Payment

Eligibility

Recipients as at June 2003

Age Pension

Men aged over 65 and women aged over 62, subject to residency, income and assets tests.

1,854,012

Parenting Payment

Carers of children under 16 years, primarily in single income families (including sole parent families) with low income. Parenting Payment Single is paid according to pension rates and conditions; Parenting Payment Partnered is an allowance.

Newstart Allowance

Unemployed persons aged over 21 and actively looking for work.

521,677

Disability Support Pension

People with a physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment that prevents them from working full-time (30 hours per week) for the next two years.

673,334

Carer Payment

People who provide full-time care to someone with a severe physical, intellectual or psychiatric disability who is expected to require this care for at least 6 months. Paid under pension conditions.

75,937

Youth Allowance

Full-time students under 25 and unemployed people aged 16-20 years. Income tested on both individual and parental income.

400,980

Sickness Allowance

People aged over 21 who are temporarily unable to work or study because of illness, injury or disability.

8,927

Austudy

Students aged 25 years and over; paid as an allowance.

39,092

Special Benefit

People ineligible for other assistance and in severe financial need due to circumstances beyond their control. Paid as an allowance.

12,228

Widow Allowance

Women aged over 50 who become widowed, divorced or separated and have no recent workforce experience.

43,209

Family Tax Benefit (A)

Families with children under 16 or full-time dependent students aged 16-24; income tested on family income

1,783,278 families

Family Tax Benefit (B)

Single income families, including sole parent families, especially those families with a child under the age of five (who receive a higher rate of payment). Income tested on second earner's income only in two-parent families.

1,223,560 families

Childcare Benefit

Families using either formal child care or informal (registered) child care. This subsidy either reduces fees at a child care service, or can be paid as a lump sum to parents at the end of the year. Income tested on family income.

517,000 families

Rent Assistance

Pensioners and beneficiaries boarding or renting (excluding public housing)

940,708 (number of persons or couples receiving assistance)