Welfare recipients
NARROWER TERMS
Report
Analysis of the impact increasing the rate and extending eligibility of Parenting Payment Single on financial living standards
The modelling reported in this paper considers the impact of welfare payment changes on single parent families. The paper also provides a summary of the trends in employment rates, hours of paid employment and poverty rates for single mothers, and how this compares to partnered...
Discussion paper
Reforming rent assistance: ending rental stress across Australia
This paper explores how and whether Commonwealth Rent Assistance is delivering on its aim, which is to alleviate rental stress for people on the lowest incomes.
Report
Australian experiences of poverty: risk precarity and uncertainty during COVID-19
This report analyses the benefits and drawbacks of the policy changes that were put in place to address COVID-19 impacts. The report draws on the perspectives of those services supporting people experiencing poverty to examine the escalation of needs and compounded difficulties for people in...
Report
In Home Care evaluation report
The revised In Home Care (IHC) program was introduced on 2 July 2018, as part of the Child Care Package. This is the final evaluation report for the IHC program, drawing on data collected about IHC up to February 2020.
Report
Income support receipt for young people transitioning from out–of–home care 2022
The findings in this study have highlighted that the out-of-home care study population are in need of income support for longer or are repeatedly moving in and out of income support into their late 20’s, suggesting they are at increased risk of not being able...
Report
Poverty in Australia 2022: a snapshot
This report provides a brief overview of levels of poverty - overall and among adults and children – following the recent release of Australian Bureau of Statistics data on household incomes in 2019-20. It examines trends in poverty since 1999, and through each quarter of...
Report
How JobSeeker and other income support payments are falling behind the cost of living
The findings of this report highlight the urgent need to increase base rates of income support to at least $70 a day to ensure that people on the lowest incomes are not left behind. ACOSS urges the federal government to lift incomes in the October...
Working paper
Changes to Australian income support settings during the COVID-19 pandemic
This paper summarises the major changes made to unemployment, student and parenting transfer payments over 2020 and early 2021 in Australia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Position paper
Restoring full employment: policies for the Jobs and Skills Summit
ACOSS has released its proposals to restore full employment in Australia for this week’s Jobs and Skills Summit, including a bold plan to reform employment assistance for people unemployed long-term.
Strategy
A plan to end homelessness
This strategy document asserts that homelessness can be solved through providing more safe and affordable housing, ensuring people’s incomes allow them to afford housing and other essentials, and providing support where needed for people to get into and sustain a home.
Report
Implementation and performance of the Cashless Debit Card trial — follow-on
The objective of this audit was to examine the effectiveness of the Department of Social Services' administration of the Cashless Debit Card program, including implementation of the recommendations made in an earlier audit.
Report
Accountability and justice: why we need a Royal Commission into Robodebt
The Income Compliance Program impacted hundreds of thousands of people and, for many, resulted in devastating emotional and psychological harm. It has undermined many people's financial security, as well as their willingness to engage with and trust government services. This inquiry report recommends that the...
Working paper
The JobKeeper payment: how good are wage subsidies?
In this paper, the authors estimate the effect of the Australian JobKeeper payment COVID-19 wage subsidy on payroll jobs and wages at the employer-level using novel administrative datasets.
Report
Working together: the case for universal employment support
This report examines employment support services in the United Kingdom which help people find work. It recommends introducing a new system, the Universal Work Service, which would offer integrated employment support, skills and careers advice services.
Report
Anglicare Australia rental affordability snapshot: national report April 2022
Every year, Anglicare Australia surveys rental listings across Australia to see what it is like for people on low incomes to rent a home. In the midst of the 2022 federal election campaign, Anglicare Australia is calling on all parties and candidates to act on...
Report
No-one left behind: supporting people with complex needs on universal credit
For the UK social security system to provide an effective social safety net, it must work for everyone. This paper examines the role of discretion as exercised by work coaches at Jobcentre Pluses in the experience of people claiming universal credit who are out of...
Report
Administration of the JobKeeper scheme
The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Australian Taxation Office's administration of the JobKeeper scheme.
Report
A fairer tax and welfare system for Australia
This research paper was commissioned by the St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia Inc. as an initiative to help address the growing gap between ‘the haves’ and ‘the have nots’ in Australia. The paper proposes three simple policy proposals designed to improve...
Discussion paper
Budget blueprint 2022: from recovery to resilience
The Australian Federal Budget is a major annual event. It’s an opportunity for the government of the day to set out its vision for Australia’s future. This paper outlines the Blueprint Institute's assessment of the fiscal position Australia finds itself in.
Report
Covid, inequality and poverty in 2020 and 2021
This report is the third in the ACOSS and UNSW Sydney Poverty and Inequality Partnership’s COVID-19 'Build Back Fairer Series'. It tells a tale of the differing impacts of the pandemic for different groups using evidence on income inequality and poverty in Australia.
Data portal
Visualising NSW electorates: JobSeeker recipients (Dec 2021)
The graphs, map and table in this resource show JobSeeker recipient (total JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other)) numbers for NSW, and estimates for all 93 NSW electorates (2013 Redistribution).
Report
Purpose, intent and adequacy of the Disability Support Pension
At the heart of this inquiry is the inaccessibility of the Disability Support Pension (DSP). People have difficulty demonstrating that their disability, or chronic illness, is permanent and sufficiently severe, and that they have a continuing inability to work. For those unable to demonstrate that...
Report
Spotlight on poverty
This paper explores the nature of poverty, how it is measured, why it matters, and what can be done to reduce it – ensuring a fairer future for all New Zealanders.
Report
Life and work experiences of Australians with chronic conditions
This report provides a baseline snapshot of how working-age Australians (15–64 years) with chronic conditions were faring prior to 2020, and describes how their life may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Report
Losing traction: lessons in financial wellbeing from the COVID crisis
As Australia reopens, it is easy to feel that the worst of the COVID-19 crisis is over. However, this analysis suggests recovery for many will be slow, with ongoing struggles making ends meet.