Mental health
Income and employment support
Key points
As at 30 June 2023...
37% of DSP recipients (about 286,000 people) had a primary medical condition in the Psychological/Psychiatric category.
41% of DES participants (about 110,000 people) had a primary disability in the Psychiatric category.
This section summarises data on the Disability Support Pension (DSP), Disability Employment Service (DES) and income support for carers as they relate to people experiencing mental illness.
Spotlight data: Income and employment support
Three line charts detailing Disability Support Pension recipients (DSP), Disability Employment Service participants and Income support for the carers of people with a Psychological/Psychiatric primary condition over time.
Notes:
- Due to confidentiality requirements, all disaggregated data equal to or less than 5 has been coded as null for the purpose of this analysis. As such, numbers and rates presented here are likely to be an undercount.
- DSP and DES reference population is estimated residential population aged 16 year and over, Income support for carers reference population is the total estimated residential population.
- All data is as at 30 June of the reference year.
- ACT includes Queanbeyan, NSW Includes Norfolk Island.
Source: AIHW analysis of Department of Social Services Benefit and Payment Recipient Demographics – quarterly data on data.gov.au.
The Disability Support Pension (DSP) is a means-tested income support payment for people who are aged 16 and over and under the Age Pension entitlement age (at time of claim), who have reduced capacity to work due to their disability. This includes people who:
- Have a physical, intellectual or psychiatric condition resulting in functional impairment that makes them unable to work for 15 hours or more per week for the next 2 years, and
- Are assessed as having a combined impairment rating of 20 points or more on the impairment tables, and
- Are unable, because of impairment, to undertake a training activity that would equip them for work above 15 hours per week within the next 2 years, or
- Meet the criteria for manifest eligibility.
People receiving DSP are encouraged to participate in employment where they are able in order to gain the benefits of working, such as improved wellbeing. People under the age of 35 receiving DSP may have compulsory participation requirements, such as looking for work.
Data presented here relate to people receiving DSP who have a primary medical condition in the category of Psychological/Psychiatric. It is important to note that people may receive DSP for a primary medical condition in another category, such as Musculoskeletal & Connective Tissue, and still be experiencing mental illness. These people are not captured in the data presented here.
For more information, refer to Disability Support Pension and DSP – qualification & payability.
The Disability Employment Service (DES) is an employment support program for people with a disability that impacts on their ability to participate fully in the open labour market. DES providers can help those looking for work to:
- get ready to work
- train in specific job skills
- write a resume
- practice interview skills
- look for jobs that suit them (DSS 2024).
Once in a job, DES providers may be able to assist with:
- on-the-job training
- speaking to supervisors and co-workers
- modifying the workplace
- Auslan at work (Services Australia 2023).
People receiving DSP may choose to participate in DES or other employment support programs, such as jobactive. In 2021, 2,260 DSP recipients were participating in jobactive (DEWR 2023). Likewise, recipients of other support payments, such as Jobseeker Payment, may be able to access DES if they have a medical condition but do not qualify for DSP (JobAccess 2022).
Data presented here relate to people participating in DES with a primary disability in the category of Psychiatric.
More information on the interaction between DES and NDIS is available in the Psychosocial Disability Support Services section. In 2022–23, 9.4% of NDIS participants with a psychosocial primary disability had paid employment, compared with 22% of all participants (AIHW 2024).
Income support for carers in the summary refers to 2 payments available via Services Australia for people with caring responsibilities – Carer Allowance and Carer Payment.
Carer Allowance is a supplement available for people receiving another income support payment, such as Jobseeker Allowance, who have caring responsibilities for someone with disability, a medical condition, or who is frail aged. Recipients of Care Allowance are generally still required to participate in other activities, such as looking for work or study, to receive their primary income support payment. However, their participation requirements may be reduced in recognition of their caring responsibilities (Services Australia 2024a).
Carer Payment is a standalone payment available for people who provide constant care for someone else. For example, someone who requires help, supervision and/or guidance with activities of daily living such as getting dressed and taking medication. Recipients of Carer Payment are not required to undertake other activities to receive they payment, such as looking for work, but may still work or study part-time if they wish to and are able (Services Australia 2024b).
Data presented here relate to the person receiving care with a primary medical condition in the category of Psychological/Psychiatric, not the carer receiving Carer Allowance/Payment.
As at 30 June 2023, there were about 286,000 people, or 1,300 per 100,000 population, receiving DSP (37% of all recipients) for a primary medical condition in the Psychological/Psychiatric category. This category is the most frequent single category of primary conditions and has increased since 2019 from about 256,000 people (1,300 per 100,000 population). This is in contrast with Musculo/Skeletal & Connective Tissue primary conditions, which have been steadily declining from about 154,000 people (760 per 100,000 population) in 2019 to 135,000 (620 per 100,000 population in 2023).
About 110,000 people (41% of all DES participants), or 600 per 100,000 population, with Psychiatric primary disability were participating in DES as at 30 June 2023. The number of participants with Psychiatric primary disability peaked in 2021 at about 127,000 people (720 per 100,000 population). South Australia had the highest rate of participants with Psychiatric primary disability in 2023 (1,000 per 100,000 population), almost double the national rate (600 per 100,000 population).
As at 30 June 2023, Psychological/Psychiatric was the most commonly recorded primary condition category for care receivers, with about 335,000 people, or 1,300 per 100,000 population, receiving care. This is an increase from about 256,000 in 2017 (1,000 per 100,000 population), while the number of other condition categories have remained relatively stable. About two-thirds of people receiving care in 2023 were male (216,000), with around half of these (107,000) under the age of 16.
Where can I find more information?
For more detail and a broader overview of the DSP refer to the Disability Support Pension topic summary in Australia’s welfare. For more information on the Disability Employment Service refer to the Specialised supports for people with disability topic summary in Australia’s welfare. For more information on carers, including income support, refer to the Informal carers topic summary in Australia’s welfare. For information on supports provided under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for people with psychosocial disability, including employment support, refer to Psychosocial Disability Support Services.
AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2024) Psychosocial disability support services, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 28 August 2024.
DEWR (Department of Employment and Workplace Relations) (2023) jobactive jobseekers on Disability Support Pension, DEWR, Australian Government, accessed 28 August 2024.
DSS (Department of Social Services) (2023) DSS Income support Recipients – Monthly Time Series, DSS, Australian Government, accessed 28 August 2024.
DSS (2024) Employment services for people with disability, DSS, Australian Government, accessed 28 August 2024.
JobActive (2022) Eligibility, JobActive, Australian Government, accessed 28 August 2024.
Services Australia (2023) Disability Employment Services, Services Australia, Australian Government, accessed 28 August 2024.
Services Australia (2024a) Carer Allowance, Services Australia, Australian Government, accessed 28 August 2024.
Services Australia (2024b) Carer Payment, Services Australia, Australian Government, accessed 28 August 2024.
This page was last updated in October 2024.