Research Paper 6 1999-2000

Recipients of Centrelink Benefits in Commonwealth Electoral Divisions, June 1999

Andrew Kopras
Statistics Group
19 October 1999

Introduction

This paper shows the number of persons and/or families in each Commonwealth Electoral Division receiving various benefits from Centrelink as at June 1999. The information is derived from similar data published by postcode by Centrelink. The postcode data is allocated to Electoral Divisions using a formula based on the results of the 1996 Census of Population and Housing (the latest available Census). The Electoral Division boundaries are those applicable to the 1998 Election. Where a postcode is located in two or more Electoral Divisions, the recipients data was allocated on a pro rata basis.

The postcode data is generated by Centrelink using the postal address of the recipients. This creates some difficulty, as some postcodes (e.g. covering Mail Centres) are not valid for Census purposes and so can not be allocated to an Electoral Division. The sum of these postcodes is shown as unallocated category for each State.

The paper shows Centrelink recipients data in two formats -

• recipients grouped into benefit types showing Electoral Divisions alphabetically within the State
• recipients of selected benefits ranked by Electoral Divisions from lowest to highest.

Notes on Benefit Types

Table 1. Recipients of Pensions and Mature Age Allowances

Age Pension-payable to females aged 611/2 years and over and to males aged 65 years and over. The qualifying age for females is being gradually increased to 65 years between 1 July 1995 and 1 July 2013.

Disability Support Pension-payable to persons who are unable to work through injury or disability. Recipients must be aged 16 years or over and have not reached Age Pension age.

Wife Pension-payable to a woman who is a wife of an Age or Disability Support pensioner and not receiving a pension in her own right. This Pension is gradually being phased out. No new grants have been made from 1 July 1995.

Carer Payment-payable to a person who is caring for someone who has a severe disability and is receiving a social security pension or benefit or a service pension. From March 1996, the Carer Payment was extended to carers of non-pensioners provided the non-pensioner meets the minimum Family Payment assets and income tests.

Widow Pension Class B-payable to widows who do not have any dependent children, have limited means of income, and have lost the financial support of their partner. This Pension is gradually being phased out. No new grants have been made from 20 March 1997.

Mature Age Allowance-payable to non-age pensioners who are aged between 60 and 64 years, who had no recent workforce experience and who have been receiving income support recently.

Mature Age Partner Allowance-payable to a partner of Mature Age Allowance recipient who is under the Age Pension age. This Pension is gradually being phased out. No new grants have been made from 1 July 1995.

Table 2. Recipients of Labour Market and Other Allowances

Youth Allowance-this allowance was introduced on 1 July 1998. Youth Allowance will provide income support to young people including students, those looking for work and some of those who are sick. Youth Allowance replaces AUSTUDY for 16 to 24 years old and Newstart Allowance, Youth Training Allowance and Sickness Allowance for under-21 year olds. It also replaces Family Allowance for most 16 to 18 year old secondary students.

Newstart Allowance-payable to persons who are aged 21 years and over, are under the Age Pension age, are unemployed and who satisfy the activity test and are prepared to enter into, comply and vary an activity agreement.

Sickness Allowance-payable to persons who are aged 21 years and over, are under the Age Pension age, are temporarily incapacitated for their usual work or study and have a job or study to return to when the temporary incapacity ends.

Special Benefit-payable at the discretion of the Department of Family and Community Services to persons who are in severe financial hardship, who are unable to earn a sufficient livelihood and who do not qualify for other pensions or benefits.

Widow Allowance-payable to women who have become widowed, divorced or separated after turning 40 years of age, and who have no recent workforce experience.

Partner Allowance-payable to persons who were born on or before 1 July 1955, are dependant partners of pensioners and allowees, are not qualified for Parenting Payment, and who have little or no recent workforce experience.

Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment-payable to farmers in exceptional circumstances drought affected areas who are experiencing difficulties in meeting family and personal living expenses.

Table 3. Recipients of Parenting and Family Payments

Family Allowance-payable to families to provide assistance in the cost of bringing up children. Almost half of all families receiving the Family Allowance only obtain it at the minimum rate. Those with low incomes and those receiving an income support payment receive Family Allowance at a rate above the minimum rate.

Family Tax Payment-payable to most low income families to provide extra assistance.

Parenting Payment-payable to a person responsible for caring for children irrespective of their marital status. The Parenting Payment is paid to the primary carer of children and is available to both single and partnered parents - although only one member of a couple can get it. Parenting Payment (single) replaces Sole Parent Pension (which was paid only to single parents) while Parenting Payment (partnered) replaces Parenting Allowance (paid only to parents who were in a couple) from 20 March 1998.

Table 4. Recipients of Other payments

Child Disability Allowance-payable to a person responsible for the daily caring for a dependent child with a disability.

Double Orphans Pension-payable to a person who has care and control of a double orphan (a child whose parents or adoptive parents have both died) and who is eligible for Family Allowance.

Mobility Allowance-payable to a person who is aged at least 16 years old, who is employed either in paid work or voluntary work or in vocational training for at least 8 hours per week or looking for work and who is unable to use public transport without substancial assistance because of physical, psychiatric or intellectual impairment.

Rent assistance-payable to persons who are receiving an income support payment and who pay rent or similar payments to private landlords for accomodation.

Austudy-payable to full-time students aged 25 years and over.

Main Features of Ranked Tables

Table 5. Persons receiving the Age Pension

The Division with the highest number of Age Pensioners is Wills (Vic) with 18 443 pensioners. The Division with the lowest number is Kalgoorlie (WA) with 4745. The median Division is Throsby (NSW) with 11 097 pensioners.

Table 6. Persons receiving the Disability Support Pension

Of the 24 lowest ranked Divisions on the basis of persons receiving the Disability Support Pension, 22 are held by the Liberal Party. Conversly, the 16 highest ranked Divisions are held by the ALP or the National Party. The Division with the highest number of persons receiving the Disability Support Pension is Sydney (NSW) with 7080 while the lowest is Bradfield (NSW) with 738. The median Division is Melbourne Ports (Vic) with 3869 pensioners.

Table 7. Persons receiving the Youth Allowance

Thirteen Divisions with the lowest number of persons receiving the Youth Allowance are held by the Liberal Party. The Division with the highest number of recipients is Fowler (NSW) with 5161 while the lowest is Warringah (NSW) with 836. The median Division is Hindmarsh (SA) with 2469 recipients.

Table 8. Persons receiving the Newstart Allowance

Of the 21 lowest ranked Divisions on the basis of persons receiving the Newstart Allowance, 19 are held by the Liberal Party. The Division with the highest number of recipients is Melbourne (Vic) with 9907 while the lowest is Bradfield (NSW) with 540. The median Division is Scullin (Vic) with 4269 recipients.

Table 9. Persons receiving the Single Parenting Payment

Of the 25 lowest ranked Divisions on the basis of persons receiving the Single Parenting Payment, 20 are held by the Liberal Party. The Division with the highest number of persons receiving the Single Parenting Payment is Chifley (NSW) with 5732 while the lowest is Bradfield (NSW) with 374. The median Division is McEwen (Vic) with 2607 pensioners.

Table 10. Persons receiving the Partnered Parenting Payment

Of the 18 highest ranked Divisions on the basis of persons receiving the Partnered Parenting Payment, 16 are held by the ALP. The Division with the highest number of recipients is Fowler (NSW) with 7938 while the lowest is Wentworth (NSW) with 1186. The median Division is Gilmore (NSW) with 4222 recipients.

Table 11. Families receiving the Minimum Family Allowance

The Division with the highest number of families receiving the Minimum Family Allowance is Macarthur (NSW) with 9210 while the lowest is Sydney (NSW) with 2068. The median Division is Farrer (NSW) with 5627 recipients.

Table 12. Families receiving Greater than Minimum Family Allowance

The 14 lowest ranked Divisions on the basis of families receiving greater than minimum Family Allowance are held by the Liberal Party. The Division with the highest number of recipients is Northern Territory with 12 517 while the lowest is Bradfield (NSW) with 965. The median Division is Hunter (NSW) with 6184 recipients.

Table 13. Families receiving the Family Tax Payment

The 13 lowest ranked Divisions on the basis of families receiving the Family Tax Payment are held by the Liberal Party. The Division with the highest number of recipients is Fowler (NSW) with 11 844 while the lowest is Bradfield (NSW) with 1193. The median Division is Indi (Vic) with 6082 recipients.

Table 14. Persons receiving Rent Assistance

Of the 18 lowest ranked Divisions on the basis of persons receiving Rent Assistance, 15 are held by the Liberal Party. The Division with the highest number of recipients is Richmond (NSW) with 17 352 while the lowest is Bradfield (NSW) with 1475. The median Division is Northern Territory with 6423 recipients.

In Tables 5-14, Party refers to the party holding the Division after the 1998 Federal Election.

Table 1. Recipients of Pensions and Mature Age Allowances

Table 2. Recipients of Labour Market and Other Allowances