Latest news with #PeoplewithDisabilityAustralia
ABC News
2 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Why the Disability Support Pension's partner income test is once again under scrutiny
If Naomi Kilmany falls in love, she's worried her income will be halved — or cut off completely. Like almost 800,000 Australians, the 24-year-old is on the Disability Support Pension. She earns the maximum rate of just over $500 a week, which helps her cover things like groceries, medical expenses and rent in a Melbourne share house. And like so many of her peers, she is also active on dating apps. "I really want the opportunity to be happy and find love and to have that be as joyous and light as it should be," she told triple j Hack. Naomi's worried about the partner income test, which lowers the amount of welfare someone can receive if their partner earns too much. She says it "makes disabled people feel really undesirable," when her health means she "already feels like a burden". Now, there's a campaign to scrap partner income testing altogether. The Disability Support Pension (DSP) was introduced in 1991 to support people who have a physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment that prevents them from working more than 15 hours a week. To get the DSP, applicants have to meet a set of eligibility criteria. DSP payments are then cut if a recipient's income — or their income combined with a partner's — goes over a set amount. Those cuts are 50 cents for every dollar over $218 a fortnight for a single, or $380 combined a fortnight for someone in a couple. But advocates like Sophia Redjeb say the test is unfair. Their petition, which has attracted almost 20,000 signatures, is calling for the partner income test to be scrapped altogether. "Why is the government forcing some of Australia's most vulnerable to be financially dependent on their partner?" Redjeb says. "Disabled people are already more likely to experience intimate partner violence and have a cost of living that's higher than those without disabilities," they said. The 20-year-old isn't the first to call for change. In 2021, there was a Senate committee inquiry into the DSP, where advocacy group People with Disability Australia requested the government "immediately remove" the partner income test "to restore financial independence for people who rely on the DSP". While the committee didn't include the partner test in its final inquiry report, it did recommend the government reconsider the income test as a whole, and suggested raising the threshold at which payments start being cut. But the government never responded to the inquiry's 30 recommendations; it didn't table its official response until late last year, when it stated that a "substantive government response [was] no longer appropriate" due to "the passage of time since the report was tabled". A similar petition calling to scrap the partner test was rejected in 2023, with the government explaining it as a "needs-based" system. Tai, 29, had to quit his job as a retail manager because of his dissociation disorder, which can prevent him from functioning for weeks at a time. At first, being approved for the DSP gave him the "peace of mind" he needed, knowing he was backed up if an episode came on. That was until his payment was more than halved by the partner income test, leaving him with about $330 last fortnight — or just over $160 a week — to contribute to the mortgage, bills and groceries of his young family. He says it's left him and his wife living "pay cheque to pay cheque," with his wife picking up a second job "just to pay for the house". "It's a bit messed up that they expect them to work full-time and come home and look after us as well, and for us to use their money when they work for it. A spokesperson from the Department of Social Services said partner income testing, which applies to all welfare payments, is based on the principle that couples are able to pool their resources and share living costs. The spokesperson also said people could be excluded from partner income testing in cases of hardship, abuse or family and domestic violence, enabling the higher single rate to be paid. For Tai, while he says he understands the argument behind the income test — reasoning that if someone had a rich partner "it'd almost feel like you're robbing people" — he doesn't feel it reflects the current era, calling it "prehistoric". Naomi also believes it's outdated, and says most young Australians aren't considering their partner's income. "Maybe they will get some extra gifts at Christmas time, but they're not sitting there every day like; are you ready to pay my rent, pay for my surgeries, pay for my medications, my food," she says. "It's not a hundred years ago when it was more normal to be financially dependent on your partner. "Our dating culture really has changed." Sophia's petition calling for an end to partner income tests is currently awaiting a government response.
Scoop
28-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Australia: Less Bang For Your Buck – NSW Budget Is Missing Key Opportunities For Everyone
We've crunched the numbers and can show that the financial cost of discrimination and exclusion is far higher than the costs associated with investing in inclusion. 'Despite repeated calls from people with disability, the NSW Government has failed to deliver a clear and sustained investment in disabled lives in the 2025-26 Budget, the outcomes of which will be felt by all,' said Trinity Ford, President, People with Disability Australia (PWDA). The key messages from PWDA's pre-budget submission are that making NSW more inclusive and accessible offers: Wellbeing benefits for people with disability. Wellbeing benefits for the wider community. Opportunities to save over $12 billion. These key benefits and opportunities have not been considered throughout the Budget. A targeted investment in Foundational Supports was clearly missing—and that's deeply concerning. "The complete omission of any specific funding for Foundational Supports is a serious missed opportunity—and one that Australia can't afford. We are increasingly concerned that this may signal a deliberate move to sideline foundational supports from the Government's agenda. We will be raising this urgently with Minister Washington and will be monitoring the Government's position closely', said Ms Ford. A commitment to accessible housing is also lacking within announcements. Although the Government has committed to improve housing for the people of NSW, PWDA is disappointed the Budget does little to directly address the housing crisis facing people with disability. Currently, 66,698 households are on the NSW social housing waiting list. The government's own data acknowledges that around one-third of these applicants are people with disability. The Government is committing billions to fast-track 465,500 new homes over the next five years through private and mixed development initiatives. However, most of these are not social or accessible housing, and there are no clear guarantees of how people with disability—especially those on low incomes—will benefit. "Making all new homes accessible by mandating the National Construction Code's minimum accessibility standards would not cost the government anything—and it would help more people with disability live independently, instead of relying on social housing', said Ms Ford. Right now, homelessness is costing NSW about $6.5 billion every year. Over 10 years, that adds up to $65 billion. If the Government invested just one-third of that amount—$26 billion over 10 years—it could stop many people from becoming homeless and save almost $4 billion each year. PWDA welcomes the NSW Government's investments toward improving access to support for victim-survivors of violence and trauma. However, there is no mention of how these funds will support people with disability—despite clear evidence people with disability are at significantly higher risk of experiencing violence and need different interventions. 'Funding responses to violence must be inclusive. Without specific measures to address the unique risks and access barriers faced by people with disability, we risk leaving behind the very communities most in need of protection,' said Ms Ford. PWDA is calling on the NSW Government to commit to the inclusion and wellbeing of people with disability. 'Continued discrimination against people with disability, and doing nothing to address it, is expensive. There are clear gaps in the 2025-26 NSW Budget. People with disability are being left out, which will end up costing the Government and taxpayers more in the future,' said Trinity Ford, President of PWDA.
Scoop
31-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Australia: PWDA Calls For Clarity And Inclusion Following Delays To Foundational Supports Rollout
Press Release – People with Disability Australia – PWDA PWDA welcomes the Governments ongoing commitment to disability reform and stands ready to work collaboratively to ensure foundational supports are implemented in a way that is timely, inclusive, and sustainable. People with Disability Australia, the national peak representative and advocacy body, is calling on the Federal Government to provide greater clarity and to consult more closely with people with disability, following the announcement that the rollout of foundational supports – scheduled to begin on 1 July 2025 – will be delayed. Foundational supports are designed for people with disability who are not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). They are especially relevant for Autistic children and people with psychosocial disability. The delay has created uncertainty in the community about when and how these essential supports will become available. PWDA President Trinity Ford said that while the disability community understands the complexity of implementing this reform, and the need to get it right from the start, it is critical that all people with disability are brought along and involved. 'Many people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS still have real and ongoing support needs,' Ms Ford said. 'These foundational supports will hopefully create a more inclusive and equal network of disability supports. But delays and uncertainty around the rollout's details, timelines and co-design means people with disability are still waiting – unsupported and without answers.' PWDA emphasises that early intervention and accessible community-based supports are key to improving long-term outcomes for people with disability, particularly those who have historically fallen through the cracks of service systems. 'We're calling on the Government to communicate transparently about next steps and to ensure people with lived experience of disability are at the centre of future planning,' Ms Ford said. 'It's vital that the design and rollout of these supports reflect the diversity of our community – including people with psychosocial disability, children with developmental concerns, and others who are not being serviced by the NDIS.' PWDA welcomes the Government's ongoing commitment to disability reform and stands ready to work collaboratively to ensure foundational supports are implemented in a way that is timely, inclusive, and sustainable.
Scoop
31-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Australia: PWDA Calls For Clarity And Inclusion Following Delays To Foundational Supports Rollout
People with Disability Australia, the national peak representative and advocacy body, is calling on the Federal Government to provide greater clarity and to consult more closely with people with disability, following the announcement that the rollout of foundational supports – scheduled to begin on 1 July 2025 – will be delayed. Foundational supports are designed for people with disability who are not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). They are especially relevant for Autistic children and people with psychosocial disability. The delay has created uncertainty in the community about when and how these essential supports will become available. PWDA President Trinity Ford said that while the disability community understands the complexity of implementing this reform, and the need to get it right from the start, it is critical that all people with disability are brought along and involved. 'Many people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS still have real and ongoing support needs,' Ms Ford said. 'These foundational supports will hopefully create a more inclusive and equal network of disability supports. But delays and uncertainty around the rollout's details, timelines and co-design means people with disability are still waiting – unsupported and without answers.' PWDA emphasises that early intervention and accessible community-based supports are key to improving long-term outcomes for people with disability, particularly those who have historically fallen through the cracks of service systems. 'We're calling on the Government to communicate transparently about next steps and to ensure people with lived experience of disability are at the centre of future planning,' Ms Ford said. 'It's vital that the design and rollout of these supports reflect the diversity of our community – including people with psychosocial disability, children with developmental concerns, and others who are not being serviced by the NDIS.' PWDA welcomes the Government's ongoing commitment to disability reform and stands ready to work collaboratively to ensure foundational supports are implemented in a way that is timely, inclusive, and sustainable.
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Australia: PWDA Condemns Ableist Rhetoric And Calls For Respectful Leadership Ahead Of Election
Press Release – People with Disability Australia – PWDA PWDA is also concerned about the rise of ableist abuse and misinformation on social media during the election, with people with disability and other marginalised groups facing increased vilification online. People with Disability Australia (PWDA), the national disability rights and advocacy peak body, is calling on all political parties, candidates and members of the public to reject ableist language and divisive narratives in the final days of the Federal Election campaign and to commit to respectful, inclusive discourse. PWDA President Trinity Ford expressed concern harmful rhetoric had marred the election campaign. 'Throughout this campaign, PWDA has been alarmed by the use of language that harms and stigmatises people with disability. This includes disparaging references to mental illness, negative stereotyping of people with psychosocial disability, and reports of slurs such as the R-word being used at campaign events. 'Language matters. Words that belittle, dehumanise or stereotype people with disability fuel discrimination and exclusion. They cause real harm. There is no excuse for this kind of rhetoric in Australian public life, especially at a time when our community is seeking leadership that will take real action to end the violence and inequality we continue to endure,' she said. PWDA is also concerned about the rise of ableist abuse and misinformation on social media during the election, with people with disability and other marginalised groups facing increased vilification online. 'Online spaces should be places where disabled people can raise our voices and participate fully in democracy. Instead, we are seeing worrying trends of abuse and misinformation targeting people with disability and other communities,' said PWDA CEO Sebastian Zagarella. PWDA is urging all candidates, political parties, media outlets and members of the public to uphold respect and inclusion in their language and actions. PWDA's Language Guide provides free, best-practice advice on inclusive language, and we encourage everyone to use it. 'Disability is a normal part of human diversity. Mental illness is not a character flaw or a danger. People with disability are not burdens to be feared or problems to be solved. We are valued members of our community who have the right to participate, to belong and to be heard,' said Mr Zagarella. 'If political leaders are serious about addressing inequality, they must reject divisive and harmful narratives and focus on delivering real reforms. That means investment in accessible housing, increasing income support payments, providing disability services outside the NDIS and upholding the rights of people with disability,' Ms Ford said. PWDA stands in solidarity with all communities who have been targeted by harmful rhetoric during this election campaign.
