This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Number of welfare recipients who have died of Covid'.


FOI reference number: FOI 2122-068 
Decision date: 14 February 2022 
Applicant: Ms Karen Reynolds 
Sent by email via Kiteworks: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx 
Dear Ms Reynolds,  
Freedom of Information Request: FOI 2122-049 
I refer to your correspondence received by the Department of Social Services 
(the Department) on 13 January 2022, in which you requested access to information under 
the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act).  
Decision 
The Department has undertaken a reasonable search of its records and, in accordance 
with section 17 of the FOI Act, I have made a decision to create and grant access in full to 
one (1) document that meets the scope of your request. 
The document that I have chosen to grant access to is set out in Appendix 1
Authority to make decision 
I am an officer authorised by the Secretary of the Department to make decisions about 
access to documents in the possession of the Department in accordance with section 
23(1) of the FOI Act.  
Summary 
On 13 January 2022 you made a request for access to a document in the possession of 
the Department. Your request sought access to: 
I would like the following data - 
Mortality exits from the following for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 
• Carers Payment
• carers allowance
• disability support pension
• jobseeker allowance
• Blind pension
• age pension
• mobility allowance



• youth disability supplement
• ABSTUDY
In addition, please provide a breakdown for the above of mortality exits due to COVID. 
On 21 January 2022 the Department acknowledged your request and advised that a 
decision on your request is due by 14 February 2022.   
Charges 
I have decided not to impose a charge in relation to this request, in accordance with 
Regulation 8 of the Freedom of Information (Charges) Regulations 2019. 
Reasons for decision and further comments 
I have decided to grant access to the document within the scope of your request. 
However, please note the following comments regarding the data the Department is able 
to provide for your request.  
Cause of death is not collected for Social Security purposes, therefore the Department is 
unable to address the last aspect of your request regarding mortality exits due to 
COVID-19.  
Data cannot be provided specifical y for the Blind Pension, Youth Disability Supplement 
and Jobseeker Al owance for the following reasons:  
• The Blind Pension is not a payment in its own right, though individuals who are
blind may be captured in data counts for the Age Pension and Disability Support
Pension.
• The Youth Disability Supplement is not a payment in its own right. Data counts for
the Disability Support Pension, ABSTUDY and Youth Al owance may include
recipients who also receive a Youth Disability Supplement.
• Jobseeker Al owance is not a payment. Data has been included for the Newstart
Al owance (replaced by JobSeeker Payment from 20 March 2020), JobSeeker
Payment and Youth Al owance (other).
Access to documents 
The document released to you in accordance with the FOI Act is enclosed. 



Information Publication Scheme 
The Information Publication Scheme requires the Department to publish information 
released in response to individual requests made under the FOI Act, except in specified 
circumstances.  
I am of the view that details of your request should be made available on the Department’s 
FOI Disclosure Log. As such, details of your request wil  be published and can be 
accessed at https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-department/freedom-of-
information/disclosure-log 
within 10 days of the date of this letter. Please note that the 
Department does not publish details of FOI applicants, it only publishes details of the FOI 
request and the documents released in response to the request. 
Your rights of review 
Information about your rights to seek a review of this decision are at Attachment A
Should you have any enquiries concerning this matter please do not hesitate to contact the 
FOI team by email at xxx@xxx.xxx.xx. 
Yours sincerely, 
A. McKenzie
A/g Director
Freedom of Information Section
Government and Executive Services Branch
14 February 2022



Appendix 1 
Schedule of documents 
Applicant:   
Ms Karen Reynolds 
Decision date: 
14 February 2022 
FOI reference number:  FOI 2122-068 
Document  Date of 
Document description 
Page 
Decision 
Exemption 
reference  document 
count 
provision 

21 January  Data – payment cancellations due 

Ful  Access 
N/A 
2022 
to death