19 September 2022, Guardian Australia, Luke Henriques-Gomes. Access the full article here.
Latest Department of Social Services figures highlight the difficulties facing those who do not qualify for disability support – despite health problems
Near-record levels of people on the jobseeker payment are sick or have a disability, with more than 350,000 people on the dole now unable to work full-time.
Department of Social Services figures for June reveal 358,000 people on the jobseeker payment – or 43.1% – had a “partial capacity to work”, meaning they can only work between 15 and 30 hours a week.
That was close to the pre-pandemic figure of 43.5% in September 2019 and a massive increase on the figure of 25% at June 2014.
I tend to get very frustrated when people say that [there are plenty of jobs available]… It doesn’t take into account people’s individual circumstances.
– Andrew Howard, JobSeeker recipient
I can’t just go down the street and get a job at Maccas or in a cafe … or a warehouse.
Employment services survey
The Punishment for Profit report is based on hundreds of responses to surveys conducted by the Antipoverty Centre. This research is ongoing. If you are in Workforce Australia, Disability Employment Services or a similar program, we welcome any information you are able to share about your experiences.