Lexi Webster
The Disability Support Pension (DSP) is a taxable Centrelink payment for Australian residents with a permanent condition that prevents them from working. The DSP amount depends on the recipient's age, living situation, income, and assets. DSP rates are updated on 20 March and 20 September each year, with different rates for those under 21 without children. The maximum basic rate for a single adult 21 or older is $860.60 per fortnight, with additional supplements for pension and energy, bringing the total to $944.30 per fortnight.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Payment name | Disability Support Pension (DSP) |
| Who is eligible | Australian resident with a permanent condition that prevents them from working at least 15 hours a week |
| Age criteria | Between 16 and Age Pension age (66 as of February 2021, increasing to 67 in July 2023) |
| Residency criteria | Australian resident for at least 10 years in total with at least 5 of those years being consecutive |
| Payment frequency | Fortnightly |
| Factors affecting payment rate | Living situation, income, and assets |
| Maximum basic rate for single adults 21 or older | $860.60 per fortnight |
| Maximum pension supplement for single adults 21 or older | $69.60 per fortnight |
| Maximum energy supplement for single adults 21 or older | $14.10 per fortnight |
| Total maximum payment for single adults 21 or older | $944.30 per fortnight |
| Energy supplement | Included, but the amount varies based on age and living situation |
| Pension supplement for under 21s | Included if the claimant has a dependent child |
| Advance payments | Available, to be paid back over the next six months |
| Transitional rate | For pensioners who would receive a lower rate under the new income test |
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What You'll Learn
Eligibility criteria for disability pension
To be eligible for a Disability Support Pension (DSP) in Australia, you must meet both non-medical and medical rules. The non-medical rules are assessed first and include the following criteria:
First, you must be between the ages of 16 and the Age Pension age. As of February 2021, the Age Pension age is 66, and it will increase to 67 in July 2023. Second, you must have been an Australian resident for at least 10 years in a row or a total of 10 years with at least five of them consecutive.
If you meet all the eligibility requirements for the non-medical rules, you must then meet the medical eligibility criteria, which fall into two categories: manifest and general. You only need to meet one of these, not both. Regardless of the type of medical rule you qualify under, you will need to provide medical evidence. The specific type of evidence required depends on your condition.
If you have a manifest medical condition, you won't need any further medical assessment. Six manifest conditions make you eligible for DSP:
- Blindness
- Extreme deafness
- Loss of speech
- Loss of physical function of two limbs
- Severe intellectual disability
- Severe psychiatric disability
For most of these conditions, you'll need to provide medical evidence in the form of a letter from your doctor detailing your diagnosis, the disease stage, the treatment you're receiving, and your prognosis.
If you don't have a manifest medical condition, you may still be eligible under general medical rules. There are five conditions you must meet to qualify:
- Your condition must be expected to last at least two years or longer.
- Your condition must be fully diagnosed, treated, and stabilised.
- Your condition must prevent you from working at least 15 hours a week.
- Your impairment rating must be 20 points or more, as determined by the Australian Impairment Tables.
- Your condition must be assessed as unlikely to improve within the next two years.
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Income and assets test
The Disability Support Pension (DSP) in Australia is a taxable Centrelink payment. The amount of DSP one can get depends on their situation, including their living situation and income.
The income and assets test is used to assess whether an individual can get a payment and to calculate their rate of payment. The income test considers most types of income. For transitional rate pensioners, the following income rules apply:
- Pensioners can earn up to an extra $24.60 per fortnight for each dependent child without reducing their pension.
- Couples living together and both getting a pension can each earn an extra $12.30 per fortnight for each dependent child.
- If the income in a fortnight goes over the cut-off point, the pension for that fortnight will be $0.
- The cut-off point may be higher if the pensioner gets Rent Assistance or Work Bonus.
- The cut-off point may be lower if the pensioner does not live in Australia.
The income test does not consider the income of parents or guardians for those under 21 without dependent children.
Payment rates
The maximum basic rate for a single adult 21 or older is $860.60 per fortnight. The maximum pension supplement is $69.60, and the maximum energy supplement is $14.10, bringing the total to $944.30 per fortnight. The pension supplement is automatically included for those 21 or older, or for those younger than 21 with a dependent child. The Energy Supplement is also automatically included, but the amount varies depending on age and living situation. Both the energy supplement and the pension supplement are included with the basic rate in fortnightly payments.
The payment rates for DSP are updated on 20 March and 20 September each year. If the claimant is under 21 without dependent children, there are different rates, and the amount of DSP depends on whether the claimant is assessed as dependent or independent.
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Job Capacity Assessment
The amount of Disability Support Pension (DSP) that one can receive in Australia depends on their situation. For instance, the DSP amount for those under 21 is dependent on whether they are assessed as dependent or independent. Similarly, the DSP amount for those older than 21 without children is updated every 20 March and 20 September.
If you are applying for the DSP, you may be asked to attend a Job Capacity Assessment (JCA). This assessment is used to determine your qualification for DSP and is conducted by a qualified health professional. The JCA is a comprehensive assessment of an individual's level of functional impairment and work capacity. It identifies:
- The level of functional impairment resulting from any permanent medical conditions.
- Current and future work capacity (in hour bandwidths).
- Barriers to finding and maintaining employment and any interventions/assistance that may be required to improve their current work capacity.
The JCA considers the medical evidence provided with your claim as part of a medical review. The assessor may also contact your treating doctors and other health professionals to clarify the information about your medical evidence. If you have an intellectual disability, the JCA is usually an IQ and functional assessment test. It helps determine whether your disability or medical condition stops you from being able to work. The JCA will also determine your future work capacity and whether you can work between 0-7 or 8-14 hours a week.
You can bring a relative, friend, or advocate to the assessment for support, and you should allow up to an hour for it. After the assessment, the assessor writes a report on how your condition affects your ability to work.
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Payment rates for those under 21
The Disability Support Pension (DSP) payment rates in Australia are updated twice a year, on 20 March and 20 September. The rates for those younger than 21 without children are updated on 1 January of each year. The amount of DSP received by people under 21 depends on whether they are assessed as dependent or independent. This is determined by their living situation, relationship, and work status.
For those under 21 without dependent children, the DSP amount depends on whether they are assessed as dependent or independent. The basic rate for those under 21 without children is $153.50 per fortnight. This basic rate is the same for those assessed as dependent or independent.
For those under 21 with a dependent child, the DSP rate is the same as the common rate for those 21 or older. As of 20 March 2025, the maximum basic rate for a single adult 21 or older is $860.60 per fortnight. On top of this, there is a maximum pension supplement of $69.60 and a maximum energy supplement of $14.10, bringing the total to $944.30 per fortnight.
The pension supplement is automatically included for those 21 or older, or for those younger than 21 with a dependent child. The energy supplement is also included, but the amount varies depending on age and living situation. These supplements are included in the fortnightly payments.
It is important to note that the income and assets of an individual claiming DSP may affect their payment rate. However, for those under 21, their parents' or guardians' income will not impact their payment amount.
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Transitional rates
The transitional rate for disability pensions in Australia started in 2009. It applies to pensioners who would receive a lower pension rate under the new income test. The income rules for transitional rate pensioners are as follows:
- Pensioners can earn up to an extra $24.60 per fortnight for each dependent child without reducing their pension.
- Couples living together and both receiving a pension can each earn an extra $12.30 per fortnight for each dependent child.
- If a pensioner's income in a fortnight exceeds the cut-off point, they will not receive any payment for that fortnight. The cut-off point may be higher if the pensioner receives Rent Assistance or Work Bonus, and lower if they do not live in Australia.
- Most types of income are counted in the income test, which is used to assess eligibility and calculate the rate of payment.
The amount of DSP received depends on the claimant's situation, including their living situation and income. The basic rate for a single adult aged 21 or older is $860.60 per fortnight, with a maximum pension supplement of $69.60 and a maximum energy supplement of $14.10, bringing the total to $944.30 per fortnight. The pension supplement and energy supplement are automatically included in the fortnightly payments.
The payment rates for the Disability Support Pension are updated on 20 March and 20 September each year. The rates for those under 21 without children are updated on 1 January of each year.
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Frequently asked questions
The disability pension rate in Australia depends on your situation. If you're a single adult aged 21 or older, the maximum basic rate is $860.60, the maximum pension supplement is $69.60, and the maximum energy supplement is $14.10, for a total of $944.30 per fortnight.
The payments are made fortnightly.
If you're under 21, the amount of DSP you get depends on whether you are assessed as dependent or independent. If you are assessed as independent, the YDS of $153.50 per fortnight is payable to you.
To be eligible for a Disability Support Pension, you must be an Australian resident with a permanent condition that prevents you from working at least 15 hours a week for at least the next two years. You must also meet the non-medical and medical rules, which include being between the ages of 16 and the Age Pension age, and having been an Australian resident for at least 10 years in a row or a total of 10 years with at least five consecutively.
