Submission to Senate Community Affairs Committee inquiry into the Purpose, Intent and Adequacy of the Disability Support Pension

The Senate Community Affairs Committee sought public input into the Disability Support Pension (DSP) purpose, intent and adequacy.

The DSP is a critical support for Australians with disability and other serious health conditions. The goal of the DSP should be to ensure the social and economic participation of people with disability. Based upon The Salvation Army’s Moneycare and Doorways input, the submission outlined the barriers to accessing the DSP, including the complexity of the online system, language barriers and the cost of medical assessments.

The submission highlights The Salvation Army’s experience seeing the value of volunteering and supported employment opportunities, including through Disability Employment Services, as providing valuable personal and community benefits, particularly for people’s mental health and self-esteem.

The submission also reinforces the need for a recovery-oriented welfare payment for those with significant illnesses, but who are on a journey to health. This will ensure that those who have serious conditions which prevent their employment are supported through a gradual recovery, and are not forced to meet onerous mutual obligation requirements at the expense of their health.

The Senate Community Affairs References Committee will provide a report by 30 November 2021.

You can find out more about the Inquiry into the Disability Support Pension on the Senate Community Affairs References Committee webpage.