Understanding the nature of and factors behind exits from the Disability Support Pension

Cai (2002) reports that one third of persons exiting Disability Support Pension (DSP) payments in 1998-9 did not exit to the age pension (the main destination of those exiting to other IS payment types) or due to death. The objective of this project is to describe the extent and nature of transitions off DSP that reflect a move to increased self-reliance. These transitions include movements from DSP to employment, movements from DSP to IS payment types other than the age pension (especially those subject to an activity-test, such as Newstart Allowance and Austudy) and exits due to partner income or assets. (Exits to the age pension or due to death are, by contrast, regarded as transitions that do not reflect or facilitate a move to increased self-reliance.) A specific focus of the project is to identify some of the determinants of such successfultransitions from DSP, particularly transitions from DSP to employment.

Reference
Cai, L. (2002) 'The Dynamics of The Disability Support Pension (DSP) Recipients in Australia', Australian National University PhD thesis.

Funded by: Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services.

The final report was completed in 2005.

The Melbourne Institute contact for this project is Dr Roger Wilkins.

Research paper arising from the project:

Disability Support Pension Recipients: Who Gets Off (and Stays Off) Payments?  PDF format (526K)