
1 908
17.4
Over 1 year to 2 years
844
11.2
386
11.2
1 230
11.2
Over 2 years to 3 years
241
3.2
123
3.6
364
3.3
Over 3 years
211
2.8
103
3.0
314
2.9
Mean duration (weeks)
35.4
..
36.8
..
35.8
..
Median duration (weeks)
26.6
..
30.0
..
27.7
..
Country of birth (top five countries)
Australia
5 703
76.0
2 692
78.3
8 395
76.7
UK/Eire/Ireland
450
6.0
198
5.8
648
5.9
New Zealand
220
2.9
113
3.3
333
3.0
Italy
92
1.2
22
0.6
114
1.0
Vietnam
71
0.9
35
1.0
106
1.0
Other
968
12.9
378
11.0
1 346
12.3
20

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Payments for older people, the sick, and people with disabilities or their carers
2.6 Mobility Allowance and Carer Allowance
Mobility Allowance
The purpose of Mobility Allowance is to ensure that people with disabilities are
encouraged to gain, retain or extend their independence. It assists with transport costs
for people with disabilities who cannot use public transport without assistance.
To qualify for Mobility Allowance a person must be undertaking an approved activity
and be required to travel to and from their home for the purpose of undertaking that
activity. Approved activities must be at least eight hours a week of paid work, voluntary
work, vocational training, including study, or a combination of paid work and vocational
training.
A person who cannot use public transport without assistance may also qualify for
Mobility Allowance if they:
◗ have an agreement to look for work through a Disability Employment Service or Job
Network, or
◗ are receiving Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance or Austudy Payment.
Mobility Allowance is not payable if a person:
◗ has received the benefit of a sales tax exemption on the purchase of a new motor
vehicle within the last two years, or
◗ has a car under the Vehicle Assistance Scheme from the Department of Veterans’
Affairs.
A person must be an Australian resident and be in Australia when claiming and
receiving Mobility Allowance. Reviews of Mobility Allowance are conducted annually.
Customers with a temporary medical condition undergo a medical review as part of their
annual review.
Summary
◗ The numbers of people receiving Mobility Allowance continues to rise steadily with a
7 per cent increase since 2000. At June 2001 the total number of Mobility Allowance
customers was 37 574.
◗ Of the total number of recipients receiving Mobility Allowance 56 per cent are male
and 44 per cent female.
Carer Allowance
Carer Allowance was introduced on 1 July 1999. It combined Child Disability Allowance
with Domiciliary Nursing Care Benefit, which was previously the responsibility of the
Health and Aged Care portfolio.
◗ Carer Allowance may be paid for up to two adults who receive daily care and
attention, and/or any number of dependent children with a disability. The carer or
parent may be eligible to receive a fortnightly payment of Carer Allowance for each
eligible person in their care.
◗ Parents caring for two children with disabilities, who individually fall just below the
qualification for Carer Allowance but whose combined assessment under the Child
Disability Assessment Tool meets the threshold for payment, will receive a single rate
of Carer Allowance.
21

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
◗ Customers who were entitled to Child Disability Allowance on 30 June 1998 are
eligible for Carer Allowance until 30 June 2003, providing their circumstances do not
change, and will not be subject to Centrelink initiated medical reviews during that
period.
◗ All Domiciliary Nursing Care Benefit beneficiaries as at 30 June 1999 were
automatically transferred to Carer Allowance (adult) on 1 July 1999 when the new
payment of Carer Allowance was introduced. Reviews of these customers have taken
place over the subsequent two years to June 2001.
The person claiming must:
◗ be personally providing constant care to a care receiver who satisfies eligibility
requirements, and
◗ provide care and attention in the home of the claimant and the person(s) cared for,
or participate in the provision of care and attention given to the care receiver during
a period of temporary hospitalisation, and
◗ be in Australia at the time the care is given and be a permanent resident of Australia.
A care receiver satisfies the eligibility requirements if they are:
◗ aged 16 years or over with a disability that causes a substantial functional
impairment (as assessed under the Adult Disability Assessment Tool), or
◗ a dependent child aged under 16 years:
– with a disability or medical condition that is included in the list of disabilities or
conditions which result in automatic qualification, or
– assessed under the Child Disability Assessment Tool as functioning at a level
below the standard expected for his or her age, and
◗ be an Australian resident and living with the claimant; and be likely to suffer from
the disability permanently or for an extended period of at least 12 months (unless
their condition is terminal).
22

---

Payments for older people, the sick, and people with disabilities or their carers
Table 16: Mobility Allowance customers: Sex, June 1983 to June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
AS AT JUNE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
1983
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
3 935
100.0
1984
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
9 480
100.0
1985
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
10 946
100.0
1986
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
11 420
100.0
1987
6 851
56.5
5 269
43.5
12 120
100.0
1988
7 092
56.1
5 549
43.9
12 641
100.0
1989
7 188
56.3
5 568
43.7
12 756
100.0
1990
7 422
56.2
5 785
43.8
13 207
100.0
1991
7 535
56.0
5 909
44.0
13 444
100.0
1992
7 826
56.3
6 085
43.7
13 911
100.0
1993
9 118
56.4
7 042
43.6
16 160
100.0
1994
11 916
57.3
8 879
42.7
20 795
100.0
1995
13 106
57.4
9 745
42.6
22 851
100.0
1996
14 200
56.8
10 785
43.2
24 985
100.0
1997
15 066
56.6
11 529
43.4
26 595
100.0
1998
16 346
56.4
12 629
43.6
28 975
100.0
1999
17 415
56.2
13 586
43.8
31 001
100.0
2000
19 673
56.0
15 481
44.0
35 154
100.0
2001
20 887
55.6
16 687
44.4
37 574
100.0
Notes:Eligibility requirements were eased in March 1993 to include those undertaking eight hours or more
of voluntary work, and Disability Support Pensioners and Sickness Allowees who have Job Search
incorporated into their Department of Social Security activity plan.
Figure 6: Mobility Allowance customers: Sex, 1987 to 2001
25 000
20 000
15 000
10 000
5 000
0
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Male
Female
23

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 17: Mobility Allowance customers: State by sex, June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
STATE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
New South Wales
6 201
29.7
4 705
28.2
10 906
29.0
Victoria
5 975
28.6
5 072
30.4
11 047
29.4
Queensland
4 060
19.4
3 023
18.1
7 083
18.9
South Australia
2 055
9.8
1 782
10.7
3 837
10.2
Western Australia
1 625
7.8
1 282
7.7
2 907
7.7
Tasmania
600
2.9
539
3.2
1 139
3.0
Northern Territory
116
0.6
87
0.5
203
0.5
Australian Capital Territory
241
1.2
195
1.2
436
1.2
Other (a)
14
0.1
2
0.0
16
0.0
Total
20 887
100.0
16 687
100.0
37 574
100.0
(a) Other is defined as an unknown state or invalid postcode.
Table 18:Carer Allowance: Customers, June 1982 to June 2001 (a)
AS AT JUNE
CHILD (b)
ADULT
ADULT AND CHILD
1982
25 873
..
..
1983
26 693
..
..
1984
27 192
..
..
1985
28 154
..
..
1986
29 074
..
..
1987
29 486
..
..
1988
32 071
..
..
1989
34 671
..
..
1990
37 746
..
..
1991
42 405
..
..
1992
50 797
..
..
1993
61 174
..
..
1994
69 693
..
..
1995
78 898
..
..
1996
90 644
..
..
1997
95 520
..
..
1998
90 830
..
..
1999
100 452
..
..
2000 (c)
116 955
84 104
..
2001
111 691
121 755
1 595
(a) Carer Allowance was introduced on 1 July 1999. It combined Child Disability Allowance with Domiciliary
Nursing Care Benefit, which was previously the responsibility of the Health and Aged Care portfolio.
(b) Excludes Health Care Card only customers.
(c) Preliminary data, subject to revision. Estimates made from different data source than preceding and
following data series.
24

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Payments for older people, the sick, and people with disabilities or their carers
Table 19: Carer Allowance: Customers by state and carer type, June 2001 (a)
CHILD
ADULT
ADULT AND CHILD
TOTAL
STATE
NO.
%
NO
%
NO
%
NO
%
New South Wales
35 147
31.5
41 338
34.0
498
31.2
76 983
32.8
Victoria
29 768
26.7
31 403
25.8
425
26.6
61 596
26.2
Queensland
20 043
17.9
24 903
20.5
299
18.7
45 245
19.2
South Australia
9 285
8.3
9 837
8.1
160
10.0
19 282
8.2
Western Australia
11 771
10.5
8 787
7.2
133
8.3
20 691
8.8
Tasmania
3 051
2.7
3 693
3.0
52
3.3
6 796
2.9
Northern Territory
722
0.6
492
0.4
4
0.3
1 218
0.5
Australian Capital Territory
1 769
1.6
1 183
1.0
21
1.3
2 973
1.3
Other (b)
135
0.1
119
0.1
3
0.2
257
0.1
Total (c)
111 691
100.0
121 755 100.0
1 595
100.0
235 041 100.0
(a) Carer Allowance was introduced on 1 July 1999. It combined Child Disability Allowance with Domiciliary
Nursing Care Benefit, which was previously the responsibility of the Health and Aged Care portfolio.
(b) Includes overseas payments and invalid postcodes.
(c) Excludes 11 296 child carers that only receive a Health Care Card.
25

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
26

---

Labour market allowances and parenting program
3 Labour market allowances and parenting program
Table 20: FaCS labour market-related payments: June 1981 to June 2001
YOUTH ALLOWANCE (c)
YOUTH
MATURE
FULL-TIME
TRAINING
AGE
PARTNER
WIDOW
SPECIAL
JUNE AUSTUDY
STUDENT
OTHER
TOTAL ALLOWANCE
NEWSTART ALLOWANCE ALLOWANCE ALLOWANCE
BENEFIT
(a)
(b)
(d)
1981
..
..
..
..
313 200
..
..
..
19 500
1982
..
..
..
..
374 525
..
..
..
16 659
1983
..
..
..
..
633 281
..
..
..
20 525
1984
..
..
..
..
588 123
..
..
..
18 141
1985
..
..
..
..
562 266
..
..
..
18 582
1986
..
..
..
..
568 716
..
..
..
18 136
1987
..
..
..
..
553 653
..
..
..
19 706
1988
..
..
..
..
478 049
..
..
.. 22 592
1989
..
..
..
..
389 794
..
..
.. 25 204
1990
..
..
..
..
419 785
..
..
..
27 913
1991
..
..
..
..
676 705
..
..
..
29 811
1992
..
..
..
..
851 831
..
..
..
34 792
1993
..
..
..
..
913 770
..
..
.. 28 854
1994
..
..
..
..
878 278
..
..
..
25 947
1995
..
..
..
..
21 857
800 714
38 866
216 739
8 829 20 884
1996
..
..
..
..
34 191
812 365
45 931
69 840
11 748
18 727
1997
..
..
..
..
31 942
797 961
53 386
72 117
17 468
14 577
1998
..
..
..
..
30 674
778 880
50 771
75 021
24 003
10 236
1999 47 170
307 813
84 773 392 586
..
654 752
45 253
81 359
27 967
11 808
2000 42 838 309 366 82 408 391 774
..
589 911
41 840
89 684
32 995
11 103
2001 41 992
308 177
85 053 393 230
..
580 703
39 149
92 492
36 865
12 712
(a) These figures are monthly averages of the weekly figures (except for Austudy and Special Benefit which
are based on 15 June 2001 data). They include people who receive a nil rate of payment. Figures in
italics have been corrected from previously published figures.
(b) On 1 July 1998, many 16–20 year old Newstart and all Youth Training Allowance customers were
transferred to Youth Allowance.
(c) Youth Allowance was introduced on 1 July 1998. The number of full-time students does not include
those who have traded in their entire Youth Allowance entitlement for a loan under the Student
Financial Supplement Loan Scheme.
(d) Includes people who are on Newstart Mature Age Allowance and who were on Mature Age and Mature
Age Partner Allowance prior to July 1996 receiving the payment under pension conditions.
3.1 Austudy
Austudy was introduced on 1 July 1998 for full-time students 25 years of age and over
undertaking qualified study. When Austudy was introduced, full-time students on the
previous AUSTUDY payment who were 25 years of age and over as at 30 June 1998 were
transferred to the new Austudy scheme. Since then, students who receive Youth
Allowance at the time they turn 25, remain on Youth Allowance until they cease that
particular course of study.
Austudy is subject to the personal income and assets tests and the partner income test.
Rent Assistance is not payable.
The minimum rate of Austudy is equal to the ‘Away from home’ rate that applies to
Youth Allowance.
27

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 21: Austudy payment customers: Characteristics by gender, June 2001
MALE
FEMALE
TOTAL
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Austudy customers
24 496 100.0
17 496
100.0
41 992 100.0
Age (years)
25–29
9 281
37.9
7 338
41.9
16 619
39.6
30–34
6 065
24.8
3 724
21.3
9 789
23.3
35–39
3 909
16.0
2 090
11.9
5 999
14.3
40–44
2 493
10.2
1 832
10.5
4 325
10.3
45–49
1 561
6.4
1 489
8.5
3 050
7.3
50–54
805
3.3
762
4.4
1 567
3.7
55–59
318
1.3
240
1.4
558
1.3
60–64
57
0.2
19
0.1
76
0.2
65 and over
7
0.0
2
0.0
9
0.0
Status
Single or couple
18 568
75.8
14 805 84.6%
33 373
79.5
Single with children
168
0.7
653
3.7%
821
2.0
Couple with children
5 760
23.5
2 038
11.6%
7 798
18.6
Duration (a)
Under 3 months
1 821
7.4
1 695
9.7
3 516
8.4
Between 3 and 6 months
4 537
18.5
3 989
22.8
8 526
20.3
Between 6 and 9 months
1 184
4.8
866
4.9
2 050
4.9
Between 9 months and 1 year
1 622
6.6
1 096
6.3
2 718
6.5
Between 1 and 2 years
5 510
22.5
3 942
22.5
9 452
22.5
2 years and over
9 822
40.1
5 908
33.8
15 730
37.5
Mean duration (weeks)
98.0
..
86.3
..
93.1
..
Median duration (weeks)
70.7
..
66.0
..
68.0
..
Income (b)
Nil
19 314
78.8
12 435
71.1
31 749
75.6
$0.01–$118.00 pw
2 463
10.1
2298
13.1
4 761
11.3
Over $118.00 pw
2 719
11.1
2 763
15.8
5 482
13.1
Study Level
Secondary
543
2.2
343
2.0
886
2.1
Tertiary Group A Course
1 548
6.3
1 252
7.2
2 800
6.7
Tertiary Group B Course
12 736
52.0
9 229
52.7
21 965
52.3
Tertiary Group C Course
5 324
21.7
3 548
20.3
8 872
21.1
Tertiary Group D Course
4 173
17.0
2 998
17.1
7 171
17.1
Not Applicable
172
0.7
126
0.7
298
0.7
(a)
Duration is measured from the Income Security Start Date. For customers who previously received
AUSTUDY this duration would have been reset when Austudy payment was introduced and thus their
durations could be underestimated.
(b)
Income is defined as earned income.
Note: Due to rounding, percentages may not add up to 100 per cent.
28

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Labour market allowances and parenting program
3.2 Youth Allowance
Youth Allowance is paid by Centrelink on behalf of the Commonwealth Department of
Family and Community Services. Introduced on 1 July 1998, Youth Allowance replaced
AUSTUDY for full-time students under 25 years, Sickness Allowance, Newstart and the
Youth Training Allowance for young people under 21 years of age who are temporarily
incapacitated or unemployed and looking for work.
These changes were introduced in response to concerns from the community about
the need for income support arrangements that address changing labour market
conditions, the need for increased flexibility, simplicity and the removal of disincentives
to study.
Young people 16 to 21 years of age who are unemployed or 16 to 25 years of age
(15 if considered independent) and undertaking full-time studies or, a combination of
approved activities such as, part-time work and part-time study are eligible for Youth
Allowance.
A parental means test applies unless the customer is assessed as independent.
Independence for Youth Allowance purposes can be obtained in a number of ways,
including through minimum levels of prior workforce participation, marital status, or
where it is unreasonable for the young person to live at home. Single, dependent young
people receive the ‘at home’ rate of payment unless they live apart from their parent(s)
for approved reasons.
The personal income test for unemployed customers who are looking for work is the
same as that which applies for Newstart Allowance. However, full-time students are
allowed to earn $236 per fortnight before their payments are affected and their unused
income free area may accrue to a maximum of $6000, in the form of an income bank
(like a credit).
29

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 22: Youth Allowance (full-time student) customers: Characteristics by sex,
June 2001
MALE
FEMALE
TOTAL
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Youth Allowance (full-time student) customers (a)
141 354
100.0
167 309 100.0
308 663
100.0
Age (years)
15
331
0.2
559
0.3
890
0.3
16
29 677
21.0
31 218
18.7
60 895
19.7
17
28 673
20.3
32 903
19.7
61 576
19.9
18
18 212
12.9
23 311
13.9
41 523
13.5
19
14 934
10.6
20 362
12.2
35 296
11.4
20
14 702
10.4
19 872
11.9
34 574
11.2
21
12 254
8.7
15 485
9.3
27 739
9.0
22
8 443
6.0
9 716
5.8
18 159
5.9
23
5 980
4.2
6 329
3.8
12 309
4.0
24
4 289
3.0
4 189
2.5
8 478
2.7
25 and over
3 859
2.7
3 365
2.0
7 224
2.3
Rate
At home
95 334
67.4
103 717
62.0
199 051
64.5
Away from home or couple
46 020
32.6
63 592
38.0
109 612
35.5
Independent
41 311
29.2
52 771
31.5
94 082
30.5
Dependent
100 043
70.8
114 538
68.5
214 581
69.5
Duration (b)
Under 3 months
14 687
10.4
16 330
9.8
31 017
10.0
Between 3 and 6 months
23 599
16.7
27 821
16.6
51 420
16.7
Between 6 and 9 months
10 361
7.3
11 341
6.8
21 702
7.0
Between 9 months and 1 year
11 932
8.4
13 312
8.0
25 244
8.2
Between 1 and 2 years
39 251
27.8
46 206
27.6
85 457
27.7
2 years and over
41 524
29.4
52 299
31.3
93 823
30.4
Mean duration (weeks)
74.9
..
77.0
..
76.0
..
Median duration (weeks)
64.0
..
66.3
..
66.0
..
Income (c)
Nil
109 714
77.6
114 072
68.2
223 786
72.5
$0.01–$118.00 pw
19 265
13.6
31 742
19.0
51 007
16.5
Over $118.00 pw
12 375
8.8
21 495
12.8
33 870
11.0
Study Level
Secondary
61 434
43.5
65 481
39.1
126 915
41.1
Tertiary Group A Course
3 106
2.2
4 318
2.6
7 424
2.4
Tertiary Group B Course
50 133
35.5
66 967
40.0
117 100
37.9
Tertiary Group C Course
12 274
8.7
13 951
8.3
26 225
8.5
Tertiary Group D Course
12 513
8.9
14 481
8.7
26 994
8.7
Not recorded
1 894
1.3
2 111
1.3
4 005
1.3
(a)
Youth Allowance customers that are full-time students. They include customers that received a nil
rate of payment (3 333) due to their own or partner income. These figures are as at 15 June 2001.
(b)
Duration is measured from the Income Security Start Date.
(c)
Income is defined as earned income.
Note: Due to rounding, percentages may not add up to 100 per cent.
30

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Labour market allowances and parenting program
Table 23:Youth Allowance (other) customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
MALE
FEMALE
TOTAL
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Youth Allowance (other) customers (a)
46 862
100.0
37 680
100.0
84 542
100.0
Age (years)
15
 179
0.4
 239
0.6
 418
0.5
16
2 701
5.8
2 366
6.3
5 067
6.0
17
5 322
11.4
4 722
12.5
10 044
11.9
18
11 942
25.5
10 317
27.4
22 259
26.3
19
12 835
27.4
10 358
27.5
23 193
27.4
20
13 576
29.0
9 459
25.1
23 035
27.2
21 and over
 307
0.7
 219
0.6
 526
0.6
Rate
At home
21 874
46.7
15 259
40.5
37 133
43.9
Away from home or couple
24 988
53.3
22 421
59.5
47 409
56.1
Independent
25 551
54.5
20 960
55.6
46 511
55.0
Dependent
21 311
45.5
16 720
44.4
38 031
45.0
Duration (b)
Under 3 months
10 067
21.5
6 686
17.7
16 753
19.8
Between 3 and 6 months
7 561
16.1
5 579
14.8
13 140
15.5
Between 6 and 9 months
3 994
8.5
2 842
7.5
6 836
8.1
Between 9 months and 1 year
2 904
6.2
2 194
5.8
5 098
6.0
Between 1 and 2 years
8 199
17.5
7 248
19.2
15 447
18.3
2 years and over
14 137
30.2
13 131
34.8
27 268
32.3
Mean duration (weeks)
76.8
..
82.5
..
79.3
..
Median duration (weeks)
46.9
..
63.9
..
55.7
..
Income (c)
Nil
40 540
86.5
29 811
79.1
70 351
83.2
$0.01–$31.00 pw
 964
2.1
1 116
3.0
2 080
2.5
$31.01–$118.00
2 866
6.1
3 730
9.9
6 596
7.8
Over $118.00 pw
2 492
5.3
3 023
8.0
5 515
6.5
Main Activity Type
Jobsearch
28 645
61.1
22 282
59.1
50 927
60.2
Intensive Assistance
7 470
15.9
5 444
14.4
12 914
15.3
Incapacitated
2 487
5.3
3 328
8.8
5 815
6.9
Work for the Dole
2 158
4.6
1 669
4.4
3 827
4.5
CDEP Participant
1 174
2.5
 610
1.6
1 784
2.1
Jobs Placement, Employment and Training
 303
0.6
 262
0.7
 565
0.7
Remote Location
 590
1.3
 424
1.1
1 014
1.2
Short course
 522
1.1
 495
1.3
1 017
1.2
Other
3 513
7.5
3 166
8.4
6 679
7.9
(a)
Youth Allowance customers that are not full-time students. They include customers that received a
nil rate of payment (4 061) due to their own or partner income. The figures also include 1 747 CDEP
participants who receive a nil rate of basic YA but may receive CDEP Supplement and/or add-on
payments (rent assistance, pharmaceutical allowance, remote area allowance). These figures are as
at 15 June 2001.
(b)
Duration is measured from the Income Security Start Date.
(c)
Income is defined as earned income.
Note: Due to rounding, percentages may not add up to 100 per cent.
31

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 24:Youth Allowance customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
MALE
FEMALE
TOTAL
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Youth Allowance customers (a)
188 216
100.0
204 989
100.0
393 205
100.0
Age (years)
15
 510
0.3
 798
0.4
1 308
0.3
16
32 378
17.2
33 584
16.4
65 962
16.8
17
33 995
18.1
37 625
18.4
71 620
18.2
18
30 154
16.0
33 628
16.4
63 782
16.2
19
27 769
14.8
30 720
15.0
58 489
14.9
20
28 278
15.0
29 331
14.3
57 609
14.7
21
12 514
6.6
15 640
7.6
28 154
7.2
22
8 456
4.5
9 745
4.8
18 201
4.6
23
5 994
3.2
6 341
3.1
12 335
3.1
24
4 300
2.3
4 203
2.1
8 503
2.2
25 and over
3 868
2.1
3 374
1.6
7 242
1.8
Rate
At home
117 208
62.3
118 976
58.0
236 184
60.1
Away from home or couple
71 008
37.7
86 013
42.0
157 021
39.9
Independent
66 862
35.5
73 731
36.0
140 593
35.8
Dependent
121 354
64.5
131 258
64.0
252 612
64.2
Duration (b)
Under 3 months
24 754
13.2
23 016
11.2
47 770
12.1
Between 3 and 6 months
31 160
16.6
33 400
16.3
64 560
16.4
Between 6 and 9 months
14 355
7.6
14 183
6.9
28 538
7.3
Between 9 months and 1 year
14 836
7.9
15 506
7.6
30 342
7.7
Between 1 and 2 years
47 450
25.2
53 454
26.1
100 904
25.7
2 years and over
55 661
29.6
65 430
31.9
121 091
30.8
Mean duration (weeks)
75.4
..
78.0
..
76.7
..
Median duration (weeks)
62.0
..
66.0
..
64.0
..
Income (c)
Nil
150 254
79.8
143 883
70.2
294 137
74.8
$0.01–$31.00 pw
3 454
1.8
4 644
2.3
8 098
2.1
$31.01–$118.00
19 641
10.4
31 944
15.6
51 585
13.1
Over $118.00 pw
14 867
7.9
24 518
12.0
39 385
10.0
Student Status
Full-time student
141 354
75.1
167 309
81.6
308 663
78.5
Part-time student
1 142
0.6
1 403
0.7
2 545
0.6
Non-student
45 720
24.3
36 277
17.7
81 997
20.9
(a)
Youth Allowance customers that are either full-time students or YA(o). These figures are as at
15 June 2001.
(b)
Duration is measured from the Income Security Start Date.
(c)
Income is defined as earned income.
Note: Due to rounding, percentages may not add up to 100 per cent.
32

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Labour market allowances and parenting program
3.3 Newstart Allowance
Newstart Allowance (NSA) is paid to people between 21 years and Age Pension age who
are unemployed and satisfy the activity test. A person satisfies the activity test if they
are actively seeking and are willing to undertake suitable paid work, including casual
and part-time work. The activity test can also be satisfied in other ways including, for
example, undertaking a course of vocational training, participating in a labour market
program, or entering and complying with the terms of an activity agreement requiring
the person to engage in specified activities.
From 1 July 1998, mutual obligation (MO) requirements were placed on young people
(18 to 24 years) unemployed for at least six months. These Newstart recipients and
Youth Allowance (other) recipients were required to supplement their normal job search
efforts with one of a range of activities, including part-time work, voluntary work,
Work for the Dole, job search training, and intensive employment assistance. From
1 July 1999, MO requirements were extended to 25 to 34 year olds who have been
unemployed for 12 months or more.
NSA is subject to income and assets tests. Newstart allowees are required to complete
a fortnightly statement (in some circumstances this period may be extended), to advise
of changes in circumstances that may affect entitlement to NSA or the rate payable,
and, in most cases, to provide details of their job search efforts.
Jobseekers
The Jobseeker population is derived for NSA and YA (other) recipients by excluding all
people who did not receive a payment and those known not to have been required to
search for work. People receiving intensive assistance under Job Network arrangements
are classified as Jobseekers. These people negotiate their activity agreement with their
Job Network member. They may not always be undertaking Jobsearch. The total number
of jobseekers is calculated by adding together the number of jobseekers in receipt of
NSA and YA (other).
33

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 25:Short-term Newstart Allowance customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
MALE
FEMALES
PERSONS
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Short-term Newstart customers (a)
164 359 100.0
64 622
100.0
228 981 100.0
Age (years)
18–24
30 011
18.3
14 694
22.7
44 705
19.5
25–29
31 906
19.4
11 304
17.5
43 210
18.9
30–34
25 577
15.6
6 847
10.6
32 424
14.2
35–39
20 579
12.5
6 166
9.5
26 745
11.7
40–44
16 655
10.1
8 237
12.7
24 892
10.9
45–49
13 049
7.9
7 787
12.1
20 836
9.1
50–59
20 285
12.3
8 923
13.8
29 208
12.8
60 and over
6 297
3.8
664
1.0
6 961
3.0
Status
Single
114 127
69.4
50 522
78.2
164 649
71.9
Couple
50 232
30.6
14 100
21.8
64 332
28.1
Country of birth
Australia
121 182
73.7
47 978
74.2
169 160
73.9
UK/Ireland/Eire
9 330
5.7
3 106
4.8
12 436
5.4
New Zealand
5 423
3.3
2 040
3.2
7 463
3.3
Vietnam
3 793
2.3
1 661
2.6
5 454
2.4
Lebanon
1 575
1.0
415
0.6
1 990
0.9
Other
23 056
14.0
9 422
14.6
32 478
14.2
Duration (b)
Up to 7 weeks
31 483
19.2
12 301
19.0
43 784
19.1
Over 7 weeks to 3 months
27 436
16.7
11 034
17.1
38 470
16.8
Over 3 months to 6 months
48 662
29.6
19 819
30.7
68 481
29.9
Over 6 months to 9 months
33 454
20.4
12 303
19.0
45 757
20.0
Over 9 months to 1 year
23 324
14.2
9 165
14.2
32 489
14.2
Mean duration (weeks)
21.2
..
21.1
..
21.2
..
Median duration
18.4
..
18.1
..
18.3
..
Income (c)
Nil
143 830
87.5
51 005
78.9
194 835
85.1
$0.01–$31.00 pw
2 082
1.3
1 285
2.0
3 367
1.5
Over $31.00 pw
18 447
11.2
12 332
19.1
30 779
13.4
Activity type
Jobseekers
130 345
79.3
44 897
69.5
175 242
76.5
Incapacitated
21 126
12.9
12 366
19.1
33 492
14.6
Other (d)
12 888
7.8
7 359
11.4
20 247
8.8
(a) These figures do not include the people who receive a nil rate of payment (21 391).
(b) Duration as measured from the income security start date.
(c) Income is defined as earned income.
(d) ‘Other’ activity type includes customers involved in Community Development Employment Programs
projects, paid employment, full-time and part-time voluntary work, part-time study, self employment
development, training, or otherwise exempt from Jobsearch for reasons such as major personal crisis,
remote location or jury duty.
34

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Labour market allowances and parenting program
Table 26: Long-term Newstart Allowance customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Long-term Newstart customers (a)
223 640
100.0
88 383 100.0
312 023 100.0
Age (years)
18–24
31 185
13.9
17 463
19.8
48 648
15.6
25–29
35 657
15.9
12 664
14.3
48 321
15.5
30–34
30 976
13.9
8 279
9.4
39 255
12.6
35–39
30 306
13.6
8 037
9.1
38 343
12.3
40–44
27 567
12.3
11 248
12.7
38 815
12.4
45–49
23 143
10.3
13 080
14.8
36 223
11.6
50–59
42 281
18.9
17 250
19.5
59 531
19.1
60 and over
2 525
1.1
362
0.4
2 887
0.9
Status
Single
153 244
68.5
72 043
81.5
225 287
72.2
Couple
70 396
31.5
16 340
18.5
86 736
27.8
Country of birth (top five countries)
Australia
166 116
74.3
67 224
76.1
233 340
74.8
UK/Ireland/Eire
11 024
4.9
3 442
3.9
14 466
4.6
Vietnam
7 795
3.5
3 123
3.5
10 918
3.5
New Zealand
4 672
2.1
2 024
2.3
6 696
2.1
Lebanon
3 312
1.5
586
0.7
3 898
1.2
Other
30 721
13.7
11 984
13.6
42 705
13.7
Duration (b)
More than 1 year to less than 2 years
56 296
25.2
24 117
27.3
80 413
25.8
2 years to less than 3 years
41 999
18.8
19 772
22.4
61 771
19.8
3 years to less than 4 years
29 474
13.2
11 622
13.1
41 096
13.2
4 years to less than 5 years
28 590
12.8
9 964
11.3
38 554
12.4
5 years and over
67 281
30.1
22 908
25.9
90 189
28.9
Mean duration (weeks)
220.2
..
212.4
..
218.0
..
Median duration (weeks)
180.1
..
158.1
..
174.8
..
Income (c)
Nil
191 555
85.7
67 736
76.6
259 291
83.1
$0.01–$31.00 pw
3 909
1.7
2 259
2.6
6 168
2.0
Over $31.00 pw
28 176
12.6
18 388
20.8
46 564
14.9
Activity type
Jobseekers
171 092
76.5
61 895
70.0
232 987
74.7
Incapacitated
27 005
12.1
14 139
16.0
41 144
13.2
Other (d)
25 543
11.4
12 349
14.0
37 892
12.1
(a) These figures do not include the people who receive a nil rate of payment (17 933).
(b) Duration as measured from the income security start date.
(c) Income is defined as earned income.
(d) ‘Other’ activity type includes customers involved in Community Development Employment Programs
projects, paid employment, full-time and part-time voluntary work, part-time study, self employment
development, training, or otherwise exempt from Jobsearch for reasons such as major personal crisis,
remote location or jury duty.
35

---

Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 27: Total Newstart Allowance customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Newstart Allowance customers (a)
387 999 100.0
153 005
100.0
541 004
100.0
Age (years)
18–24
61 196
15.8
32 157
21.0
93 353
17.3
25–29
67 563
17.4
23 968
15.7
91 531
16.9
30–34
56 553
14.6
15 126
9.9
71 679
13.2
35–39
50 885
13.1
14 203
9.3
65 088
12.0
40–44
44 222
11.4
19 485
12.7
63 707
11.8
45–49
36 192
9.3
20 867
13.6
57 059
10.5
50–59
62 566
16.1
26 173
17.1
88 739
16.4
60 and over
8 822
2.3
1 026
0.7
9 848
1.8
Status
Single
267 371
68.9
122 565
80.1
389 936
72.1
Couple
120 628
31.1
30 440
19.9
151 068
27.9
Country of birth (top five countries)
Australia
287 298
74.0
115 202
75.3
402 500
74.4
UK/Ireland/Eire
20 354
5.2
6 548
4.3
26 902
5.0
Vietnam
11 588
3.0
4 784
3.1
16 372
3.0
New Zealand
10 095
2.6
4 064
2.7
14 159
2.6
Lebanon
4 887
1.3
1 001
0.7
5 888
1.1
Other
53 777
13.9
21 406
14.0
75 183
13.9
Duration (b)
Up to a year
164 359
42.4
64 622
42.2
228 981
42.3
More than 1 year to less than 2 years
56 296
14.5
24 117
15.8
80 413
14.9
2 years to less than 3 years
41 999
10.8
19 772
12.9
61 771
11.4
3 years to less than 4 years
29 474
7.6
11 622
7.6
41 096
7.6
4 years to less than 5 years
28 590
7.4
9 964
6.5
38 554
7.1
more than 5 years
67 281
17.3
22 908
15.0
90 189
16.7
Mean duration (weeks)
135.9
..
131.6
..
134.7
..
Median duration (weeks)
76.0
..
74.0
..
75.1
..
Income (c)
Nil
335 385
86.4
118 741
77.6
454 126
83.9
$0.01–$31.00 pw
5 991
1.5
3 544
2.3
9 535
1.8
Over $31.00 pw
46 623
12.0
30 720
20.1
77 343
14.3
Activity type
Jobseekers
301 437
77.7
106 792
69.8
408 229
75.5
Incapacitated
48 131
12.4
26 505
17.3
74 636
13.8
Other (d)
38 431
9.9
19 708
12.9
58 139
10.7
(a) These figures do not include the people who receive a nil rate of payment (39 324).
(b) Duration as measured from the income security start date.
(c) Income is defined as earned income.
(d) ‘Other’ activity type includes customers involved in Community Development Employment Programs
projects, paid employment, full-time and part-time voluntary work, part-time study, self employment
development, training, or otherwise exempt from Jobsearch for reasons such as major personal crisis,
remote location or jury duty.
36

---

Labour market allowances and parenting program
Table 28: Short-term unemployed customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Short-term unemployed customers (a)
187 762
100.0
81 012
100.0
268 774 100.0
Age (years)
Under 18
5 168
2.8
4 331
5.3
9 499
3.5
18–24
48 242
25.7
26 749
33.0
74 991
27.9
25–29
31 909
17.0
11 308
14.0
43 217
16.1
30–34
25 577
13.6
6 847
8.5
32 424
12.1
35–39
20 579
11.0
6 166
7.6
26 745
10.0
40–44
16 656
8.9
8 237
10.2
24 893
9.3
45–49
13 049
6.9
7 787
9.6
20 836
7.8
50–59
20 285
10.8
8 923
11.0
29 208
10.9
60 and over
6 297
3.4
664
0.8
6 961
2.6
Status
Single
136 252
72.6
65 222
80.5
201 474
75.0
Couple
51 510
27.4
15 790
19.5
67 300
25.0
Country of birth (top five countries)
Australia
142 653
76.0
62 967
77.7
205 620
76.5
UK/Ireland/Eire
9 590
5.1
3 305
4.1
12 895
4.8
New Zealand
5 914
3.1
2 413
3.0
8 327
3.1
Vietnam
3 967
2.1
1 735
2.1
5 702
2.1
Lebanon
1 631
0.9
455
0.6
2 086
0.8
Other
24 007
12.8
10 137
12.5
34 144
12.7
Duration (b)
Up to 7 weeks
36 727
19.6
15 741
19.4
52 468
19.5
Over 7 weeks to 3 months
31 910
17.0
13 944
17.2
45 854
17.1
Over 3 months to 6 months
55 834
29.7
25 112
31.0
80 946
30.1
Over 6 months to 9 months
37 236
19.8
15 003
18.5
52 239
19.4
Over 9 months to 1 year
26 055
13.9
11 212
13.8
37 267
13.9
Mean duration (weeks)
21.0
..
20.8
..
20.9
..
Median duration (weeks)
18.1
..
18.1
..
18.1
..
Income (c)
Nil
164 880
87.8
64 507
79.6
229 387
85.3
$0.01–$31.00 pw
2 534
1.3
1 754
2.2
4 288
1.6
Over $31.00 pw
20 348
10.8
14 751
18.2
35 099
13.1
Activity Type
Jobseekers
149 896
79.8
57 844
71.4
207 740
77.3
Incapacitated
22 516
12.0
13 953
17.2
36 469
13.6
Other (d)
15 350
8.2
9 215
11.4
24 565
9.1
(a) These figures do not include people who receive a nil rate of payment (23 364). The number of
unemployed customers comprises customers who are on Youth Allowance with a student status other
than full-time student [generally referred to as Youth Allowance (other)] and Newstart Allowance.
(b) Duration as measured from the income security start date.
(c) Income is defined as earned income.
(d) ‘Other’ activity type includes customers involved in Community Development Employment Programs
projects, paid employment, full-time and part-time voluntary work, part-time study, self employment
development, training, or otherwise exempt from Jobsearch for reasons such as major personal crisis,
remote location or jury duty.
37

---

Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 29: Long-term unemployed customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Long-term unemployed (a)
245 033
100.0
107 712 100.0
352 745 100.0
Age (years)
Under 18
2 674
1.1
2 640
2.5
5 314
1.5
18–24
49 900
20.4
34 147
31.7
84 047
23.8
25–29
35 661
14.6
12 669
11.8
48 330
13.7
30–34
30 976
12.6
8 279
7.7
39 255
11.1
35–39
30 306
12.4
8 037
7.5
38 343
10.9
40–44
27 567
11.3
11 248
10.4
38 815
11.0
45–49
23 143
9.4
13 080
12.1
36 223
10.3
50–59
42 281
17.3
17 250
16.0
59 531
16.9
60 and over
2 525
1.0
362
0.3
2 887
0.8
Status
Single
173 269
70.7
89 692
83.3
262 961
74.5
Couple
71 764
29.3
18 020
16.7
89 784
25.5
Country of birth (top five countries)
Australia
185 979
75.9
85 145
79.0
271 124
76.9
UK/Ireland/Eire
11 172
4.6
3 561
3.3
14 733
4.2
New Zealand
7 981
3.3
3 277
3.0
11 258
3.2
Vietnam
4 964
2.0
2 330
2.2
7 294
2.1
Lebanon
3 353
1.4
609
0.6
3 962
1.1
Other
31 584
12.9
12 790
11.9
44 374
12.6
Duration (b)
More than 1 year to less than 2 years
64 167
26.2
30 979
28.8
95 146
27.0
2 years to less than 3 years
52 061
21.2
29 831
27.7
81 892
23.2
3 years to less than 4 years
31 816
13.0
13 380
12.4
45 196
12.8
4 years to less than 5 years
29 614
12.1
10 552
9.8
40 166
11.4
5 years and over
67 375
27.5
22 970
21.3
90 345
25.6
Mean duration (weeks)
211.9
..
196.5
..
207.2
..
Median duration (weeks)
167.8
..
153.4
..
156.1
..
Income (c)
Nil
210 440
85.9
83 589
77.6
294 029
83.4
$0.01–$31.00 pw
4 345
1.8
2 847
2.6
7 192
2.0
Over $31.00 pw
30 248
12.3
21 276
19.8
51 524
14.6
Activity type
Jobseekers
189 042
77.1
77 603
72.0
266 645
75.6
Incapacitated
28 035
11.4
15 757
14.6
43 792
12.4
Other (d)
27 956
11.4
14 352
13.3
42 308
12.0
(a) These figures do not include people who receive a nil rate of payment (20 021). The number of
unemployed customers comprises customers who are on Youth Allowance with a student status other
than full-time student [generally referred to as Youth Allowees (other)] and Newstart Allowance.
(b) Duration as measured from the income security start date.
(c) Income is defined as earned income.
(d) ‘Other’ activity type includes customers involved in Community Development Employment Programs
projects, paid employment, full-time and part-time voluntary work, part-time study, self employment
development, training, or otherwise exempt from Jobsearch for reasons such as major personal crisis,
remote location or jury duty.
38

---

Labour market allowances and parenting program
Table 30: Total unemployed customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Total unemployed customers (a)
432 795 100.0
188 724
100.0
621 519 100.0
Age (years)
Under 18
7 842
1.3
6 971
3.7
14 813
2.4
18–24
98 142
15.8
60 896
32.3
159 038
25.6
25–29
67 570
10.9
23 977
12.7
91 547
14.7
30–34
56 553
9.1
15 126
8.0
71 679
11.5
35–39
50 885
8.2
14 203
7.5
65 088
10.5
40–44
44 223
7.1
19 485
10.3
63 708
10.3
45–49
36 192
5.8
20 867
11.1
57 059
9.2
50–59
62 566
10.1
26 173
13.9
88 739
14.3
60 and over
8 822
1.4
1 026
0.5
9 848
1.6
Status
Single
309 521
49.8
154 914
82.1
464 435
74.7
Couple
123 274
19.8
33 810
17.9
157 084
25.3
Country of birth (top five countries)
Australia
328 632
52.9
148 112
78.5
476 744
76.7
UK/Ireland/Eire
20 762
3.3
6 866
3.6
27 628
4.4
New Zealand
11 948
1.9
5 012
2.7
16 960
2.7
Vietnam
10 878
1.8
4 743
2.5
15 621
2.5
Lebanon
4 984
0.8
1 064
0.6
6 048
1.0
Other
55 591
8.9
22 927
12.1
78 518
12.6
Duration (b)
Up to 1 year
187 762
30.2
81 012
42.9
268 774
43.2
More than 1 year to less than 2 years
64 167
10.3
30 979
16.4
95 146
15.3
2 years to less than 3 years
52 061
8.4
29 831
15.8
81 892
13.2
3 years to 4 years
31 816
5.1
13 380
7.1
45 196
7.3
4 years to less than 5 years
29 614
4.8
10 552
5.6
40 166
6.5
5 years and over
67 375
10.8
22 970
12.2
90 345
14.5
Mean duration (weeks)
129.0
..
121.1
..
126.6
..
Median duration (weeks)
72.1
..
71.6
..
72.0
..
Income (c)
Nil
375 320
86.7
148 096
78.5
523 416
84.2
$0.01–$31.00 pw
6 879
1.6
4 601
2.4
11 480
1.8
Over $31.00 pw
50 596
11.7
36 027
19.1
86 623
13.9
Activity type
Jobseekers
338 938
78.3
135 447
71.8
474 385
76.3
Incapacitated
50 551
11.7
29 710
15.7
80 261
12.9
Other (d)
43 306
10.0
23 567
12.5
66 873
10.8
(a) These figures do not include people who receive a nil rate of payment (43 385). The number of
unemployed customers comprises customers who are on Youth Allowance with a student status other
than full-time student [generally referred to as Youth Allowance (other)] and Newstart Allowance.
(b) Duration as measured from the income security start date.
(c) Income is defined as earned income.
(d) ‘Other’ activity type includes customers involved in Community Development Employment Programs
projects, paid employment, full-time and part-time voluntary work, part-time study, self employment
development, training, or otherwise exempt from Jobsearch for reasons such as major personal crisis,
remote location or jury duty.
39

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 31: Unemployed customers: State, June 2001 (a)
NEWSTART ALLOWANCE
YOUTH ALLOWANCE (b)
TOTAL
SHORT TERM LONG TERM
SHORT TERM LONG TERM SHORT TERM LONG TERM
STATE
NO.
NO.
NO.
NO.
NO.
NO.
New South Wales
68 746
94 047
11 420
11 253
80 166
105 300
Victoria
49 329
73 835
6 861
8 002
56 190
81 837
Queensland
55 573
63 555
10 509
10 203
66 082
73 758
South Australia
17 099
30 166
3 308
3 989
20 407
34 155
Western Australia
26 447
26 716
5 138
3 705
31 585
30 421
Tasmania
5 544
13 118
1 166
2 169
6 710
15 287
Northern Territory
4 152
7 320
1 041
995
5 193
8 315
Australian Capital Territory
2 038
2 896
339
387
2 377
3 283
Other
53
370
11
19
64
389
Total
228 981
312 023
39 793
40 722
268 774
352 745
(a) These figures do not include people who receive a nil rate of payment (43 385). The number of
unemployed customers comprise of customers who are on Youth Allowance with a student status other
than full-time student [generally referred to as Youth Allowees (other)] and Newstart Allowance.
(b) Youth Allowance customers whose student status is other than ‘full-time students’.
40

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Labour market allowances and parenting program
Table 32: Monthly average number of unemployed customers: Allowance type and
duration, June 1981 to June 2001
  TOTAL UNEMPLOYED CUSTOMERS (a)
YOUTH
YOUTH
SHORT-TERM
LONG-TERM
TOTAL
NEWSTART
TRAINING
ALLOWANCE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
JUNE (b)
ALLOWANCE
ALLOWANCE
(OTHER)
1981
313 200
..
..
..
..
..
..
313 200
100.0
1982
374 525
..
..
..
..
..
..
374 525
100.0
1983
633 281
..
..
..
..
..
..
633 281
100.0
1984
588 123
..
..
..
..
..
..
588 123
100.0
1985
562 266
..
..
..
..
..
..
562 266
100.0
1986
568 716
..
..
..
..
..
..
568 716
100.0
1987
553 653
..
..
..
..
..
..
553 653
100.0
1988
478 049
..
..
..
..
..
..
478 049
100.0
1989
389 794
..
..
..
..
..
..
38  9 794
100.0
1990
419 785
..
..
..
..
..
..
419 785
100.0
1991
676 705
..
..
..
..
..
..
676 705
100.0
1992
851 831
..
..
529 538 62.2
322 294
37.8
851 832
100.0
1993
913 770
..
..
482 594 52.8
431 175
47.2
913 769
100.0
1994
878 278
..
..
449 268 51.2
429 010 48.8
878 278
100.0
1995 (c)
800 714
21 857
..
431 072 52.4
391 499
47.6
822 571
100.0
1996 (c)
812 365
34 191
..
500 596 59.1
345 960
40.9
846 556
100.0
1997 (c)
797 961
31 942
..
424 772 51.2
405 131 48.8
829 903
100.0
1998 (c)
778 880
30 674
..
376 631 46.5
432 923
53.5
809 554
100.0
1999
654 752
..
84 773
320 051 43.3
419 474
56.7
739 525
100.0
2000
589 911
..
82 408
265 522 39.5
406 797
60.5
672 319
100.0
2001
580 703
..
85 053
293 787 44.1
371 968
55.9
665 756
100.0
(a) Source: Labour Market and Related Payment—a monthly profile publication (Department of Family and
Community Services).
(b) These figures are monthly averages of the weekly figures. They include people who receive a nil rate of
payment. Before July 1998, the number of unemployed customers comprises of customers on Youth
Training Allowance and Newstart Allowance. When Youth Training Allowance was replaced by Youth
Allowance in July 1998, the number of unemployed customers comprises of customers who are on
Youth Allowance with a student status of other than full-time student [generally referred to as Youth
Allowees (other)] and Newstart Allowance.
(c) From 1995 to 1998, it is estimated that 80 per cent of customers on Youth Training Allowance were
short-term unemployed and 20 per cent were long-term unemployed.
41

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
3.4 Mature Age Allowance
Mature Age Allowance (MAA) is a non-activity tested income support payment. This
payment recognises the labour market difficulties faced by some older unemployed
people who are close to retirement age.
To qualify for MAA since 1 July 1996, a person must:
◗ have turned 60 years of age and be less than Age Pension age,
◗ have no recent workforce experience (defined as at least 20 hours a week for a total
of 13 weeks or more in the previous 12 months),
◗ and be an Australian resident and in Australia,
◗ and either:
– be receiving Newstart Allowance and have been on an income support payment
for a continuous period of at least nine months immediately before claiming MAA,
or
– have received at least one payment of Widow Allowance, Partner Allowance,
Sickness Allowance, Austudy Payment, Parenting Payment, Department of Family
and Community Services pension or Department of Veterans’ Affairs service
pension at any time within the 13 weeks immediately before claiming, or
– have previously received MAA.
Until 1 July 1995, Mature Age Partner Allowance was paid to partners of MAA recipients.
This payment is gradually being phased out, with no new grants since that date.
Since 1 July 1996, MAA has been paid under allowance income and assets tests rather
than pension income and assets tests.
Mature Age allowees are eligible to receive a Pensioner Concession Card.
42

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Labour market allowances and parenting program
Table 33: Mature Age Allowance and Mature Age Partner Allowance customers:
Characteristics by sex, June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
MAA and MAPA customers (a)
36 536 100.0
2 383
100.0
38 919 100.0
Age (years)
Under 60
2
0.0
2
0.1
4
0.0
60
3 994
10.9
1 305
54.8
5 299
13.6
61
6 057
16.6
1 075
45.1
7 132
18.3
62
7 400
20.3
1
0.0
7 401
19.0
63
8 628
23.6
0
0.0
8 628
22.2
64
10 282
28.1
0
0.0
10 282
26.4
65 and over
173
0.5
0
0.0
173
0.4
Duration (b)
Up to 1 year
Up to 7 weeks
81
0.2
21
0.9
102
0.3
Over 7 weeks to 3 months
69
0.2
5
0.2
74
0.2
Over 3 months to 6 months
141
0.4
29
1.2
170
0.4
Over 6 months to 9 months
264
0.7
51
2.1
315
0.8
Over 9 months to 1 year
992
2.7
125
5.2
1 117
2.9
Over 1 year
More than 1 to less than 2 years
4 964
13.6
589
24.7
5 553
14.3
2 to less than 3 years
5 251
14.4
365
15.3
5 616
14.4
3 to less than 4 years
4 343
11.9
267
11.2
4 610
11.8
4 to less than 5 years
5 087
13.9
245
10.3
5 332
13.7
5 years and over
15 344
42.0
686
28.8
16 030
41.2
Mean duration (weeks)
260.8
..
207.0
..
257.5
..
Median duration (weeks)
232.4
..
158.0
..
228.1
..
Country of birth (top five countries)
Australia
20 725
56.7
1 466
61.5
22 191
57.0
UK/Ireland/Eire
5 556
15.2
305
12.8
5 861
15.1
Italy
937
2.6
26
1.1
963
2.5
Greece
800
2.2
26
1.1
826
2.1
China
720
2.0
89
3.7
809
2.1
Other
7 798
21.3
471
19.8
8 269
21.2
Paid under income test
Income as assessed ($pw)
Nil
33 756
92.4
2 144
90.0
35 900
92.2
$0.01–$31.00
685
1.9
57
2.4
742
1.9
Over $31
2 095
5.7
182
7.6
2 277
5.9
State
New South Wales
11 471
31.4
839
35.2
12 310
31.6
Victoria
9 207
25.2
505
21.2
9 712
25.0
Queensland
7 692
21.1
518
21.7
8 210
21.1
South Australia
3 293
9.0
220
9.2
3 513
9.0
Western Australia
3 145
8.6
190
8.0
3 335
8.6
Tasmania
1 313
3.6
71
3.0
1 384
3.6
Northern Territory
187
0.5
17
0.7
204
0.5
Australian Capital Territory
222
0.6
21
0.9
243
0.6
Other (c)
6
0.0
2
0.1
8
0.0
(a) Mature Age Partner Allowance ceased from July 2001.
(b) Duration is measured from the income security start date.
(c) Includes not coded or invalid postcodes.
43

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
3.5 Widow Allowance
Widow Allowance (WA) is a non-activity-tested income support payment. It recognises
the labour market difficulties faced by single older women who may have depended on
the support of their partner.
WA is available to women over 50 years of age who were widowed, divorced or
separated (including separated de facto) after the age of 40. To qualify for WA, older
women must:
◗ have no recent workforce experience (defined as at least 20 hours a week for a total
of 13 weeks or more in the previous 12 months),
◗ currently be in Australia and not be subject to an assurance of support,
◗ and either:
– have been an Australian resident for a continuous period of at least 26 weeks
immediately before claiming, or
– have at any time been an Australian resident for a continuous period of at least 10
years, or
– have a qualifying residence exemption, or
– along with her former partner, have both been Australian residents at the time
when she became widowed, divorced or separated.
WA is paid at allowance rates and under allowance income and assets tests. Widow
allowees may also receive Rent Assistance, Remote Area Allowance and Pharmaceutical
Allowance.
44

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Labour market allowances and parenting program
Table 34: Widow Allowance customers: Characteristics, June 2001
FEMALES
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
Widow Allowance customers (a)
36 416
100.0
Age (years)
50–54
9 836
27.0
55–59
16 276
44.7
60–64
6 451
17.7
65 and over
3 853
10.6
Duration (b)
Up to 1 year
Up to 7 weeks
628
1.7
Over 7 weeks to 3 months
786
2.2
Over 3 months to 6 months
1 817
5.0
Over 6 months to 9 months
1 536
4.2
Over 9 months to 1 year
1 667
4.6
Over 1 year
More than 1 year to 2 years
5 927
16.3
2 years to less than 3 years
5 825
16.0
3 years less than 4 years
4 109
11.3
4 years to less than 5 years
3 534
9.7
5 years and over
10 587
29.1
Mean duration
191.4
..
Median duration
149.9
..
Country of birth (top five countries)
Australia
20 793
57.1
UK/Ireland/Eire
2 886
7.9
Philippines
748
2.1
China
636
1.7
Vietnam
635
1.7
Other
10 718
29.4
Paid under income test
Income as assessed ($pw)
Nil
32 389
88.9
$0.01–$31.00
753
2.1
Over $31.00
3 274
9.0
State
New South Wales
11 584
31.8
Victoria
9 785
26.9
Queensland
7 551
20.7
South Australia
2 905
8.0
Western Australia
3 120
8.6
Tasmania
955
2.6
Northern Territory
170
0.5
Australian Capital Territory
342
0.9
Unknown
4
0.0
(a) These figures are from the 18 June 2001. They exclude people on nil rate of payment (412).
(b) Includes not coded or invalid postcodes.
45

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
3.6 Partner Allowance
Prior to the introduction of Partner Allowance (PA) allowees with a partner received a
married rate of allowance, which included an amount for the support of a dependent
spouse. In September 1994, this combined married rate of payment was abolished and
half the former married rate was paid directly to the dependent partner as Partner
Allowance.
Since 1 July 1995 the payment has only been granted to persons born on or before
1 July 1955 who have no dependent children and no recent workforce experience. It is
payable to partners of people aged over 21 years and receiving Youth Allowance,
Austudy Payment, Sickness Allowance. ABSTUDY, Student Financial Supplement
Scheme, Newstart Allowance, Special Benefit, Rehabilitation Allowance, Age Pension,
Disability Support Pension, Mature Age Allowance or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Service Pension.
PA is a non-activity-tested payment subject to allowance income and assets tests.
Partners who do not qualify for PA need to qualify for another income support payment
in their own right, such as Parenting Payment or Newstart Allowance.
46

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Labour market allowances and parenting program
Table 35:Partner Allowance customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Partner Allowance customers (a)
9 715
100.0
80 701
100.0
90 416 100.0
Age (years)
under 50
512
5.3
8 763
10.9
9 275
12.4
50–54
1 184
12.2
21 681
26.9
22 865
25.5
55–59
2 117
21.8
33 872
42.0
35 989
38.8
60–64
3 487
35.9
14 321
17.7
17 808
18.7
65 and over
2 415
24.9
2 064
2.6
4 479
4.6
Duration (b)
Up to 1 year
Up to 7 weeks
237
2.4
1 820
2.3
2 057
2.1
Over 7 weeks to 3 months
298
3.1
2 221
2.8
2 519
2.8
Over 3 months to 6 months
605
6.2
4 466
5.5
5 071
5.5
Over 6 months to 9 months
593
6.1
4 227
5.2
4 820
5.8
Over 9 months to 1 year
558
5.7
3 830
4.7
4 388
5.5
Over 1 year
More than 1 year to 2 years
1 534
15.8
13 400
16.6
14 934
19.1
2 years to less than 3 years
1 369
14.1
12 329
15.3
13 698
14.4
3 years less than 4 years
963
9.9
9 512
11.8
10 475
12.3
4 years to less than 5 years
746
7.7
8 147
10.1
8 893
10.7
5 years and over
2 812
28.9
20 749
25.7
23 561
21.7
Mean duration
177.1
..
150.5
..
153.2
..
Median duration
143.9
..
138
..
138.5
..
Country of birth (top five countries)
Australia
4 238
43.6
49 815
61.7
54 053
60.2
UK/Ireland/Eire
960
9.9
6 868
8.5
7 828
8.8
China
948
9.8
2 346
2.9
3 294
3.2
Italy
149
1.5
2 367
2.9
2 516
2.9
Vietnam
633
6.5
1 679
2.1
2 312
2.8
Other
2 787
28.7
17 626
21.8
20 413
22.1
Paid under income test
Income as assessed ($pw)
Nil
9 006
92.7
74 081
91.8
83 087
92.2
$0.01-$31.00
139
1.4
1 059
1.3
1 198
1.3
Over $31.00
570
5.9
5 561
6.9
6 131
6.4
State
New South Wales
3 573
36.8
25 500
31.6
29 073
31.9
Victoria
2 578
26.5
20 764
25.7
23 342
26.5
Queensland
1 533
15.8
15 755
19.5
17 288
18.7
South Australia
966
9.9
7 894
9.8
8 860
10.0
Western Australia
614
6.3
6 913
8.6
7 527
8.0
Tasmania
360
3.7
3 178
3.9
3 538
4.0
Northern Territory
28
0.3
249
0.3
277
0.3
Australian Capital Territory
62
0.6
444
0.6
506
0.6
Others
1
0.0
4
0.0
5
0.0
(a) Excludes people who received a nil rate of payment (2022).
(b) As measured from the income security start date.
47

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
3.7 Special Benefit
Special Benefit is a discretionary payment. The circumstances under which it is granted
are determined by the Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Family and
Community Services.
To qualify for Special Benefit a person must:
◗ be in severe financial hardship, and
◗ be unable to earn a sufficient livelihood for themselves and their dependants by
reason of age, physical or mental disability or domestic circumstances or for any
other reason over which the person has no control, and
◗ be unable to receive any social security pension or income support payment from
Centrelink, or service pension from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and
◗ be residing in Australia throughout the period for which payment is sought, except
under certain rare circumstances, and
◗ be a permanent Australian resident or the holder of an approved visa.
Table 36: Special Benefit customers: Special Benefit category by sex, June 2001 (a)
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
SPECIAL BENEFIT CATEGORY
NO
%
NO
%
NO
%
Australian citizen child in custody of non-permanent
resident
26
0.4
37
0.7
63
0.5
Assurance of support
25
0.3
34
0.7
59
0.5
Caring for child
13
0.2
26
0.5
39
0.3
Caring for incapacitated person
7
0.1
20
0.4
27
0.2
Applicant for DSP (pre-10/12/00)
4
0.1
3
0.1
7
0.1
Newly arrived migrants (NAM) in WP (conversion only)
–
–
4
0.1
4
0.0
NAM in waiting period for Special Benefit
20
0.3
22
0.4
42
0.3
NAM in two year waiting period (pre-10/12/2000)
269
3.7
377
7.3
646
5.2
NAM in two year waiting period for
PTA/WDA/PPP/NMA/CAR/DWS
10
0.1
177
3.4
187
1.5
Not residentially qualified for Age Pension
3 124
42.7
2 545
49.1
5 669
45.4
Not residentially qualified for DSP
(post-10/12/2000)
28
0.4
23
0.4
51
0.4
Not residentially qualified for other pension
(pre-10/12/2000)
254
3.5
214
4.1
468
3.7
Other cases (long-term)
244
3.3
291
5.6
535
4.3
Other cases (short-term)
50
0.7
138
2.7
188
1.5
Applicant for Parenting Payment (single)
(pre-10/12/00)
–
–
3
0.1
3
0.0
Spouse EETEP (pre-10/12/00)
133
1.8
374
7.2
507
4.1
Socially marginalised
19
0.3
8
0.2
27
0.2
Spouse provisional visa (post-10-12-2000)
209
2.9
362
7.0
571
4.6
Temporary protection visa
2 815
38.5
419
8.1
3 234
25.9
Under 16 years
49
0.7
67
1.3
116
0.9
Not coded
17
0.2
35
0.7
52
0.4
Total
7 316 100.0
5 179 100.0
12 495 100.0
(a) Data as at 18 June 2001, excludes zero paid customers (132)
48

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Labour market allowances and parenting program
Table 37: Special Benefit customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001 (a)
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Special Benefit customers
7 316 100.0
5 179 100.0
12 495 100.0
Age (years)
Under 16
92
1.3
108
2.1
200
1.6
16–17
117
1.6
42
0.8
159
1.3
18–20
244
3.3
155
3.0
399
3.2
21–24
498
6.8
439
8.5
937
7.5
25–34
1 650
22.6
758
14.6
2 408
19.3
35–44
842
11.5
445
8.6
1 287
10.3
45–54
287
3.9
232
4.5
519
4.2
55–59
63
0.9
72
1.4
135
1.1
60-64
71
1.0
414
8.0
485
3.9
65 and over
3 452
47.2
2 514
48.5
5 966
47.7
Status
Single
3 796
51.9
2 646
51.1
6 442
51.6
Without children
3 763
51.4
2 468
47.7
6 231
49.9
With children
33
0.5
178
3.4
211
1.7
Couple
3 520
48.1
2 533
48.9
6 053
48.4
Country of birth (top five countries)
China
1 435
19.6
943
18.2
2 378
19.0
Vietnam
362
4.9
507
9.8
869
7.0
Philippines
162
2.2
393
7.6
555
4.4
Afghanistan
1 072
14.7
125
2.4
1 197
9.6
Iraq
1 602
21.9
461
8.9
2 063
16.5
Other
2 683
36.7
2 750
53.1
5 433
43.5
Duration (b)
Up to 1 year
Up to 7 weeks
425
5.8
284
5.5
709
5.7
Over 7 weeks to 3 months
469
6.4
267
5.2
736
5.9
Over 3 months to 6 months
837
11.4
516
10.0
1 353
10.8
Over 6 months to 9 months
1 133
15.5
571
11.0
1 704
13.6
Over 9 months to 1 year
1 130
15.4
473
9.1
1 603
12.8
Over 1 year
More than 1 year to 2 years
986
13.5
981
18.9
1 967
15.7
2 years to less than 3 years
920
12.6
782
15.1
1 702
13.6
3 years less than 4 years
582
8.0
457
8.8
1 039
8.3
4 years to less than 5 years
237
3.2
244
4.7
481
3.8
5 years and over
597
8.2
604
11.7
1 201
9.6
Mean Duration (weeks)
125.1
..
119.8
..
122.8
..
Median duration (weeks)
72.0
..
80.9
..
75.8
..
Income (c)
Nil
7 213 98.6
5 133
99.1
12 346
98.8
$0.01–$31.00
15
0.2
16
0.3
31
0.2
Over $31.00
88
1.2
30
0.6
118
0.9
(a) Data in this table are as at June 2001; they will differ from numbers derived as monthly averages.
(b) Duration as measured from the income security start date.
(c) Income is defined as earned income.
49

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 38: Special Benefit customers: State by sex, June 2001 (a)
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
STATE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
New South Wales
3 647
48.8
2 353
44.9
6 000
47.2
Victoria
2 097
28.1
1 494
28.5
3 591
28.2
Queensland
510
6.8
423
8.1
933
7.3
South Australia
451
6.0
328
6.3
779
6.1
Western Australia
594
8.0
416
7.9
1 010
7.9
Tasmania
45
0.6
80
1.5
125
1.0
Northern Territory
17
0.2
31
0.6
48
0.4
Australian Capital Territory
104
1.4
121
2.3
225
1.8
Total
7 466
100.0
5 246
100.0
12 712 100.0
(a) Data in this table are derived from a point in time in the relevant quarter, and as such produce totals that
differ from monthly averages. Note: Due to rounding, percentages may not add up to 100 per cent.
Table 39: Special Benefit customers: By sex, June 1981 to June 2001 (a)
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
JUNE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
1981
8 324
42.7
11 176
57.3
19 500 100.0
1982
7 189
43.2
9 470
56.8
16 659 100.0
1983
9 252
45.1
11 273
54.9
20 525 100.0
1984
7 758
42.8
10 383
57.2
18 141 100.0
1985
7 863
42.3
10 719
57.7
18 582 100.0
1986
7 966
43.9
10 170
56.1
18 136 100.0
1987
8 957
45.5
10 749
54.5
19 706 100.0
1988
10 796
47.8
11 796
52.2
22 592 100.0
1989
12 048
47.8
13 156
52.2
25 204 100.0
1990
13 592
48.7
14 321
51.3
27 913 100.0
1991
13 830
46.4
15 981
53.6
29 811 100.0
1992
16 168
46.5
18 624
53.5
34 792 100.0
1993
12 989
45.0
15 865
55.0
28 854 100.0
1994
11 957
46.1
13 990
53.9
25 947 100.0
1995
10 446
50.0
10 438
50.0
20 884 100.0
1996
9 125
48.7
9 602
51.3
18 727 100.0
1997
6 811
46.7
7 765
53.3
14 577 100.0
1998 (b)
4 733
46.2
5 503
53.8
10 236 100.0
1999 (b)
5 232
44.3
6 576
55.7
11 808 100.0
2000 (b)
5 313
48.4
5 658
51.6
10 971 100.0
2001 (b)
7 466
58.7
5 246
41.3
12 712 100.0
(a) These figures are an average of the weekly payments for the month ending June each year.
(b) These figures are point of time and as such will differ from averages of weekly payments.
50

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Labour market allowances and parenting program
3.8 Parenting Payment
Parenting Payment is available to the primary carer of children and is paid to both single
and partnered parents—although to only one member of a couple.
To qualify for Parenting Payment a person must:
◗ be caring for a child under 16, and
◗ satisfy income and assets tests, and
◗ have been an Australian resident for at least two years, be a refugee, or have become
a sole parent while an Australian resident.
Table 40: Parenting Payment (single) customers: Sex, June 1981 to June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
AS AT JUNE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
1981
5 048
2.6
189 420
97.4
194 468
100.0
1982
5 923
2.8
202 819
97.2
208 742
100.0
1983
7 870
3.5
216 619
96.5
224 489
100.0
1984
8 909
3.8
225 856
96.2
234 765
100.0
1985
9 736
4.0
236 559
96.0
246 295
100.0
1986
10 070
4.0
240 840
96.0
250 910
100.0
1987
10 236
4.1
238 671
95.9
248 907
100.0
1988
9 929
4.2
228 727
95.8
238 656
100.0
1989
10 180
4.3
229 289
95.7
239 469
100.0
1990
11 305
4.5
237 581
95.5
248 886
100.0
1991
13 616
5.1
252 104
94.9
265 720
100.0
1992
16 444
5.7
270 784
94.3
287 228
100.0
1993
17 529
5.9
280 915
94.1
298 444
100.0
1994
18 897
6.0
294 540
94.0
313 437
100.0
1995
19 913
6.1
305 028
93.9
324 941
100.0
1996
21 964
6.4
320 326
93.6
342 290
100.0
1997
23 920
6.7
334 973
93.3
358 893
100.0
1998
25 546
6.9
346 740
93.1
372 286
100.0
1999
27 118
7.0
357 703
93.0
384 821
100.0
2000
28 458
7.2
368 820
92.8
397 278
100.0
2001
32 429
7.6
392 185
92.4
424 614
100.0
Notes:Sole Parent Pension replaced the Supporting Parents’ benefit and Widow Pension Class A in
March 1989. In March 1998 Parenting Payment was introduced. It replaced Sole Parent Pension and
Parenting Allowance.
51

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 41: Parenting Payment (single) customers: State by sex, June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
STATE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
New South Wales
10 377
32.0
127 645
32.5
138 022
32.5
Victoria
5 915
18.2
86 807
22.1
92 722
21.8
Queensland
7 765
23.9
84 172
21.5
91 937
21.7
South Australia
3 105
9.6
31 209
8.0
34 314
8.1
Western Australia
3 277
10.1
40 377
10.3
43 654
10.3
Tasmania
1 116
3.4
11 615
3.0
12 731
3.0
Northern Territory
499
1.5
5 269
1.3
5 768
1.4
Australian Capital Territory
373
1.2
5 028
1.3
5 401
1.3
Other (a)
2
0.0
63
0.0
65
0.0
Total
32 429 100.0
392 185 100.0
424 614 100.0
(a) Includes not coded or invalid postcodes.
Table 42: Parenting Payment (single) customers: Characteristics by sex, June 2001(a)
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Parenting Payment (single) customers
32 429 100.0
392 185 100.0
424 614 100.0
Age (years)
Under 20
122
0.4
10 458
2.7
10 580
2.5
20–29
4 802
14.8
116 950
29.8
121 752
28.7
30–39
13 482
41.6
161 875
41.3
175 357
41.3
40–49
10 942
33.7
91 335
23.3
102 277
24.1
50–59
2 762
8.5
11 243
2.9
14 005
3.3
60 and over
319
1.0
324
0.1
643
0.2
Rate
Maximum rate
26 821
82.7
295 210
75.3
322 031
75.8
Reduced rate
5 608
17.3
96 975
24.7
102 583
24.2
Income (b)
Nil
6 871 21.2%
59 172 15.1%
66 043 15.6%
$0.01–$50.00 pw
16 181 49.9%
192 117 49.0%
208 298 49.1%
$50.01–$62.00
185
0.6%
1956
0.5%
2 141 0.5%
Over $62.00
9 192 28.3%
138 940 35.4%
148 132 34.9%
Home ownership
Home owner
6 706
20.7
78 216
19.9
84 922
20.0
Non home owner
25 722
79.3
313 960
80.1
339 682
80.0
Not coded
1
0.0
9
0.0
10
0.0
Country of birth (top five countries)
Australia
25 908
79.9
313 715
80.0
339 623
80.0
UK/Eire/Ireland
1 828
5.6
16 923
4.3
18 751
4.4
New Zealand
1 082
3.3
12 670
3.2
13 752
3.2
Vietnam
495
1.5
9 256
2.4
9 751
2.3
Lebanon
221
0.7
2 962
0.8
3 183
0.7
Other
2 895
8.9
36 659
9.3
39 554
9.3
(a) Includes suspended clients, sourced from Centrelink SuperStar databases of 4 June 2001.
(b) Income is defined as total earned income.
52

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Labour market allowances and parenting program
Table 43: Parenting Payment (partnered) customers: State by payment category,
June 2001 (a)
PARTNERED BY
YOUTH
LOW
NEWSTART
ALLOWANCE
INCOME
ALLOWANCE
PENSION
STATE
(PARTNER)
  PARTNER
  PARTNER (a)
 PARTNER
OTHER
TOTAL
New South Wales
47
30 672
29 851
7 107
18
67 695
Victoria
20
22 860
21 174
4 952
20
49 026
Queensland
50
18 596
22 315
4 700
31
45 692
South Australia
14
7 409
8 688
2 347
10
18 468
Western Australia
15
8 855
10 042
1 805
13
20 730
Tasmania
11
2 558
4 060
985
6
7 620
Northern Territory
34
1 073
2 504
222
4
3 837
Australian Capital Territory
2
769
676
201
0
1 648
Other (b)
0
5
0
0
0
5
Total
193
92 797
99 310
22 319
102
214 721
(a) Includes persons whose partner receives Newstart Allowance, Sickness Allowance or Special Benefit.
(b) Includes not coded or invalid postcodes.
Table 44: Parenting Payment (partnered) customers: Characteristics by sex,
June 2001 (a)
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Parenting Payment (partnered)
Customers—additional rate (a)
21 195 100.0
193 526 100.0
214 721 100.0
Age (years)
Under 20
42
0.2
3 473
1.8
3 515
1.6
20–29
2 513
11.9
49 219
25.4
51 732
24.1
30–39
8 673
40.9
88 563
45.8
97 236
45.3
40–49
7 699
36.3
46 143
23.8
53 842
25.1
50–59
2 057
9.7
5 926
3.1
7 983
3.7
60 and over
211
1.0
202
0.1
413
0.2
Rate
Maximum rate
12 748
60.1
133 891
69.2
146 639
68.3
Broken rate
8 447
39.9
59 635
30.8
68 082
31.7
Duration of allowance (b)
Up to 6 months
8 026
37.9
53 925
27.9
61 951
28.9
Over 6 months to 1 year
3 486
16.4
26 259
13.6
29 745
13.9
Over 1 year to 2 years
3 873
18.3
24 908
12.9
28 781
13.4
Over 2 years to 3 years
1 873
8.8
15 590
8.1
17 463
8.1
Over 3 years
3 937
18.6
72 844
37.6
76 781
35.8
Mean duration (weeks)
67.5
..
93.0
..
90.5
..
Median duration (weeks)
44.3
..
83.6
..
75.9
..
Country of birth (top five countries)
Australia
14 915
70.4
129 746
67.0
144 661
67.4
Vietnam
530
2.5
8 609
4.4
9 139
4.3
UK/Eire/Ireland
1 143
5.4
6 478
3.3
7 621
3.5
Lebanon
316
1.5
6 128
3.2
6 444
3.0
China
532
2.5
4 925
2.5
5 457
2.5
Other
3 759
17.7
37 640
19.4
41 399
19.3
(a) Includes suspended customers.
(b) Duration is defined as time on this payment. Data sourced from Centrelink SuperStar databases of
26 June 2001.
53

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
3.9 Jobs, Education and Training (JET)
The Jobs, Education and Training (JET) program is a voluntary program with the aim of
improving the financial circumstances of eligible customers by assisting with
educational attainment, skill development and/or aiding their entry or re-entry into the
workforce, to achieve higher levels of earnings from employment.
For the period 1999–2000, JET eligible income support payments included:
◗ Parenting Payment
◗ Widow Allowance
◗ Partner Allowance
◗ Widow B Pension
◗ Carer Payment.
Recipients of Special Benefit are also eligible providing they are a sole parent and the
only reason they are not qualified for Parenting Payment is that they do not satisfy the
residence requirements.
JET encourages participation particularly from three groups of Parenting Payment
recipients:
◗ Teenagers
◗ Those who earn less than $150 per week and whose youngest child has turned
six years old
◗ Those who earn less than $150 per week and whose youngest child has turned
12 years old.
Over the period March 1989 to June 2001:
◗ 508 315 customers have participated in a first JET interview
◗ 186 580 JET customers have gained paid employment
◗ 190 091 JET customers have furthered their skills or education
◗ 57 863 temporary and 35 523 permanent childcare places were provided.
During 2000–01, 54 932 JET clients actively participated in skill development and
education while 2432 clients engaged in employment assistance. Around 31 650 clients
received some income from employment.
54

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Family Assistance
4 Family Assistance
4.1 Family Tax Benefit
Family Assistance is designed to provide income support to families to help with the
costs of raising children, including newborns, in a way that recognises the needs and
choices of both single and dual income families.
The reforms to family assistance introduced in July 2000 restructured 10 payments and
tax rebates into two payments:
◗ Family Tax Benefit, Part A
◗ Family Tax Benefit, Part B.
Families can choose to receive Family Tax Benefit as a fortnightly payment during the tax
year, or as a lump-sum payment at the end of the tax year. Payment is based on
adjusted taxable income for the year. Customers who choose fortnightly payment
provide an estimate of their income, and their entitlement is reconciled against their
actual income at the end of the tax year.
The new arrangements for Family Tax Benefit involve about $2 billion each year of
additional payments to Australian families. On average, Australian families are receiving
$208 in fortnightly family payments at June 2001.
Family Tax Benefit, Part A
Family Tax Benefit, Part A replaces a complex system of Centrelink payments and tax
rebates, comprising:
◗ Minimum Family Allowance
◗ Family Allowance
◗ Family Tax Payment, Part A
◗ Family Tax Assistance, Part A.
When Family Tax Benefit, Part A was introduced on 1 July 2000, it increased the amount
of assistance available to families by $140 a year for each dependent child. There was
also an increase in the level of income at which family assistance is income tested—up
from $23 800 to $28 200. That is, the maximum rate of Family Tax Benefit, Part A is paid
if the income of the customer and their partner does not exceed the threshold amount
of $28 200. The fortnightly rate only reduces by 30 cents for each extra dollar earned
over the threshold until the base rate is reached, compared to 50 cents under the
previous system. Payment continues at the base rate until income reaches $73 000
(plus $3 000 for each child after the first), and then reduces by 30 cents for each dollar
over this amount.
The maximum rates are:
For each child
Per fortnight
Aged under 13 yrs
$116.20
Aged 13–15 yrs
$147.28
Aged 16–17 yrs
$37.38
Aged 18–24 yrs
$50.12
55

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
The base rates are:
For each child
Per fortnight
Aged under 18 yrs
$37.38
Aged 18–24 yrs
$50.12
Family Tax Benefit, Part B
Family Tax Benefit, Part B provides extra assistance to families with only one main
income earner, including sole parents, particularly those with children under five.
It replaces a complex system of Centrelink payments and tax rebates, comprising:
◗ Basic Parenting Payment
◗ With-child Dependent Spouse Rebate
◗ Guardian Allowance
◗ Sole Parent Rebate
◗ Family Tax Payment, Part B
◗ Family Tax Assistance, Part B.
The maximum rate of Family Tax Benefit, Part B is $99.82 per fortnight where the
youngest child is under five, and $69.58 per fortnight where the youngest child is aged
five to 18. There is no income test for sole parents. For couples, the rate is based on the
income of the partner who earns the least, with the maximum rate being paid until that
partner’s annual income reaches $1 616. Payment reduces by 30 cents for each extra
dollar earned over that amount, with some payment received until income reaches
$10 291 where the youngest child is under five, or $7 663 where the youngest child is
aged five to 18. Under the new payment scheme, single income families with a child
under five years received an increase of $350 a year, or an additional $61 where the
youngest child is aged over five years.
Other allowances
A number of additional allowances are also available to assist families in particular
circumstances, including:
◗ Large Family Supplement
◗ Multiple Birth Allowance
◗ Rent Assistance.
Large Family Supplement
The Large Family Supplement payment is for families who have four or more Family Tax
Benefit children. This payment is paid in addition to Family Tax Benefit, Part A for the
fourth and subsequent child at the rate of $7.98 per fortnight per child.
Multiple Birth Allowance
Multiple Birth Allowance is an increase in the rate of Family Tax Benefit, Part A for
people who have triplets, quadruplets, or larger multiple birth sets, under the age of six.
It is paid in recognition of the special costs and workforce barriers associated with the
simultaneous birth of three or more children. Eligibility for the allowance automatically
ceases on the day of the children’s sixth birthday. The rate of Multiple Birth Allowance is
$97.16 per fortnight for triplets and $129.64 per fortnight for quadruplets or more.
56

---

Family Assistance
Rent Assistance
Rent Assistance is an increase in the rate of Family Tax Benefit, Part A for low-income
families renting in the private market, in recognition of the housing costs that they face.
The rate of Rent Assistance depends on the number of children, relationship status and
amount of rent paid. As an example, a couple with one or two children who pay more
than $289.29 rent per fortnight are eligible for a maximum payment of $103.04 in Rent
Assistance.
Summary
◗ As at 29 June 2001, Family Tax Benefit assisted 1 827 856 families and 3 534 720
children. The total number of families receiving Family Tax Benefit has increased by
4.5 per cent since the reform in July 2000.
◗ As at 29 June 2001, close to one-third (32.0%) of Family Tax Benefit customers
resided in New South Wales, about a quarter (24.2%) in Victoria, and just over
one-fifth (21.4%) in Queensland.
◗ As at 29 June 2001, over three-quarters of customers receiving FTB(A) and FTB(B)
payments (77% and 77.4% respectively) had two children or fewer.
Table 45: Family Tax Benefit: customers and children, June 2001
CUSTOMERS
CHILDREN
NO.
NO.
Method 1
Family Tax Benefit Part A
1 801 285
3 485 923
Family Tax Benefit Part B
1 181 069
2 256 892
Family Tax Benefit total (a)
1 827 856
3 534 720
Method 2
Family Tax Benefit Part A and B
1 154 498
2 208 095
Family Tax Benefit Part A only
646 787
1 277 828
Family Tax Benefit Part B only
26 571
48 797
Family Tax Benefit total
1 827 856
3 534 720
(a) The Family Tax Benefit total of customers and children is the total number who received FTB(A) and/or
FTB(B). It is not the arithmetic total of FTB(A) and FTB(B) customers and children as most customers
receive both FTB(A) and FTB(B).
Figure 7: Family Tax Benefit: Customers, July 2000 to June 2001
2 000 000
1 827 856
1 800 000
1 749 479
1 801 285
1 730 562
1 600 000
1 400 000
1 200 000
1 127 543
1 181 069
1 000 000
Jul-00
Aug-00 Sep-00
Oct-00 Nov-00 Dec-00
Jan-01
Feb-01
Mar-01
Apr-01
May-01
Jun-01
Family Tax
Family Tax Benefit, Part A
Family Tax Benefit, Part B
57

---

Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 46: Family Tax Benefit Part A: Customers and children by rate type, June 2001
CUSTOMERS
CHILDREN
NO.
%
NO.
%
Max FTB(A) rate with ISP (a)
509 785
28.3
962 202
27.6
Max FTB(A) rate without ISP (a)
127 231
7.1
243 831
7.0
Broken
406 105
22.5
874 747
25.1
Base
725 392
40.3
1 333 047
38.2
Tapered base rate
31 193
1.7
68 463
2.0
Invalid code
1 579
0.1
3 633
0.1
Total
1 801 285
100.0
3 485 923
100.0
(a) ISP = Income Support Payment (e.g. Newstart Allowance)
Table 47: Family Tax Benefit Part A: Customers and children by age of child, June 2001
CUSTOMERS
CHILDREN
NO.
%
NO.
%
Under 13
1 514 162
84.1
2 707 493
77.7
13–15
493 555
27.4
562 819
16.1
16–17
142 341
7.9
147 339
4.2
18–20
60 957
3.4
64 578
1.9
21–24
3 591
0.2
3 690
0.1
Invalid code
4
0.0
4
0.0
Total
1 801 285
100.0
3 485 923
100.0
Table 48: Family Tax Benefit Part B: Customers by rate type and age of youngest child,
June 2001
CUSTOMERS
NO.
%
Maximum Family Tax Benefit, Part B rate
Child under 5
385 387
32.6
Child 5 years +
463 966
39.3
Total
849 353
71.9
Broken Family Tax Benefit, Part B rate
Child under 5
224 601
19.0
Child 5 years +
107 115
9.1
Total
331 716
28.1
Total
Child under 5
609 988
51.6
Child 5 years +
571 081
48.4
Total
1 181 069 100.0
58

---

Family Assistance
%
0
.3
.1
7
.4
.0
4.2
0
7.8
2.
1.2
1.4
0
32.
2
2
10
100
1
O.
8
2
5
4
0
3
9
18
19
N
4
4
2
CHILDREN
 36
 105
5
7
31 6
9
48 35
716 7
7
42 
12 428
34 7
2
355 
1 1
855 20
 BENEFIT
3 5
 TAX
Y
%
0
.2
.0
.0
.8
.3
.0
4.2
0
8
2
1.2
1.4
0
FAMIL
32.
2
2
10
100
OMERS
5
6
4
9
6
T
O.
11
9
0
N
9
1 6
 2
9
6 318
2 544
1 50
4 965
6 106
7 85
CUS
584 6
2
44
6
50 7
2
2
3
14
18
1 8
%
.8
.3
.8
3
.2
.0
3.4
0
7.6
2
1.2
1.
0
32.2
2
2
10
100
T B
O.
7
5
8
4
7
7
7
2
6
2
9
11
CHILDREN
N
 1
 365
 71
 05
7 42
 0
2
3
2
5
2
9
3
6
28 
6 89
7
28 5
5
6
30 422
5
4
17
2
2 2
 BENEFIT PAR
 TAX
Y
%
5
.3
3.
.6
.8
.2
.0
0
7.8
2
1.2
1.4
0
32.2
2
2
10
100
FAMIL
TOMERS
.
O
5
3
7
2
0
2
9
3
5
7
N
CUS
488
3 1
 505
1 4
77 2
2
2 734
9
32 86
14 
16 1
380 450
2
24
12
1 181 06
ne 2001
9
e, Ju
%
.3
.3
7.8
.0
.8
1.2
1.4
.0
31.
2
0
24.2
20
10
tat
100
T A
y s
3
3
6
2
9
3
CHILDREN
O.
3
4
2
N
 368
160
9
0
73 26
96 6
42 
47 391
12 34
1 111 81
842 801
7
2
350 1
ildren b
3 485 9
h
 BENEFIT PAR
 TAX
Y
 and c
%
9
.3
.1
.0
8
.3
.0
s
8
1.2
1.4
31.
0
0
24.1
2.
2
10
FAMIL
100
TOMERS
.
7
2
5
0
9
5
tomer
O
4
5
s
N
 148
 6
366
u
CUS
5
9
1 
4 4
6 16
73 86
34 916
2
5
4
50 442
2
365 28
14
17
 801 28
enefit: C
y
x B
 Ta
ly
 Territor
y
al
les
alia
Fami
a
apit
:
W
alia
str
erritor
and
ode
 49
an C
sl
le
E
South 
ania
ali
b
T
thern T
l1
A
m
estern Au
s
valid c
ta
Ta
ictoria
ST
New 
V
Queen
South Austr
W
Ta
Nor
Austr
In
To
59

---

Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 50: Family Tax Benefit customers: Characteristics by payment type, June 2001
FAMILY TAX BENEFIT (A)
FAMILY TAX BENEFIT (B)
FAMILY TAX BENEFIT
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Family type
Partnered
1 237 838
68.7
621 680
52.6
1 262 084
69.0
Sole parents
 female
502 086
27.9
498 810
42.2
503 995
27.6
 male
61 222
3.4
60 550
5.1
61 638
3.4
All sole parents
563 308
31.3
559 360
47.4
565 633
30.9
Not specified
139
0.0
29
0.0
139
0.0
Total
1 801 285 100.0
1 181 069
100.0
1 827 856 100.0
Number of FTB(A) and FTB(B) children in the family
One
681 397
37.8
479 586
40.6
..
..
Two
706 850
39.2
434 828
36.8
..
..
Three
300 394
16.7
188 417
16.0
..
..
Four
85 426
4.7
57 704
4.9
..
..
Five or more
27 218
1.5
20 503
1.7
..
..
Invalid code
0
0
31
0.0
..
..
Total
1 801 285 100.0
1 181 069
100.0
..
..
Country of birth (top five countries)
Australia
1 392 047
77.3
908 347
76.9
1 413 194
77.3
UK/Eire/Ireland
3 768
0.2
2 368
0.2
3 890
0.2
Vietnam/Laos
34 139
1.9
24 193
2.0
34 239
1.9
New Zealand
44 024
2.4
32 627
2.8
44 718
2.4
Lebanon
16 976
0.9
11 671
1.0
17 035
0.9
Other
310 331
17.2
201 863
17.1
314 780
17.2
Total
1 801 285 100.0
1 181 069
100.0
1 827 856 100.0
Age of customer (years)
Under 20
16 160
0.9
15 505
1.3
16 167
0.9
20–24
98 040
5.4
86 377
7.3
98 328
5.4
25–29
238 035
13.2
183 937
15.6
240 286
13.1
30–34
383 356
21.3
269 549
22.8
390 654
21.4
35–39
436 517
24.2
276 433
23.4
444 837
24.3
40–44
359 840
20.0
203 867
17.3
365 141
20.0
45–49
183 403
10.2
97 961
8.3
185 666
10.2
50–54
63 540
3.5
34 001
2.9
64 283
3.5
55–59
14 523
0.8
8 267
0.7
14 605
0.8
60–64
4 325
0.2
2 838
0.2
4 341
0.2
65+
3 438
0.2
2 334
0.2
3 440
0.2
Invalid code
108
0.0
0
0.0
108
0.0
Total
1 801 285 100.0
1 181 069
100.0
1 827 856 100.0
60

---

Family Assistance
4.2 Double Orphan Pension
Double Orphan Pension (DOP) was first introduced in September 1973. DOP is a non-
means-tested payment paid for children under 16 years of age in the care of a guardian,
and for full-time dependent students aged between 16 and 21 years.
A double orphan is a child whose parents or adoptive parents have both died, or a child
who has one deceased parent and:
◗ the whereabouts of the other parent are not known, or
◗ the other parent is imprisoned for at least 10 years or is being held in custody on a
charge for an offence punishable by imprisonment for at least 10 years, or
◗ the other parent is residing indefinitely in a mental hospital, nursing home or similar
institution.
A double orphan is also a child who has not lived in Australia with either parent and has
been granted refugee status by the Australian Government or is in similar circumstances
to a refugee and has been admitted into Australia under an approved special
humanitarian program and:
◗ whose parents are outside Australia, or
◗ whose parents whereabouts are unknown.
To qualify for the Double Orphan Pension:
◗ a person must have care of a double orphan and be eligible for Family Tax Benefit, or
would be eligible but for the Family Tax Benefit income test, or
◗ a student aged 16 to 21 receiving certain education scheme payments (for example,
ABSTUDY).
The base rate of Double Orphan Pension in June 2001 was $41.10 per fortnight, per
child. An additional component of DOP may be payable. It is equal to the difference
between the Family Allowance/Family Tax Benefit received for the young person
immediately before they became an orphan and the carer’s entitlement to Family Tax
Benefit for the young person.
Summary
◗ The increase in Double Orphan Pension customers in the early 1980s reflected the
extension of the payment to refugee children in November 1981. As immigration
programs changed in the mid-80s, refugee numbers started to fall. Thus, the number
of unaccompanied refugee children also declined. Ageing of the refugee population
lead to a decline in customer numbers in the late 80s and early 90s.
◗ The average number of children for whom Double Orphan Pension is paid appears to
have stabilised at around 1 700, principally because of a declining number of
unaccompanied refugee children and the ageing of current recipients (Refer to graph
following). Since June 1993, the number of customers have stabilised at around 1 300.
◗ Close to one-third of Double Orphan Pension customers (393 or 31.6%) and children
(520 or 31.9%) were residing in New South Wales at June 2001. The proportion of
these customers and children living in other States was:
– 24 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively for Victoria
– 18.2 per cent and 17.4 per cent, respectively for Queensland
– 10.7 per cent and 10.8 per cent, respectively for Western Australia.
61

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 51: Double Orphan Pension: Customers and children, June 1981 to June 2001
CHILDREN (a)
CUSTOMERS
UNDER 16
16 AND OVER
TOTAL
YEAR
NO.
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
1981
2 766
3 252
81.5
736
18.5
3 988
100.0
1982
3 650
3 930
76.1
1 236
23.9
5 166
100.0
1983
4 420
4 192
69.0
1 881
31.0
6.073
100.0
1984
4 644
4 238
65.7
2 210
34.3
6 448
100.0
1985
4 509
3 961
64.6
2 168
35.4
6 129
100.0
1986
4 216
3 547
64.9
1 919
35.1
5 466
100.0
1987
3 750
3 164
69.7
1 373
30.3
4 537
100.0
1988
2 974
2 758
80.6
664
19.4
3 422
100.0
1989
2 227
2 381
86.0
388
14.0
2 769
100.0
1990
1 873
2 170
93.6
149
6.4
2 319
100.0
1991
1 639
1 908
93.9
124
6.1
2 032
100.0
1992
1 404
1 666
95.0
87
5.0
1 753
100.0
1993
1 356
1 605
95.3
79
4.7
1 684
100.0
1994
1 330
1 599
95.2
81
4.8
1 680
100.0
1995
1 314
1 616
95.0
85
5.0
1 701
100.0
1996
1 319
1 569
92.1
134
7.9
1 703
100.0
1997
1 313
1 537
91.2
149
8.8
1 686
100.0
1998
1 346
1 567
89.8
178
10.2
1 745
100.0
1999
1 243
1 490
92.4
122
7.6
1 612
100.0
2000
1 236
1 447
87.9
200
12.1
1 647
100.0
2001
1 242
1 503
92.2
127
7.8
1 630
100.0
(a) Total number of children attracting a Double Orphan Pension.
Figure 8: Double Orphan Pension: Customers and children, June 1980 to June 2001
8 000
7 000
6 000
5 000
4 000
3 000
2 000
1 000
0
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
DOP customers
DOP children
62

---

Family Assistance
Table 52: Double Orphan Pension: Customers and children, state and age of children,
June 2001
CHILDREN (a)
CUSTOMERS
UNDER 16
16 AND OVER
TOTAL
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
New South Wales
393
31.6
479
31.9
41
32.3
520
31.9
Victoria
298
24
371
24.7
36
28.3
407
25
Queensland
226
18.2
263
17.5
20
15.7
283
17.4
South Australia
128
10.3
156
10.4
8
6.3
164
10.1
Western Australia
133
10.7
159
10.6
17
13.4
176
10.8
Tasmania
26
2.1
29
1.9
0
0
29
1.8
Northern Territory
17
1.4
17
1.1
3
2.4
20
1.2
Australian Capital Territory
14
1.1
21
1.4
1
0.8
22
1.3
Invalid code
7
0.6
8
0.5
1.0
0.8
5
0.3
Total
1 242
100
1 503
100.0
127
100
1 630 100.0
(a) Total number of children attracting a Double Orphan Pension.
63

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
4.3 Maternity Allowance and Maternity Immunisation Allowance
Maternity Allowance (MAT) was introduced on 1 February 1996 to assist families with the
extra costs associated with a newborn baby (or babies) and is available to families who
qualify for Family Tax Benefit (FTB) within 13 weeks of the baby’s birth. MAT is a lump-
sum payment paid immediately after the birth of each newborn child, including each
child in a multiple birth. It may also be paid to foster carers or adoptive parents who
take the care of a child shortly after the child’s birth, if payment has not already been
made to another person for the child.
As part of a government strategy designed to increase immunisation levels in children
and to improve the timeliness of immunisation, in 1998 Maternity Allowance was
restructured to provide a one-off lump-sum bonus (Maternity Immunisation Allowance)
to parents for ensuring that their child’s immunisation coverage is complete up to
two years of age.
MIA is paid 18 months after a child’s birth, subject to the child being immunised in
accordance with the National Health and Research Council’s Standard Vaccination
Schedule, or having a valid exemption.
The two components of MAT can also be paid for babies who are stillborn, or who die
shortly after the birth.
In June 2001, Maternity Allowance was $780 per child and Maternity Immunisation
Allowance was $208 per child.
Summary
◗ In the 2000–01 financial year, the total number of customers who received Maternity
Allowance was 210 120 and the total number of children was 214 355.
◗ The number of customers who received Maternity Immunisation Allowance during
this period was 203 939 and the total number of children was 207 547.
Table 53: Maternity Allowance customers: June 2001 (a)
FAMILIES
CHILDREN
STATE
NO.
NO.
Maternity Allowance
210 120
214 355
Maternity Immunisation Allowance
203 939
207 547
(a) The number of customers who received a payment at any time in the financial year 2000–01.
4.4 Child care support
Child care support policies have been developed to help families to participate in the
economic and social life of the community through providing support for child care.
Child Care Benefit (CCB), which replaced Childcare Assistance and the Childcare Rebate
from 1 July 2000, helps families with the cost of child care, with financial assistance
proportionally higher for lower income families. Eligible families can have the benefit
paid directly to the child care service to reduce their ongoing fees. Alternatively they can
receive the benefit as a lump sum after the end of the financial year. Families using
registered care (such as informal care provided by a friend or neighbour), rather than
formal care in an approved service are eligible for the minimum rate of CCB. This is paid
for up to 50 hours per week of work related child care.
64

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Family Assistance
Table 54: Customers using approved child care benefit services: State, 2000 to 2001
STATE/TERRITORY
NO.
New South Wales
206 314
Victoria
141 875
Queensland
153 086
South Australia
48 243
Western Australia
53 641
Tasmania
15 116
Northern Territory
5 870
Australian Capital Territory
12 705
Total (a)
630 156
(a) Total count does not represent an aggregation of state and territory data as some customers may have
used services in more than one state/territory during the period.
Table 55: Customers using approved child care benefit services: Service type,
2000 to 2001
SERVICE TYPE
NO.
Long day care (a)
423 671
Community long day care
142 418
Private long day care
300 428
Family day care
109 588
Occasional care
17 866
Outside school hours care (a)
141 356
After school hours care
135 608
Before school hours care
54 440
Vacation care
104 780
Total (b)
630 156
(a) Minor groups do not add to major group as customers may use more than one service type during the
period.
(b) Total count does not represent an aggregation of different service types as some customers may have
used more than one type of service during the period.
Table 56: Customers using approved child care benefit services: Rate type, 2000 to 2001
RATE TYPE
MAXIMUM
BROKEN
MINIMUM
LUMP SUM
UNDETERMINED (a)
TOTAL
QUARTER
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Sep 2000
159 107 35.1
193 021 42.6
51 592
11.4
38 401
8.5
10 616
2.3
452 736 100.0
Dec 2000
163 540 35.1
202 865 43.6
56 499 12.1
33 968
7.3
8 758
1.9
465 630 100.0
Mar 2001
173 557 36.0
208 437 43.3
61 306 12.7
32 163
6.7
6 362
1.3
481 826 100.0
Jun 2001
173 064 35.5
214 292 44.0
64 810 13.3
31 415
6.5
3 339
0.7
486 920 100.0
(a) Indicates cases where a customer’s rate type could not be determined.
Table 57: Customers using registered care: Quarter, 2000 to 2001
QUARTER
NO.
Sep 2000
24 285
Dec 2000
23 546
Mar 2001
29 155
Jun 2001
31 363
Total
108 349
65

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
66

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Other income support payments
5 Other income support payments
5.1 Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment and Farm Family
Restart Scheme
Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment
The Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment is provided to assist farmers in
exceptional circumstances drought affected areas who are experiencing difficulties in
meeting family and personal living expenses. This payment replaced the Drought Relief
Payment from 1 December 1997.
The Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment is delivered by Centrelink on behalf of
the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia.
To qualify for the Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment a person must:
◗ be a farmer, and
◗ be 18 years or over, and
◗ be an Australian resident and living in Australia, and
◗ be identified as living in an exceptional circumstances drought affected area as
declared by the Minister for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry,
Australia, and
◗ have an Exceptional Circumstances Certificate issued by the State Rural Assistance
Authority.
Farm Family Restart Scheme
The Farm Family Restart Scheme commenced on 1 December 1997. It provides
assistance for low-income farmers experiencing financial hardship who cannot borrow
further against their assets.
Farm Family Restart Scheme is delivered by Centrelink on behalf of the Department of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia.
To qualify for the scheme a person must:
◗ be a farmer, and
◗ be 18 years or over, and
◗ is an Australian resident and living in Australia, and
◗ hold a certificate of inability to obtain finance from a financial institution, and
◗ not be involved in bankruptcy proceedings or have been issued with an eviction
order or in any other way have lost control of the management of the farm.
The scheme consists of separate options for farmers considering their future in the
farming industry. The assistance provided consists of:
◗ Restart Income Support: which is payable for a maximum of 12 months to farmers
who are unable to obtain commercial finance.
◗ Restart Re-establishment Grant: a grant of up to $45 000 payable to Farm Family
Restart Scheme farmers who complete the sale of the farm within certain time limits.
67

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
◗ Restart Advice Scheme: additional assistance of up to $3000 per farm which is
provided to farmers to access professional advice on future options and the financial
viability of the farm.
Within three months of claiming under the Farm Family Restart Scheme a farmer must
access the Restart Advice Scheme and obtain professional advice on their farm
enterprise’s financial viability.
Table 58: Exceptional Circumstance Payment And Farm Family Restart customers:
Customer Service Centre, June 2001
EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES PAYMENT
FARM FAMILY RESTART
CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRE
NO.
%
CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRE
NO.
%
Sale
463
28.7
Shepparton
122
9.2
Swan Hill
338
21.0
Warrnambool
69
5.2
Rockhampton
205
12.7
Hamilton
67
5.0
Mildura
109
6.8
Port Lincoln
51
3.8
Bundaberg
92
5.7
Kingaroy
44
3.3
Cooma
85
5.3
Sale
42
3.2
Gladstone
75
4.6
Horsham
35
2.6
Biloela
72
4.5
Morwell
35
2.6
Charters Towers
34
2.1
Wangaratta
30
2.3
Griffith
24
1.5
Mackay
26
2.0
Mackay
18
1.1
Mt Gambier
26
2.0
Launceston
16
1.0
Swan Hill
22
1.7
Yeppoon
13
0.8
Echuca
21
1.6
Emerald
10
0.6
Emerald
21
1.6
Tumut
10
0.6
Murray Bridge
20
1.5
Other
49
3.0
Port Pirie
20
1.5
Total
1 613
100.0
Dalby
19
1.4
Gympie
19
1.4
Ipswich
19
1.4
Toowoomba
19
1.4
Armidale
18
1.4
Bendigo
18
1.4
Moree
18
1.4
Whyalla
18
1.4
Deniliquin
17
1.3
Albury
16
1.2
Colac
16
1.2
Warwick
16
1.2
Burnie
14
1.1
Ingham
14
1.1
Bundaberg
13
1.0
Biloela
12
0.9
Dubbo
12
0.9
Launceston
12
0.9
Tamworth
12
0.9
Albury 2
11
0.8
Atherton
11
0.8
Charleville
11
0.8
Innisfail
11
0.8
Griffith
10
0.8
Kadina
10
0.8
Wagga
10
0.8
Other
300
22.6
Total
1 327
100.0
68

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Other income support payments
5.2 Widow B Pension, Widow Allowance and Bereavement Allowance
Widow B Pension
Widow B Pension is gradually being phased out, and ceased to be granted after
1 July 1987 except to the following:
◗ women aged 50 years or over at 1 July 1987 who were or subsequently became
widows,
◗ women aged at least 45 years at 1 July 1987 who received Parenting Payment (single)
(or its equivalent) on or after that date and who are widows able to transfer to a
Widow B Pension after they ceased to qualify for Parenting Payment (single),
◗ women who were receiving a Widow B Pension immediately before 1 July 1987.
From 20 March 1997, there have been no new entrants to Widow B Pension. Existing
recipients continue to receive this pension until they are disqualified or transferred to
another payment, such as Age Pension.
Bereavement Allowance
Bereavement Allowance is a payment made to widowed persons, both male and female,
in the period immediately following the death of their partner where the person is not
qualified for Parenting Payment (single) (for example, does not have a child).
Bereavement Allowance is usually paid for a maximum of 14 weeks from the partner’s
death. However, this is extended in the case of a pregnant woman until the birth of the
child, at which time Parenting Payment (single) would usually become payable.
There is no period of prior residence required where the person and his or her deceased
partner were Australian residents at the date of death. This is also the case for refugees
who have a nominated class of visa, or for a woman who was receiving a Wife Pension
from Family and Community Services or a partner service pension from Veterans’ Affairs
and who was not in Australia when her partner died. In other cases, the person must
have been an Australian resident for a period of five years immediately before claiming,
or for 10 years at any time.
Table 59: Widow B Pension customers: State, June 1998 to June 2001
 1998
 1999
2000
 2001
STATE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
New South Wales
4 138
30.5
3 050
29
2 520
28.3
1 728 26.8
Victoria
3 087
22.7
2 352
22.4
1 993
22.4
1 383
21.4
Queensland
2 240
16.5
1 749
16.6
1 457
16.4
1 016
15.7
South Australia
1 083
8
833
7.9
680
7.6
460
7.1
Western Australia
1 029
7.6
800
7.6
645
7.3
454
7.0
Tasmania
345
2.5
279
2.7
238
2.7
174
20.3
Northern Territory
124
0.9
93
0.9
73
0.8
45
0.7
Australian Capital Territory
142
1
110
1
87
1.0
59
0.9
Overseas
1 391
10.2
1 253
11.9
1 199
13.5
1 137
0.0
Total
13 579
100
10 519
100
8 892
100.0
6 456 100.0
69

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 60: Widow B Pension customers: Characteristics, June 2001
FEMALES
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
Widow B Pension customers
8 892
100.0
Age (years)
Under 50
4
0.0
50–54
5
0.1
55–59
4 318
48.6
60–64
3 583
40.3
65 and over
982
11.0
Rate
Maximum rate
7 331
82.4
Reduced rate
1 561
17.6
Paid under income test
Income as assessed ($pw)
Nil
1 901
21.4
$0.01–$50.00
5 356
60.2
$50.01–$62.00
229
2.6
Over $62.00
1 335
15.0
Paid under assets test
Assets as assessed ($)
Under $125 750
–
–
$125 750 to $215 750
32
0.4
Over $215 750
9
0.1
Home ownership
Home owner
4 310
48.5
Non-home owner
4 555
51.2
Country of birth
Australia
5 410
60.8
UK/Ireland/Eire
857
9.6
Italy
605
6.8
Greece
444
5.0
Former Republic of Yugoslavia
218
2.5
Other
1 358
15.3
70

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Other income support payments
Table 61: Bereavement Allowance customers: Sex, June 1991 to June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
AS AT JUNE
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
1991
12
3.8
303
96.2
315
1992
15
4.4
327
95.6
342
1993
8
9.6
75
90.4
83
1994
8
8.3
88
91.7
96
1995
5
10.6
42
89.4
47
1996
9
15.3
50
84.7
59
1997
5
10.9
41
89.1
46
1998
8
15.7
43
84.3
51
1999
5
9.4
48
90.6
53
2000
9
20.5
35
79.5
44
2001
14
27.5
37
72.5
51
Notes:Bereavement Allowance is payable for up to 14 weeks from the date of the partner’s death.
Bereavement Allowance was previously called Widowed Person Allowance. A number of widows
previously included in Widowed Person Allowance were transferred to Widow B Pension from
November 1992.
Table 62: Commonwealth Senior Health Card holders: Characteristics by sex, June 2001
MALES
FEMALES
PERSONS
CHARACTERISTICS
NO.
%
NO.
%
NO.
%
Total
97 848
100.0
128 292
100.0
226 140
100.0
Age (Years)
60–64
0
0.0
26 675
20.8
26 675
11.8
65–69
35 615
36.4
34 749
27.1
70 364
31.1
70–74
32 259
33.0
28 127
21.9
60 386
26.7
75–79
17 218
17.6
19 594
15.3
36 812
16.3
80–84
7 680
7.8
11 018
8.6
18 698
8.3
80–89
3 707
3.8
5 687
4.4
9 394
4.2
90–94
1 156
1.2
1 974
1.5
3 130
1.4
95+
213
0.2
468
0.4
681
0.3
Status
Couple
79 838
81.6
85 023
66.3
164 861
72.9
Single
18 010
18.4
43 269
33.7
61 279
27.1
State
New South Wales
35 802
36.6
47 297
36.9
83 099
36.7
Victoria
23 747
24.3
31 542
24.6
55 289
24.4
Queensland
17 469
17.9
22 249
17.3
39 718
17.6
South Australia
6 704
6.9
8 509
6.6
15 213
6.7
Western Australia
9 100
9.3
12 012
9.4
21 112
9.3
Tasmania
2 068
2.1
2 677
2.1
4 745
2.1
Northern Territory
256
0.3
295
0.2
551
0.2
Australian Capital Territory
1 910
2.0
2 744
2.1
4 654
2.1
71

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
5.3 Rent Assistance
Rent Assistance (RA) is a non-taxable income supplement paid to individuals and
families who rent in the private rental market. Pensioners, allowees and those receiving
more than the base rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A (FTB A) may be eligible for RA.
Rent can be a payment for services or maintenance fees in a retirement village, lodging,
board and lodging, site fees in a caravan park or mooring fees at a marina.
To qualify for RA, a person must:
◗ pay or be liable to pay private rent above the applicable minimum rent threshold for
their principle home, and
◗ be an Australian resident in Australia (except for temporary absence of up to
26 weeks), and
◗ not be a home owner (except for mobile homes or people in care situations), and
◗ not have a partner receiving more than the base rate of FTB Part A, and
◗ if an allowee, not have a partner who receives RA with their pension.
Special rules apply to some people:
RA is not paid:
◗ to people paying rent to a government housing authority, although in some
situations sub-tenants may qualify for Rent Assistance,
◗ a person who lives in a care facility in an approved Commonwealth funded bed,
◗ to single disability support pensioners aged under 21, without dependants, living
with parents,
◗ to other single people aged under 25, living with parents,
◗ to students without dependants, who receive Austudy Payment.
Special rules apply to single sharers, people who pay board and lodging or live in a
retirement village.
Rent Certificates are required to verify rent where a customer does not have a formal
written tenancy agreement or is not named as a tenant on a formal written tenancy
agreement.
Rent Assistance and the GST
From 1 July 2000, the maximum rates of Rent Assistance were increased by 10 per cent,
made up of an 8 per cent real increase and a 2 per cent advance on the March 2001 CPI
indexation. This formed part of the Government’s GST compensation package. The
increase ensured that those who were already receiving the maximum rate would not
have to bear the full cost of any increase in rents.
Customers who go overseas temporarily
As from 20 September 2000, Rent Assistance is payable to customers who travel
overseas for up to 26 weeks, if they have continuing rent liability for their home in
Australia.
72

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Other income support payments
Summary
◗ In June 2001, there were 1 029 064 customers in receipt of Rent Assistance. Newstart
Allowance customers made up 20 per cent of this population, while 19 per cent were
Parenting Payment (single) recipients, 17 per cent were Age Pension recipients and
15 per cent were Disability Support recipients.
◗ The average rent paid by Rent Assistance recipients in June 2001 was $240 per fortnight.
The average amount of Rent Assistance paid was $65 per fortnight.
Table 63: Rent Assistance customers: Average Rent Assistance and rent paid, June 2001
CHARACTERISTICS
CUSTOMERS (a)
AVERAGE RENT (b)
AVERAGE RA
PER FORTNIGHT
PER FORTNIGHT
Age Pension
178 894
$212.35
$53.25
Carer Payment
10 299
$241.79
$59.06
Disability Support Pension
156 928
$206.42
$63.91
Wife Pension
7 662
$268.04
$46.08
Sickness Allowance
3 283
$234.44
$61.87
Austudy (c)
1 087
$325.90
$91.27
Youth Allowance
92 493
$181.68
$52.84
Newstart Allowance
200 937
$206.74
$58.69
Newstart Mature Age Allowance
6 208
$221.79
$55.80
Mature Age Allowance
54
$205.52
$50.60
Partner Allowance
7 544
$287.57
$39.12
Family Tax Benefit Part A (d)
88 904
$344.97
$68.42
Parenting Payment (partnered)
64 134
$321.08
$88.89
Parenting Payment (single)
193 360
$280.81
$81.17
Special Benefit
6 515
$219.80
$47.96
Widow B Pension
843
$209.65
$68.66
Widow Allowance
9 907
$214.28
$66.88
Bereavement Allowance
12
$284.97
$75.67
Total
1 029 064
$240.36
$64.78
(a) Customer numbers relate to those with an ongoing entitlement to a social security or FTB payment at
1 June 2001, and paid Rent Assistance (RA) in the preceding fortnight. Some have no ongoing
entitlement to RA.
(b) Rents refer to the combined rent for a couple, even if rent assistance is paid to both members of the
couple. Where a customer pays for both accommodation and meals, and cannot separately identify an
accommodation charge, two thirds of the payment is treated as rent. Average rent and R A relate only to
customers with ongoing entitlement to RA.
(c) Austudy payment customers are ineligible to receive RA unless they also receive Family Tax Benefit
(FTB). In such cases the RA is paid as part of their FTB.
(d) RA is generally paid with FTB if the customer has children under 16. However, if the customer also
receives an income support payment they have been reported under the relevant social security
payment type. The number of customers who received RA with FTB (regardless of other payments they
receive) was 359 356. The average rent paid by these customers was $307 per fortnight, and the
average amount of RA received was $80.29 per fortnight.
73

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 64: Rent Assistance customers: Payment type by sex, June 2001
MALE
FEMALE
TOTAL
CHARACTERISTICS
NOS. (a)
%
NO. (a)
%
NOS. (a)
%
Age Pension
65 114
17
113 780
17
178 894
17
Carer Payment
3 692
1
6 607
1
10 299
1
Disability Support Pension
95 751
25
61 177
9
156 928
15
Wife Pension
0
0
7 662
1
7 662
1
Sickness Allowance
2 015
1
1 268
0
3 283
0
Austudy (b)
284
0
803
0
1 087
0
Youth Allowance
38 478
10
54 015
8
92 493
9
Newstart Allowance
135 133
36
65 804
10
200 937
20
Newstart Mature Age Allowance
5 778
2
430
0
6 208
1
Mature Age Allowance
54
0
0
0
54
0
Partner Allowance
817
0
6 727
1
7 544
1
Family Tax Benefit Part A (c)
9 007
2
79 897
12
88 904
9
Parenting Payment (partnered)
1 755
0
62 379
10
64 134
6
Parenting Payment (single)
14 036
4
179 324
27
193 360
19
Special Benefit
4 002
1
2 513
0
6 515
1
Widow B Pension
0
0
843
0
843
0
Widow Allowance
0
0
9 907
2
9 907
1
Bereavement Allowance
6
0
6
0
12
0
Total
375 922
100
653 142
100
1 029 064
100
(a) Customer numbers relate to those with an ongoing entitlement to a social security or FTB payment at 1
June 2001, and paid RA in the preceding fortnight. Some have no ongoing entitlement to RA.
(b) Austudy payment customers are ineligible to receive RA unless they also receive Family Tax Benefit
(FTB). In such cases the RA is paid as part of their FTB.
(c) RA is generally paid with FTB if the customer has children under 16. However, if the customer also
receives an income support payment they have been reported under the relevant social security
payment type.
74

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Expenditure and pensioners paid overseas
6 Expenditure and pensioners paid overseas
Payment expenditure
Expenditure comprises the payment and any additional allowances paid to the
customer. It does not include running costs and corporate overheads. Expenditure data
can be found under the special appropriations heading against each program type in
the FaCs annual report
Pensioners paid overseas
Simplified payment rules
The overseas payment rules were simplified in September 2000. In general, Australian
income support payments are paid during temporary overseas absences of up to
26 weeks (subject to continuing qualification); and indefinitely if a person receives a
pension such as age pension or disability support pension for the severely disabled.
Additional payments such as rent assistance, telephone allowance and pharmaceutical
benefit are also paid for the first 26 weeks of temporary absence. After 26 weeks
overseas absence pensioners with less than 25 years of Australian Working Life
Residence (the years between 16 years of age and age pension age) are paid in
proportion to their past links to Australia. For example, a person with 20 years AWLR
is paid 20/25ths of their normal rate.
Australia’s Agreements
Currently, Australia has social security agreements with eleven countries: Austria,
Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand,
Portugal and Spain. Australia’s social security agreement with the United Kingdom was
terminated from 1 March 2001.
Australia’s international social security agreements:
◗ facilitate access to Australian pensions upon arrival in Australia for people who have
had periods of social security coverage in an agreement country
◗ play an important role in helping Australian residents to claim their entitlements to
social security payments from other countries
◗ regulate payments of social security benefits to people moving between agreement
countries.
Overseas pensions
Many Centrelink customers have lived and worked overseas. Many of these people are
eligible to receive overseas pensions, known as ‘comparable foreign payments’ (CFP).
Under the CFP legislation customers may be required to claim their entitlements from
any overseas country.
The CFP legislation was first introduced in 1994 and expanded in September 2000. It
ensures that Australian social security claimants and recipients (mainly pensioners)
maximise their income by accessing all available income sources. A successful CFP
claim increases a customer’s overall disposable income and also reduces their
dependence on the taxpayer funded Australian social security system.
75

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Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Total balance of payments
As at December 2000, Australia paid around $316 million annually to Australian
pensioners staying overseas on a long-term basis. At the same time other countries
were paying over four times this amount annually or just over $1.4 billion to Australian
pensioners.
Table 65: Persons paid overseas by Australia: Payment type, June 1981 to June 2001
DISABILITY
AGE
SUPPORT
WIFE
WIDOW B
PARENTING
AS AT JUNE (a)
PENSION
  PENSION
 PENSION
 PENSION
 PAYMENT (b)
TOTAL
1981
8 877
3 612
2 026
1 544
1 171
17 230
1982
9 159
3 619
2 060
1 580
1 224
17 642
1983
9 640
3 800
2 166
1 681
1 334
18 621
1984
10 112
4 313
2 482
1 825
1 497
20 229
1985
11 220
5 111
2 918
1 967
1 717
22 933
1986
11 860
5 799
3 322
2 041
1 786
24 808
1987
12 201
6 237
3 553
2 127
1 698
25 816
1988
11 474
6 402
3 608
2 291
1 266
25 041
1989
12 670
7 105
3 883
2 492
956
27 106
1990
13 996
7 504
4 385
2 385
199
28 469
1991
16 658
7 814
4 755
1 845
167
31 239
1992
19 846
8 148
4 682
1 790
159
34 625
1993
23 948
8 455
3 478
1 683
154
37 718
1994
27 287
8 493
3 594
1 665
136
41 175
1995
29 712
8 780
3 807
1 658
121
44 078
1996
32 288
9 074
4 045
1 684
110
47 201
1997
35 662
9 061
3 867
1 526
89
50 205
1998
38 136
8 964
3 572
1 391
76
52 139
1999
38 136
8 964
3 718
1 251
55
52 124
2000
42 066
8 707
2 943
1 156
43
54 915
2001
43 280
8 686
2 689
1 141
42
55 838
(a) All payments where person has been outside Australia for more than 12 months.
(b) Parenting Payment (single) replaced Sole Parent Pension on 20 March 1998.
Table 66: Persons paid overseas by Australia: Country of residence by payment type,
June 2001
DISABILITY
PARENTING
COUNTRY OF
AGE
SUPPORT
WIDOW B
WIFE
PAYMENT
RESIDENCE
 PENSION
  PENSION
 PENSION
 PENSION
  (SINGLE)
TOTAL
Europe and former USSR
Austria
724
149
3
14
0
890
Belgium
26
7
0
0
0
33
Bosnia-Herzegovina
55
62
2
9
1
129
Bulgaria
21
5
0
0
0
26
Croatia
728
414
23
71
0
1 236
Czech Republic
105
36
1
2
0
144
Denmark
19
7
1
1
0
28
Estonia
14
0
0
0
0
14
Finland
61
12
2
0
0
75
France
153
18
4
3
0
178
Germany
218
20
9
7
0
254
Greece
5 331
2 076
215
644
4
8 270
Hungary
338
66
4
10
0
418
Ireland
351
40
2
11
0
404
Italy
16 602
857
393
783
3
18 638
Latvia
32
1
0
0
0
33
76

---

Expenditure and pensioners paid overseas
DISABILITY
PARENTING
COUNTRY OF
AGE
SUPPORT
WIDOW B
WIFE
PAYMENT
RESIDENCE
 PENSION
  PENSION
 PENSION
 PENSION
  (SINGLE)
TOTAL
Macedonia (FYR)
683
364
23
64
1
1 135
Malta
1 915
1 119
74
316
8
3 432
Netherlands
4 236
16
4
28
0
4 284
Poland
213
85
7
4
0
309
Portugal
666
248
13
65
5
997
Romania
27
28
0
0
0
55
Russian Federation
3
0
0
1
0
4
Slovakia
22
11
0
0
0
33
Slovenia
77
32
0
3
0
112
Spain
2 718
371
38
153
2
3 282
Sweden
26
4
0
2
0
32
Switzerland
29
6
0
3
0
38
Ukraine
9
1
1
0
0
11
United Kingdom
2 713
292
139
30
2
3 176
Other Europe
567
430
19
52
0
1 068
Total
38 682
6 777
977
2 276
26
48 738
Americas
Argentina
79
51
6
12
0
148
Brazil
8
7
2
1
0
18
Canada
968
52
14
12
1
1 047
Chile
151
62
11
8
2
234
Colombia
12
16
1
2
0
31
Ecuador
6
13
1
2
0
22
Uruguay
160
51
10
14
0
235
USA
392
67
15
7
1
482
Other Americas
47
18
0
3
1
69
Total
1 823
337
60
61
5
2 286
Asia
China
32
2
2
0
0
36
Hong Kong
55
3
7
1
1
67
India
39
20
1
0
0
60
Philippines
148
56
2
6
1
213
Thailand
33
21
0
0
0
54
Other Asia
104
36
8
2
0
150
Total
411
138
20
9
2
580
Africa/Middle East
Cyprus
566
122
19
26
1
Egypt
51
60
5
10
1
127
Israel
137
13
5
0
0
155
Jordan
9
8
0
0
0
17
Lebanon
465
206
17
62
1
751
Mauritius
19
4
2
1
0
26
Seychelles
9
9
1
0
0
19
South Africa
50
2
1
0
0
53
Syrian Arab Rep
35
32
0
8
1
76
Turkey
635
877
30
217
5
1 764
Other Africa/Middle East
17
10
1
2
0
30
Total
1 993
1 343
81
326
9
3 752
Oceania
Fiji
20
6
0
1
0
27
New Zealand
6
4
0
0
0
10
Norfolk Island
8
4
2
1
0
15
New Caledonia
6
1
0
0
0
7
PNG
57
0
0
0
0
57
Other Oceania
28
6
0
2
0
36
Total
125
21
2
4
0
152
Other
246
70
1
13
0
330
Total
43 280
8 686
1 141
2 689
42
55 838
77

---

Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
Table 67: Persons paid by Australia under a Social Security Agreement: Agreement
country by country of residence by payment type, June 2001
DISABILITY
PARENTING
AGREEMENT COUNTRY OF
AGE
SUPPORT
WIDOW B
WIFE
PAYMENT
COUNTRY
RESIDENCE
PENSION
  PENSION
 PENSION
 PENSION
  (SINGLE)
TOTAL
Austria
Australia
6
1
0
0
0
7
Austria
645
131
1
12
0
789
Other
10
0
0
0
0
10
Total
661
132
1
12
0
806
Canada
Australia
19
1
0
0
0
20
Canada
779
32
3
9
1
824
Other
26
3
0
0
0
29
Total
824
36
3
9
1
873
Cyprus
Australia
5
0
0
0
0
5
Cyprus
197
11
1
0
0
209
Other
4
5
0
0
0
9
Total
206
16
1
0
0
223
Denmark
Denmark
8
0
0
0
0
8
Total
8
0
0
0
0
8
Spain
Australia
4
2
0
0
0
6
Spain
2029
184
23
116
1
2 353
Other
4
2
1
1
0
8
Total
2 037
188
24
117
1
2 367
Ireland
Australia
5
2
0
0
0
7
Ireland
145
13
1
8
0
167
Other
2
0
0
0
1
3
Total
152
15
1
8
1
177
Italy
Australia
26
2
0
1
0
29
Italy
14 326
440
310
704
0
15 780
Other
40
0
0
6
0
46
Total
14 392
442
310
711
0
15 855
Malta
Australia
3
2
0
0
0
5
Malta
1 523
798
55
260
4
2 640
Other
8
4
0
1
0
13
Total
1 531
802
55
261
4
2 653
Netherlands
Australia
14
0
0
0
0
14
Netherlands
3 989
0
0
26
0
4 015
Other
36
0
0
1
0
37
Total
4 039
0
0
27
0
4 066
Portugal
Australia
8
2
0
1
0
11
Portugal
254
72
1
27
4
358
Other
0
0
1
0
0
1
Total
262
74
2
28
4
370
Total
24 112
1 705
397
1 173
11
27 398
78

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Expenditure and pensioners paid overseas
Table 68: Number of Centrelink customers residing in Australia receiving a foreign
payment: Payment country by payment type, December 2001
AGE
INVALIDITY
COUNTRY
 PENSION
 PENSION
WIDOW
OTHER
TOTAL
Europe and former USSR
Austria
3 863
214
366
473
4 916
Belgium
268
6
26
102
402
Bosnia and Herzegovina
73
9
2
7
91
Bulgaria
2
0
1
1
4
Croatia
319
23
33
24
399
Czech Republic
218
3
1
9
231
Denmark
274
15
2
13
304
Estonia
1
0
0
0
1
Finland
316
54
16
170
556
France
852
61
62
355
1 330
Germany
8 958
206
1 242
1 355
11 761
Greece
134
11
24
70
239
Hungary
345
4
13
24
386
Ireland
726
177
100
70
1 073
Italy
35 345
3 626
41
10 765
49 777
Latvia
4
0
0
0
4
Macedonia (FYR)
71
5
10
6
92
Malta
1 500
438
254
200
2 392
Netherlands
7 182
57
179
826
8 244
Poland
149
9
11
16
185
Portugal
419
212
36
80
747
Romania
20
0
0
3
23
Russian Federation
69
0
0
5
74
Slovakia
16
0
0
1
17
Slovenia
40
2
5
10
57
Spain
1 412
384
89
127
2 012
Sweden
244
17
10
52
323
Switzerland
629
12
17
69
727
Ukraine
1
0
0
0
1
United Kingdom
145 229
423
4 814
17 978
168 444
Total
208 679
5 968
7 354
32 811
254 812
Americas
Argentina
65
4
20
15
104
Brazil
2
0
0
1
3
Canada
1 537
71
41
369
2 018
Chile
259
13
49
59
380
Colombia
2
0
0
1
3
Ecuador
1
0
0
0
1
Uruguay
139
1
14
17
171
United States
1 192
57
142
501
1 892
Total
3 197
146
266
963
4 572
Asia
China
768
3
0
555
1 326
Hong Kong
54
0
10
39
103
India
69
1
13
82
165
Philippines
142
2
19
50
213
Thailand
2
0
0
2
4
Total
1 035
6
42
728
1 811
79

---

Income support customers: A statistical overview 2001
AGE
INVALIDITY
COUNTRY
 PENSION
 PENSION
WIDOW
OTHER
TOTAL
Africa/Middle East
Cyprus
801
271
103
23
1 198
Egypt
27
1
8
16
52
Israel
23
0
2
6
31
Jordan
3
1
0
6
10
Lebanon
3
0
0
7
10
Mauritius
240
2
130
123
495
Seychelles
5
0
0
2
7
South Africa
212
3
70
339
624
Turkey
104
14
13
74
205
Total
1 418
292
326
596
2 632
Oceania
Fiji
99
0
32
41
172
New Zealand
44
10
39
1 305
1 398
New Caledonia
18
3
1
10
32
Papua New Guinea
0
0
0
1
1
Total
161
13
72
1 357
1 603
Other
1 544
56
435
708
2 743
Total
216 034
6 481
8 495
37 163
268 173
Table 69: Number of Centrelink customers residing overseas receiving a foreign
payment: Payment country by payment type, December 2001
AGE
INVALIDITY
COUNTRY
 PENSION
 PENSION
WIDOW
OTHER
TOTAL
Europe and former USSR
Austria
910
113
64
60
1 147
Belgium
103
5
2
25
135
Bosnia and Herzegovina
9
8
1
1
19
Bulgaria
2
0
1
0
3
Croatia
138
25
9
34
206
Czech Republic
41
2
2
1
46
Denmark
37
6
0
7
50
Estonia
1
0
0
0
1
Finland
45
6
1
22
74
France
271
17
6
73
367
Germany
476
31
53
111
671
Greece
590
53
58
197
898
Hungary
113
5
8
10
136
Ireland
134
14
11
26
185
Italy
14 635
5 138
0
2 583
22 356
Latvia
1
0
0
0
1
Macedonia (FYR)
133
7
21
15
176
Malta
1 574
647
103
208
2 532
Netherlands
4 368
16
33
2 007
6 424
Poland
47
10
0
9
66
Portugal
314
139
12
41
506
Romania
5
0
0
0
5
Russian Federation
0
0
0
0
0
Slovakia
9
1
0
0
10
Slovenia
13
2
1
5
21
80

---

Expenditure and pensioners paid overseas
AGE
INVALIDITY
COUNTRY
 PENSION
 PENSION
WIDOW
OTHER
TOTAL
Spain
2 013
423
85
117
2 638
Sweden
26
1
0
7
34
Switzerland
110
10
2
18
140
Ukraine
0
0
0
1
1
United Kingdom
3 137
55
64
599
3 855
Total
29 255
6 734
537
6 177
42 703
Americas
Argentina
15
2
3
3
23
Brazil
0
1
1
0
2
Canada
1 215
80
8
4
  00
1 703
Chile
39
4
7
9
59
Colombia
0
0
0
0
0
Ecuador
0
0
0
0
0
Uruguay
24
0
6
10
40
United States
217
18
9
92
336
Total
1 510
105
34
514
2 163
Asia
China
1
0
0
0
1
Hong Kong
8
0
0
0
8
India
1
0
1
0
2
Philippines
4
0
2
1
7
Thailand
0
0
0
0
0
Total
14
0
3
1
18
Africa/Middle East
Cyprus
331
42
26
9
408
Egypt
3
1
2
3
9
Israel
41
2
1
11
55
Jordan
0
0
0
0
0
Lebanon
1
1
0
1
3
Mauritius
14
0
0
1
15
Seychelles
1
0
0
0
1
South Africa
5
0
0
5
10
Turkey
86
9
7
45
147
Total
482
55
36
75
648
Oceania
Fiji
0
0
2
0
2
New Zealand
7
0
0
8
15
New Caledonia
1
0
0
0
1
Papua New Guinea
0
0
0
0
0
Total
8
0
2
8
18
Other
154
51
15
58
278
Total
31 423
6 945
627
6 833
45 828
81

---

82

---

83

---

84

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Document Outline

• Contents
  • Contents
  • 1 Introduction 
  • 2 Payments for older people, the sick, and people    with disabilities or their carers 
  • 2.1 Age Pension 
  • 2.2 Disability Support Pension 
  • Summary 
  • 2.3 Wife Pension 
  • Summary 
  • 2.4 Carer Payment 
  • 2.5 Sickness Allowance 
  • Summary 
  • 2.6 Mobility Allowance and Carer Allowance 
  • Mobility Allowance 
  • Summary 
  • Carer Allowance 
  • 3 Labour market allowances and parenting program 
  • 3.1 Austudy 
  • 3.2 Youth Allowance 
  • 3.3 Newstart Allowance 
  • Jobseekers 
  • 3.4 Mature Age Allowance 
  • 3.5 Widow Allowance 
  • 3.6 Partner Allowance 
  • 3.7 Special Benefit 
  • 3.8 Parenting Payment 
  • 3.9 Jobs, Education and Training (JET)  
  • 4 Family Assistance 
  • 4.1 Family Tax Benefit 
  • Family Tax Benefit, Part A 
  • Family Tax Benefit, Part B 
  • Other allowances 
  • Large Family Supplement 
  • Multiple Birth Allowance 
  • Rent Assistance 
  • Summary 
  • 4.2 Double Orphan Pension 
  • Summary 
  • 4.3 Maternity Allowance and Maternity Immunisation Allowance 
  • Summary 
  • 4.4 Child care support 
  • 5 Other income support payments 
  • 5.1 Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment and Farm Family Restart Scheme 
  • Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment 
  • Farm Family Restart Scheme 
  • 5.2 Widow B Pension, Widow Allowance and Bereavement Allowance 
  • Widow B Pension 
  • Bereavement Allowance 
  • 5.3 Rent Assistance 
  • Rent Assistance and the GST 
  • Customers who go overseas temporarily 
  • Summary 
  • 6 Expenditure and pensioners paid overseas 
  • Payment expenditure 
  • Pensioners paid overseas  

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