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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jun/08/access-to-disability-pension-slashed-by-more-than-half-data-shows
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| Access to disability pension slashed by more than half, data shows | Access to disability pension slashed by more than half, data shows |
| (6 months later) | |
| The government has dramatically cut access to the disability support pension in the past eight years, cutting the approval rate from 63% to about 30% this financial year. | The government has dramatically cut access to the disability support pension in the past eight years, cutting the approval rate from 63% to about 30% this financial year. |
| Successive governments – both Labor and Liberal – have implemented policies to tighten access to the payment, which supports those with a physical or intellectual impairment that hampers their ability to work. | Successive governments – both Labor and Liberal – have implemented policies to tighten access to the payment, which supports those with a physical or intellectual impairment that hampers their ability to work. |
| Data provided by the Department of Human Services shows 24,809 of about 84,000 claims have been granted so far in the current financial year. That is a grant rate of 29.53%. | Data provided by the Department of Human Services shows 24,809 of about 84,000 claims have been granted so far in the current financial year. That is a grant rate of 29.53%. |
| The rate dipped to its lowest recent level in 2015-16, when just 26,842 of the 106,000 applications were approved – roughly one in four. | The rate dipped to its lowest recent level in 2015-16, when just 26,842 of the 106,000 applications were approved – roughly one in four. |
| It is a huge reduction from 2010, when about 63% of pension applications were approved. | It is a huge reduction from 2010, when about 63% of pension applications were approved. |
| The Australian Council of Social Services (Acoss) says the policies are driving people with a limited capacity to work either into poverty or on to the poverty-level Newstart. Single recipients of the DSP get about $$826 per fortnight. The single rate for Newstart is about $545.80. | The Australian Council of Social Services (Acoss) says the policies are driving people with a limited capacity to work either into poverty or on to the poverty-level Newstart. Single recipients of the DSP get about $$826 per fortnight. The single rate for Newstart is about $545.80. |
| The Acoss executive, Cassandra Goldie, said one in four people on Newstart now had only a partial capacity to work. | The Acoss executive, Cassandra Goldie, said one in four people on Newstart now had only a partial capacity to work. |
| “These policies increase rates of poverty in Australia,” Goldie said. “Being forced to live on Newstart is obviously devastating for people who are living with a disability, often acquired in the workplace, and who are struggling to find a job. | “These policies increase rates of poverty in Australia,” Goldie said. “Being forced to live on Newstart is obviously devastating for people who are living with a disability, often acquired in the workplace, and who are struggling to find a job. |
| “We must urgently increase the rate of unemployment payment by at least $75 per week so that it does not leave people destitute. | “We must urgently increase the rate of unemployment payment by at least $75 per week so that it does not leave people destitute. |
| “We must ensure people who need the DSP receive it. And we must do better in employing people with a disability.” | “We must ensure people who need the DSP receive it. And we must do better in employing people with a disability.” |
| The payment is one of the larger components of the social security budget. It accounted for about 10.6% of social security spending in 2016-17. The policies were aimed at curtailing the expenditure by restricting the number of new recipients coming onto the scheme. | The payment is one of the larger components of the social security budget. It accounted for about 10.6% of social security spending in 2016-17. The policies were aimed at curtailing the expenditure by restricting the number of new recipients coming onto the scheme. |
| Life on the breadline: Knowing what you can live without becomes an essential skill | Mick Smart | Life on the breadline: Knowing what you can live without becomes an essential skill | Mick Smart |
| A report by the parliamentary budget office in February found new compliance and assessment measures introduced by the Gillard government in 2012 caused a “sharp decline” in eligibility. | A report by the parliamentary budget office in February found new compliance and assessment measures introduced by the Gillard government in 2012 caused a “sharp decline” in eligibility. |
| In 2015, the Coalition introduced its own crackdown on the DSP. It forced new claimants to be assessed by a government-appointed doctor. | In 2015, the Coalition introduced its own crackdown on the DSP. It forced new claimants to be assessed by a government-appointed doctor. |
| The national social security rights network found earlier this year that the policy was making life far more difficult for claimants. | The national social security rights network found earlier this year that the policy was making life far more difficult for claimants. |
| The parliamentary budget office predicted that, if current trends continue, the government would save $4.8bn over the next decade, the report found. | The parliamentary budget office predicted that, if current trends continue, the government would save $4.8bn over the next decade, the report found. |
| The minister for social services, Dan Tehan, did not respond to requests for comment. | The minister for social services, Dan Tehan, did not respond to requests for comment. |
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